Chapter 48 My Idea of Heaven

July 10, 2008

I have fallen in love with this house, this place. Maybe it’s the idyllic or classical honeymoon happiness but at any rate I know I never want it to end. Sadly, in 2 days it will. We will head back to LA and our regular lives. I guess I’m okay with that but I will miss this time together. It has been a learning and growing time for us and has helped to put us on the same page about many things.

Yes, I said many things – there will obviously be things that we are never completely going to see eye to eye on like my continuing to work. He wants me to stay home, maybe help him with some cases. While I would love that I’d miss having my own job and contributing to our financial lives. Compromise: I’ll continue to work until I have the baby; if we are so lucky as to get pregnant.

Second issue, he loves the loft and its sleek and contemporary furnishings. I don’t dislike it at all; it is the epitome of Mick and I feel happy and welcome there, but I need a bit more ‘lightness’ in my settings. When he furnished the bedroom for me (which I adore) he did it with my tastes in mind. We’ll keep his furniture downstairs and I will add some ‘Beth’ touches here and there to make it my home too.

Negotiations are going quite well! Of course the wildly erotic and frequent sex helps a lot! (Vampires apparently have no ‘off’ button!)

Money was a huge thing though; no matter what kind of job I have I’ll never be able to contribute what he does to our lives. He is a millionaire and I had no idea of that. He owns the building we live in and thanks to Josef’s investments over the years he has a very comfortable bank account. It is enough that if neither of us ever worked again and we only lived off the interest of those accounts we’d still have way more money than we would need. It boggles my mind…

I am going to make an appointment first thing Monday with my OB/GYN to find out what we need to do so that I can be inseminated. I was never really sure if I would ever want kids; I love them but I guess I’m not sure if I ever saw myself with them. I have come to understand that I was never with a man that I wanted to share that with. Now I can’t imagine not having kids with Mick; I only hope that it can happen because both of us will be disappointed if it doesn’t. We talked about adoption as a backup plan and it would probably be okay for us. We’ll see what nature has in store for us though.

Later…


OOOOOOOOOOOO



Three days before…

Mick and Beth managed to escape the reception relatively unnoticed. Mick had taken her by the hand and led her quietly down the hallway to their room. He unlocked it and picked her up, carrying her over the threshold.

She giggled, her arms wrapped around his neck and said, “This is our hotel room Mick, I don’t think it counts as our threshold!”

“What do you mean you don’t think it counts? Of course it counts!” He sat her down and nuzzled against her neck breathing in her scent. At the feel of his cool face against her neck a shiver of delight ran up her spine, raising goose bumps along her arms and shoulders. Her heart sped up and Mick smiled at her reaction to him. His lips slid up her neck and traced along her jaw before settling on her lips, drinking in the sweet nectar that was Beth.

He kicked the door closed behind him and then had an afterthought and set her down on the floor. Her knees started to give away and he held her up for a moment until she could steady herself. He opened the door again and hung the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign out to keep out any unexpected or definitely unwanted guests.

They both looked around the room; it was filled with roses and a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket. The scent from the roses was heady, even to Beth’s human nose. Mick leaned his back against the closed door, his hands behind him as her took her in, from the tips of her toes to the tiara sitting on her head. She was radiant, stunning and she was his. Beth, my Beth…

She was nervous he noted; the vein in the side of her neck was pulsing rapidly. He was nervous too he thought with a laugh; after all, his last wedding day hadn’t gone so well. He went to her and wrapped her in his arms and he felt her small body relax a bit as she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him, that spot where, if he were still human a rapid staccato would be a tell-tale giveaway as to his excitement.

“I love you,” she sighed. “Don’t ever let me go Mick.”

“Never Beth. I love you too. Would you like a glass of champagne?”

She gave a small, flustered laugh and nodded, the movement stirring his senses with the scent of her hair, her skin. This was his idea of heaven he acknowledged, feeling her warmth against his chill, inhaling her sweetness into his parched and barren soul. She completed him.

He opened the bottle and then poured a splash into the flutes, enough to make a toast. After he pushed the stopper back into the bottle and sat it in the bucket he raised his glass and said, “To love and finding your heart’s desire”. He softly touched his glass with hers.

“To forever,” she answered, her gaze never wavering from his. The look was almost mischievous he realized, as if she was daring him to dispute her words. His eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch and then he grinned.

He knew that in the end she would get exactly what she wanted.

They each took sips of their drinks and then Beth sat hers down on the table. “Mick, I need you. I can’t wait another minute; make love to me.”

Almost before she finished the sentence he had pulled her into his arms and found her lips with his. She sighed as he claimed her and let herself melt into him. Her stomach began to tighten and dance with excitement as she felt his body against hers.

Suddenly the only thing in her world was Mick and he filled her senses; the clean smell of his skin, the taste of his lips, the soft brush of his hands on her body. A spell was being woven around them, intricately entwining them in its arms. It was heady; it felt as if the room around them vanished and all that mattered was the two of them thrilling to the intoxicating rush of emotion and sensation only held back by tenuous floodgates.

He was aroused; hard and ready for her and she felt the same way as she did; he could smell her arousal and it called to him, leading him to the one place he was meant to be- with her. His hands reached down her back, trying to find the zipper for her dress and she smiled against his mouth and murmured, “It’s on the side Mick.”

He felt gauche and like a fumbling teenager as his long fingers found the tab and slid it downwards with a quiet whisper. The dress slipped down her body in a silken rush, pooling on the floor like an errant moonbeam. She wore no bra, only a pair of panties that were a mere wisp of fabric fragrantly imbued with her desire. He slid his hands down over her hips and caught the elastic band with his thumbs and pushed it down over her satiny skin; the gentleness of the touch left a trail of raised goose bumps in its path. His lips followed the trail, caressing with tantalizingly soft kisses that made her shiver with delight.

Beth pulled his head up so that she could kiss him and rubbed her tongue across his lips and lightly pulled on his lower lip with her teeth, licking and kissing it, then repeated this with his upper lip. Teasing and torture would be the strategy of the day she decided! Her breasts were against his chest; the crinkly hairs were teasing her nipples and driving her crazy. Mick reached up to play with her nipples and she grabbed his hand and kissed it, then sucked on his finger to get his mind off of her breasts. Beth knew she wouldn’t be able to finish teasing him if he started caressing her!

She suddenly backed away from him and started working on the buttons of his shirt; he was only too happy to help and before she knew it both shirt and slacks were lying on the floor along with her dress. Shoes and socks surrendered themselves to the impromptu closet on the floor and they stood there, gazing at one another, their eyes adoring each other. She held out her hand and he took it, raising it to his lips and he kissed her palm, tickling it lightly with his tongue in teasing stokes. Beth sighed and a low moan escaped her, bubbling up from deep in her chest. She moved to the bed with Mick following behind.

As soon as she was on the bed he wrapped himself around her, holding her close as his lips sought hers. The kiss took her breath away with the desire it expressed, a wanting so fierce it pulled her into it with reckless abandon.

Beth’s mouth worked on his, slowly pushing his lips open and gently caressing his tongue, then boldly stroking it more firmly. His hands made another play for her breasts and she moved them away and said, “Uh unh.”

Her mouth made a leisurely journey down to his jaw which felt rough against her tongue as she stroked it. She tickled him under the chin with her tongue, little short strokes that made him moan. His throat tasted wonderful and had the faint odor that was all Mick clinging to it. He smelled warm and sexy and her mouth ranged farther down his neck to where his neck and shoulder met in a sinewy delta and lightly bit that place, the place where the softly muscled neck meets the hardness of the collar bone. She licked it delicately, and then blew warm air on it and was rewarded with a shiver and a low growl.

His hands were no longer trying to explore her, he knew she wasn’t going to let them; they were lying clenched at his sides but she could tell it wasn’t easy for them to stay there. Beth shifted her mouth downwards to his chest, letting her breasts drag along his chest which made both of them groan with the aching contact. She loved how her breasts felt against the crinkly hair on his chest.

She let her mouth roam and continue its downward exploration, stopping to linger over his nipples, rubbing first softly with her tongue and then harder, the tip pushing against his hardened flesh. She felt them stiffen under her ministrations and then kissed each one lovingly. Beth tried everything on him that she liked, nipping, swirling and sucking and was rewarded for her effort as his breathing became more rapid and he was softly moaning. Her warm fingertips traced over the firm muscles of his sleek abdomen, delighting in the washboard feel of him. She thrilled as she felt the muscles contract under her hands and she playfully tickled the cool skin of his belly, running her fingers through the short silky hairs as she slid her mouth down to play there as well.

She found his naval and traced it softly with her tongue and smiled as his stomach contracted as he sucked in a deep breath. She was close to her very hard and sexy destination and couldn’t hold out any longer—her mouth found his cock and visited it with soft, wet kisses. She adoringly licked up and down his hard shaft, loving the feel on him on her tongue. His skin felt like velvet over steel under her tongue and lips and she thrilled to it.

Mick’s hands started to play with her hair, not pushing, just caressing her and it was wonderful. His body was rigid because he was so aroused and she knew she had to be careful, she didn’t want to push him too fast.

She held him in her hands like a luscious lollipop, slowly licking and then swirling her tongue wetly over the ultra-sensitive head. Beth’s mouth suddenly dropped onto him, taking him deeply into the depths of her throat which caused him to lift his hips off of the bed, his need unbridled as his hips moved of their own volition. She sucked gently then withdrew her mouth very slowly, only to take him in deeply again and again. His moans were more urgent now, needing more and she gave him the best she could, making love to him as if it were the most precious gift she could give to him.

He cried out, “Enough, stop! I need to be inside you, please baby. I can’t last much longer.”

Beth obliged him by sitting on him and sliding his hardened length into her already drenched body. She rode him quickly and came just as quickly, her contractions almost pushing Mick over the edge as well. One minute she was on top and the next Mick had her on her back, driving into quickly with long and slow strokes that penetrated her deeply.

Together they rode their passion, unleashing it and pushing as hard and fast as they could go. Mick felt her body begin its contractions again and he let himself go, heading for the edge as well.

His face changed, paled with his fangs showing. She had never seen him more beautiful. She pulled him down to her and kissed him hard, her small hands caressing his cheeks in love.

She saw it in his eyes and bit her lip, drawing a bit of blood and he caught the heady fragrance as her endorphins signaled that she was near orgasm. He licked her lip, tasting the sweetness and slid his lips down to her neck, tongue seeking the spot that was his alone and bit gently, letting the sweet warmth flood his mouth.

It was no surprise when she bit his shoulder, drawing his blood as well and she savored the taste as she lapped at it before the wound quickly closed. They both cried out with the intensity of their orgasms, their bodies grinding together to heighten the intensity.

Mick gently pulled his fangs from her neck and lavishly tended to the small puncture marks, loving the shivers that his attentions caused. Beth wrapped her arms around him and tried to catch her breath which was ragged as they held each other, their sweat-dampened bodies nestling together contentedly.

He kissed her, his tongue playing over the still puffy bite on her lip. “You didn’t have to do that Beth – I was going to bite you baby. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“Just insurance, that’s all.” She ran her hands over his back and felt the quickly cooling sweat on it. She kissed the spot on his shoulder that she had bitten, licking up a bit of blood that was left on it. It made her feel different when she tasted his blood; more alive maybe but if forced to she knew she would have a hard time explaining it.

Suddenly she remembered the night in Reno when he told her they would have to talk about it and she asked him about it now. His eyes sparked silver for a moment and he worried his lower lip for a moment as he thought of how to explain it all to her.

He let his fingers play in her damp hair for a moment, pushing a few stray tendrils away from her face. “Beth, to a vampire the bite means many different things. On its dark side it can mean superiority, vengeance, triumph, subjugation or domination of an enemy, or death. It also can mean love; it’s how we can show and share our love, the emotions that flow through the blood heighten and sweeten the blood of the ones we love. It also binds two individuals, a – a sort of mating actually or possession. When I bit you, other vamps could smell it and to them, you belong to me.”

Her eyes opened wide as she heard his words. Anger sparked in her crystal blue eyes and she started to speak, “Mick…” until he placed a finger over her lips to silence her.

“Let me finish, okay?” She nodded wordlessly and he continued, “It’s like a beacon to other vamps and most would never cross that line. You already know how possessive we are, territorial. Those are not the best of traits, but its there inside of us; it drives us. It causes us to protect what is ours, sometimes fighting to the death Beth. Not pretty, but very true.

When a vampire mates, it is usually with another vamp. There is an almost mystical or sacred bond that forms and connects our hearts, minds and spirits. When it’s right that is, when we have truly met our mate.”

“Did you share this with Coraline?” she asked, afraid of the answer.

“No, never. I’m not sure that Coraline was capable of that with anyone, but perhaps I do her an injustice to suggest that. I only know that I never felt that with her. I’ve never felt it with anyone Beth, not before you. When we are making love, it surrounds us, engulfs us to the point that no one or nothing else exists except each other. Have you felt that?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly, trying to figure out when it had shifted, when lovemaking with him had become an almost religious experience. When she bit him…

He saw the realization cross her face and smiled; he knew that she understood.

“When I bit you that first time, that’s when it happened. But why?”

“Because you are my true mate; we share our blood now. Josef recognized it that first morning, remember?”

When they had walked into the bus that morning Josef had circled her and said ‘Congratulations’; he had known immediately. “So all vampires know this?”

“Yes, they do. How do you feel about that?”

“I’m happy about it; ecstatic. It explains so many of the feelings that I have that I didn’t understand Mick. We’ve always been connected, but now it is tangible for me, for us I think.”

“Yes, it is. And yes, we’ve always been connected my love.”

“I was talking to Clark, the night before the wedding. I asked him to walk me down the aisle and as we got to talking I remembered something. When I learned to ride my bike, I fell off the bike and you picked me up.”

Mick remembered it all too well; it had scared him to death, watching her fly over the handlebars. “Yes, I did; you scared me badly. I’ve always been there for you Beth.”

“And you always will be. You know that now you will have to turn me, don’t you?”

He nodded solemnly, murmuring softly, “Yes, I do. I will, I will, I will...” His lips captured hers to seal the bargain, hoping that it wouldn’t have to be too soon.



OOOOOOOOOOOO



The next morning Josef’s jet whisked them off to Seattle. Family and friends saw them off at the airport and Beth waved out the window, watching the skyline of Las Vegas fade away in the clear blue sky. As they traveled north the landscape became mountainous and greener. The shades of green were verdant, lush; deep forest greens to almost blue-green shot through with bits of frothy light green. Only the ocean offered another color, sometimes blue and sometimes gray. It was very relaxing to watch.

At SeaTac they rented a car and started the journey to Mick’s house, about an hour away. When they got there Beth was awed by it, the house and the land it sat on, overlooking Puget Sound. It was the perfect place for a honeymoon and she couldn’t wait for it to begin.

“Race you into the house!” she teased. “First one in with their clothes off wins!”

To be continued…

Freshie Friday!! Hearts Afire

This story takes place before Mick came back into Beth's life, at the beginning of her relationship with Josh and it was written for my dear friend Julia, VampFan5. During Beth's Diary in the Josh period she was disappointed that I never had a love scene for the two of them and this idea began to percolate. In Love Last's Forever we caught a brief glimpse of a different Josh than the ADA - the fun side of him that I think Beth would have been attracted to. So this story comes from that thought, the other side of Josh that we never saw. Julia, I hope you enjoy this story that was written just for you.


Beautiful Banner by the very talented and awesome Moonlightlover60!

Hearts Afire

Beth sat at her desk looking with amusement at the bouquet of – pop corn balls. They were wrapped in colorful cellophane and tied with an enormous red ribbon. She looked at the card again and smiled.

Dear Beth,
Flowers are so passé, don’t you think? I thought you might like these; after all, we must have eaten buckets of popcorn on our date Saturday night while we played video golf. Best first date ever, by the way.

Josh

Everyone in the office had gathered around her desk, laughing over her gift, but in a kind way. They knew that Beth really liked this guy and he certainly seemed fun because Beth had been talking all morning about their date.

She opened one of the brightly colored balls and bit into a cinnamon popcorn ball and decided it was delicious. Steve came by and she offered some to him and he broke off a hunk and grinned when he bit into it. Her phone rang just then and she picked it up, “Beth Turner.”

“So, was I right? About the popcorn balls that is?” Josh asked on the other end of the line.

Beth licked a bit of cinnamon popcorn off of her finger and smiled as she answered, “It is perfect. The cinnamon one is wonderful! Thank you Josh.”

“Glad you liked it. So, are you up for another adventure on Friday night?”

“Sure. What do you have in mind?”

“I’m not telling,” he teased, his laughter bubbling over the line. “Just dress comfortably. Oh, and it’s a late date, so be ready about 10.”

“Ten? Ten o’clock?” she quizzed. Surely she had heard him incorrectly.

“Yes, 10 pm. I’ll see you then, okay?”

“Okay,” she told him and hung up the phone. She couldn’t imagine what he had planned but she was game to find out.


Josh picked her up at 10 on the dot and looked approvingly at her jeans and the black tunic sweater she had on. “Wow, you look beautiful Beth,” he murmured as he kissed her cheek. He pulled a bunch of wildflowers out from behind his back and presented them to her with a bow and a flourish. “For you m’lady!”

Beth laughed and held the bouquet up to her nose and breathed in deeply. There were brightly colored daisies and other flowers she didn’t know the name of, but they were all lovely. “Thank you kind sir!” she told him, heading in the kitchen to find a vase to put them in.

“So, you going to tell me yet what our adventure tonight is?” she asked, arranging the flowers in the vase and filling it with water. She sat it on the counter and looked at him expectantly.

“Well, the first part of the date involves dinner. How does pizza sound?”

“Um, delicious! Charlies?”

“As you wish.”

She grabbed her purse and a light jacket and they headed out. The pizza was perfect and she was blown away when she found out that the rest of the evening would be spent at a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. She couldn’t stop laughing as she saw all the people waiting in line, dressed as their favorite characters.

“Josh, this is perfect! I haven’t seen this in years. I wish I’d known, I could have dressed the part!”

Josh gave her a sexy grin and teased, “I don’t know whether to be afraid of that or not!”

They laughed and sang their way through the movie, following the bouncing ball as the words to the songs flashed on the screen. At one point they danced in the aisles with many of the other patrons until they were breathless – whether from the laughter or the dancing neither one could tell. But at the end of that dance came a quick kiss and Beth tasted a brief moment of desire in that kiss and she knew that she couldn’t wait for more.

They stopped and had coffee on the way back to Beth’s apartment and talked about their lives and what they wanted, where they saw themselves in 5 years or so. Surprisingly to Beth, they had a lot of the same ideas.

Josh walked her to her door and stooped to kiss her; again the kiss was sweet with just a hint of what could be, but he left quickly afterward, leaving Beth a bit bemused. She watched out her window as he got into his car and drove away, feeling giddy with happiness.



Their next date was Tuesday evening and he took her to drive go carts. All evening they raced against each other, taking the laps as quickly as they could trying to beat the other. At the end of the date they went to Pinks and had hotdogs and walked for a bit. Josh held her hand and Beth felt so at ease with him, so close.

When he took her home she was a bit nervous, after all this was their third date and well, she might have had a few expectations she admitted to herself. The kiss at the door was longer and she opened herself to it, melting against him as he held her close. When he broke the kiss she let out a small groan and he smiled and tipped her face up to give her one more quick kiss before heading down the stairs and out the front door. Once again she watched him go and this time when he got to his car he kissed his hand and blew her a kiss. She smiled, thinking about how long it had been since someone had blown her a kiss. She returned it and sighed as he pulled away.
She was certainly bamboozled by his behavior, an outdated term her grandmother used to use. She knew he liked her, she had even felt the evidence of it in the close confines of that kiss. And yet...well, he evidently had lots of patience. She wasn’t sure how much she had though.



The next day at work a dozen deep pink roses were delivered to her. Such an exquisite color, so deep pink they were almost red. The aroma filled her area with an enthralling fragrance that had passerby’s stopping to linger and enjoy the heady scent. The card that accompanied them read:

Dear Beth,
May I have the pleasure of your company this Friday evening? I’ll pick you up at 7 if this is agreeable to you. Our destination is an hour away and suitable for a quiet evening of dinner and dancing.

Breathlessly Awaiting Your Answer,
Josh

A tingle ran up her spine in the most delightful way just as goose bumps swept up her arms. This would be it, THE night she thought with a hint of a smile. The rest of the day she had a hard time concentrating on work and when her story was in she left work, eager to go shopping.

Dancing? He said dancing so she needed a dress and shoes; and maybe a trip to the lingerie store as well, just in case! She had called Josh, but his assistant said he was in court and so she left the message on his voice mail, that she was definitely saying yes.

Beth headed to one of her favorite little boutiques, a shop that carried labels from designers that were just getting started in the business. She finally found the perfect dress, the ultimate ‘little black dress’ and her grin was a mile wide as she looked at herself in the full length mirror. It was backless, with a built in bra that pushed her breasts high in the bodice with a dramatic cowl neckline that dipped dangerously low. The material was soft and clingy, hugging her in all the right places she decided. With the built in bra she wouldn’t need to worry about that, only some sexy undies she decided and maybe some lace stockings.

She found both of those items at Victoria’s Secret and then stopped in her favorite shoe store and found a killer pair of sandals with 4 inch heels. She didn’t know how long she would be able to dance in them, but hopefully she wouldn’t have to for very long.

That night she showered, layering herself with fragrance. After her shower she brushed her hair until it was gleaming silk and fastened it back away from her face with barrettes studded with Austrian crystals. They sparkled as she moved her head this way and that in the mirror and Beth knew they looked good. She added a necklace and earrings to match and had just finished slipping her shoes on when she heard Josh knock on her door.

The stunned expression on his face told her all she needed to know – she looked good. But his words still sounded good and so did the long, low whistle he gave her.

“Holy cow Beth. You are stunning, utterly beautiful.” He looked at her again and opened his mouth to speak but no more words came out. A small blush swept up his face and his eyes captured hers and she read the message loud and clear.

He wanted her. She smiled in satisfaction.

They traveled up the coast a bit and when they pulled off into a private drive and parked Josh seemed suddenly nervous. He turned the car off and sat behind the wheel for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

“I, um, you look so beautiful tonight. I should be taking you somewhere nice. I uh, mean, you know like a nice restaurant or, or somewhere. This is my sister’s vacation cottage. It’s private and I thought it would be quiet and all, so we could um, talk and all. I just didn’t realize you would be so lovely. I feel bad…”

Beth listened to him ramble on nervously and hid a small smile. This place was lovely she decided. “Josh, I dressed up for you, not for some fancy restaurant. This place is perfect.”

He looked at her and smiled and then nodded at her; he seemed comfortable with her answer and got out of the car so that he could open the door for her. “Watch the path here in those heels; it can be a bit uneven,” he warned.
He held out his hand to help her out of the car and as they walked towards the door he rested his hand on the small of her back. It felt warm and thrilling to her and her heart raced for a moment as she enjoyed his touch.

Inside the cottage Beth saw a large comfortable room with a huge fireplace in one wall and a comfy looking sofa sitting in front of it. Behind that was a kitchen with a dining nook off to one side, set with china and crystal. Something cooking in the kitchen smelled wonderful!

“Um, that smells good. Did you sister cook it?”

“No, I did. I love to cook,” he said with a shrug. “I hope you like chicken; it’s roasted with a wine and butter sauce and there are fresh roasted vegetables as well. AND,” he teased, “Strawberry cheesecake for dessert.”

“Oh god, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” She giggled and let her nose lead her into the kitchen where she watched him opening the oven where the meal had been setting in the warming mode. When he pulled the chicken and vegetables out they were browned to perfection and looked delicious.

Together they moved the food to the table and Josh opened a chilled bottle of Chardonnay, pouring it into wine glasses for them. They sat at the table and Josh raised his glass and Beth did the same. “To popcorn balls,” he joked.

Beth started laughing and said, “Oh come on Josh, give that one another try!”

“Hm, okay. How about to finding your heart’s desire?”

“Your heart’s desire,” she echoed. Their glasses made a soft chiming sound as they touched them together and they both sipped the delicious wine.

The dinner tasted as good as it smelled, better even Beth decided as she took the last bite of cheesecake. “Josh, that was incredible!”

“Thanks. It’s only one of my talents,” he quipped and then blushed.

“How about we discover if one of your talents is dancing? I seem to recall something about that in your invitation.”

“As you wish,” he said as he smiled at her. “Let me put some music on for us. Let’s go into the living room, shall we?” He held out his hand to her and she took it, enjoying the gentle touch of his fingers as they held her hand.
He lit the fireplace and when it was going Josh turned on a stereo and put a CD on and Beth was a bit surprised when she heard a country song come on, Touch Me When We’re Dancing by Alabama. It was slow and sexy and he held out his hand again, pulling her to him and they began to move to the music.

Josh buried his head in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of Beth. He was nervous, he hated to admit it but he was. When he was working he was in his element; in his personal life he always felt a half a step behind everyone else. Beth was special and he wanted to show her just how much this evening.

“You dance beautifully Beth, like everything you do,” he whispered, his voice deep and husky in her ear.

“So do you. Gee, I feel amazed by all this – you can cook, I can’t by the way, you can dance, what other talents do you have Mr. Lindsay?” Her breath caught in her throat as she murmured the words against his ear. She inhaled his scent; clean and something outdoorsy, it went straight to her head. She licked her lips in anticipation of what she hoped was coming.

“I can adore you, worship you Beth. I want to show you just how much…” He looked her directly in the eyes, crystal blue meeting beautiful brown. For one moment neither spoke and then he bent his mouth and kissed her forehead and slid his mouth lightly down to kiss the tip of her nose. Beth’s breath caught in her throat as he lowered his mouth to kiss along her jaw before capturing her lips in a hungry kiss.

She opened to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she felt his tongue stroke her own. The kiss went on and one, one delicious sensation after another sweeping over her. She was trembling and covered in goose bumps when he pulled back, letting them both catch their breaths.

“Um Josh, don’t stop…please don’t stop,” she sighed, tilting her head back. Josh took the invitation and visited soft, moist kisses on her neck, nibbling gently when he got to her collar bone. His tongue stroked and swirled over it, relishing the tiny bumps he raised along the way. He felt her shiver and he knew that she wasn’t cold and it spurred him on. His arms pulled her closer, so that she could feel how aroused he was and he ran his hands down her back, tracing over her hips and settling against her bottom, pulling her tight against him.

“Josh, I’m going to fall down my knees are so weak,” she said against his neck, where she had been nestled, her tongue playing along the sinewy length. She lightly nipped at the juncture of his neck and shoulder and she felt him tremble with the delight of it all.

He sank down on his knees to the floor, to the bearskin rug that was in front of the fireplace. It was soft and luxurious and she moved against it, feeling the sensual softness brush against her sensitive skin.

Josh knelt in front of her and she reached up and unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers tracing the firm flesh beneath it. She ran her fingers through the dark curly hair and down to his tight abs, thrilling at their taut beauty. She sat up for a moment and he slid her dress up over her head, leaving her in only the tiny wisp of panties and the lacy stockings.

“You are beautiful Beth, so lovely.” Josh bent his head and kissed her again while she unbuckled his belt, slipping it out of the belt loops. He stood up quickly and unfastened his slacks, kicking them and his briefs off at the same time before meeting her back on the bearskin. His mouth descended on her and their tongues met and caressed one another, dueling as each sought to drink in the other with an unquenchable thirst.

Josh gathered her into his arms and held her close, tasting the sweetness of her mouth once again. His hands played along her delicate back, fingers tracing the contours with exquisite care as if she were the most precious of gifts. His mouth ventured down, along her neck, playing the silken skin lovingly and he thrilled as Beth moaned in his arms.

“Oh Josh…Josh,” she said, her voice a bewitchingly sexy whisper. Her fingertips traced along the hard lines of his back and beyond as they roamed over the twin globes of his tight ass. She sighed as he captured a rosy-tipped breast in his mouth, teasing the puckered bud until she felt as if it were ablaze with the sensation of his mouth. His tongue laved it generously, alternating between gentle nips and slow swirls that made her squirm with passion. She was trembling when he captured the other peak, showing it the same generous attention as the first.

Beth pulled him to her tighter, moving her body against his in an effort to get closer still. She almost came undone as she felt his fingers tease along her tummy and slide down into the soft blond curls between her legs. She was wet and achingly ready for him and as he stroked her she felt herself already on the edge of orgasm. His fingers circled and swirled and finally delved into the depths of her tight sheath and stroked in and out until she was there, tumbling over passions edge. Her body arched with the pleasure as she moaned out loud.

“Please Josh, now, I need you in me!” she implored like a lost soul seeking its home. Only one thing would satisfy her now and Josh moved between her thighs, spreading them apart with care and settled himself into the delta of her pleasure.

He pushed against her, begging for entrance and Beth arched her hips upwards, bidding him to enter. Inch by inch he slid into her wet and willing body until he was fully seated and they both tried to catch their breath as the thrill of the contact swept over them.

They began the rhythm of the dance then, moving together then apart as the sensation of pure pleasure held them both in loving arms. He thrust and she met him only to separate and begin again. His mouth captured hers, mimicking the thrusts that became longer and faster, pushing them both towards the edge until they fell over it together, drifting down in the valley of ecstasy, spent and complete.

Josh moved off of her and pulled her close to him as they both relaxed and waited for their hearts to slow down. He placed gentle kisses over her damp face and finally kissed her passion swollen lips. It was a kiss of infinite caring and tenderness, with the promise of more to come.

Beth was happy; her world was at peace.

The end.

Chapter 47 Something

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Moonlightlover60 who dove into this problem with unabashed enthusiasm, going above and beyond my imagination. Also, to VampFan5 who camp up with the venue for this wedding. This chapter would not be as awesome without their help and support. Thank you Lynn and Julia, I love you both!

Chapter 47 Something

July 7, 2008

Its early morning, Mick is still ensconced in his freezer, capturing a few more minutes of slumber, or rest, whatever vampires do. Mick says it’s not exactly sleep but it seems like it is to me.

I am a married woman now! Elizabeth St. John! Sounds nice doesn’t it? I thought about hyphenating Turner-St. John or even just keeping Turner, but easily decided against it. I am perfectly happy to take his name and I know that there is a part of him that would be hurt if I didn’t. He would say it was okay, but he wouldn’t really be. As we’ve said, he’s kind of old school. This is a compromise I can happily live with.

Our wedding was perfect, everything about it. I think very few brides have been so joyfullysurprised as to find it all done except for the final choice of a dress. My mother, Lani and Robbi accomplished so much in a really small window of time but I’m afraid it has taken its toll on Mom; she looked really tired last night when Mick and I slipped out of the reception. I hope she is okay – I mean that I hope that nothing is wrong with her.

We leave in a couple of hours to go to Seattle. Much to my surprise, Mick has a house there, or very near there, on Puget Sound. He owns 5,000 acres that he bought from the Suquamish tribe. There is actually a large preserve there, tribal lands that are very beautiful he tells me. Part of his agreement with the tribe is that he will never allow hunting on the land for recreational purposes. I can’t wait to see the house, which overlooks the sound. To say that I’m amazed about it would be an understatement but I have put it down to one of the undoubtedly many things I don’t know about him.

We are slowly developing a rhythm to our relationship, a comfort in our communicative effort that feels good for both of us. He knows so much more about me than I do him and he is opening up to me, letting me in and I think it is easier for him when there isn’t this immediate pressure of ‘tell me now’. I was so afraid for so long that he was hiding things that I felt as if I had to push all the time; now that I’m more relaxed about it all he just seems to talk so much more. Maybe we are both learning something.

It was good seeing so many people at the wedding; I hadn’t seen Max and Mark in ages and we had a bit of time to chat and catch up. Elka was there, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, so happy that Mick and I were married. I actually have a lot to thank her for I think because she has kicked Mick in the butt several times in the past he says; he told me that he would never have come back to LA except that Elka told him to stop running. In an amazing and surprising move, he did.

Logan and Audrey are so cute together; both seem sort of hesitant around one another but they both can’t seem to take their eyes off of the other either; it’s so much fun to watch.

Ah…love. Nothing like it!

Later…


OOOOOOOOOOOOO



As Beth and Clark walked through the halls downstairs they walked away from where the wedding chapel was. Beth frowned, clearly puzzled. “Isn’t the chapel that way,” she said, nodding to the hall that led to the right.

“Yes, but that’s not where we are going,” he told her.

Very curious now she kept quiet and continued to walk with Clark. Soon she could see her mom and the others waiting for them.

“Okay, Kevin can walk me to my seat now!” Dorothy hugged Beth one last time and took Kevin’s arm as the door opened. Beth saw the fountains outside and realized where they were.

She caught her breath and choked back a sob. “The fountain…we met at the fountain in LA.”

Clark smiled down at her and patted her hand. “Mick wanted this to be special for you.”

She continued to watch as Kevin came back and took Brianna’s hand, leading her down the aisle. Beth felt giddy and flushed and her heart was racing with excitement. At the angle she was standing she couldn’t see all the way to the alter but she watched as far as she could as Brianna dropped one rose petal at a time, often stopping to hand one to various guests along the way.

Then it was Lani’s time to make that walk; she turned and gave Beth a cheeky grin and a wink before she started on her way. Robbi handed Beth her bouquet and waited until Lani made it all the way down the aisle before starting down herself.

She and Clark stepped forward and Beth could see Mick waiting at the altar, the fountains making a beautiful backdrop. They were lit up as they sprayed and Beth thought she had never seen anything more beautiful. All grew quiet and stood up as the music started and Beth bit her lower lip when she recognized it.

Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover

“Let’s go Bethy; it’s time to follow your heart.”

As Mick saw her for the first time in her gown his knees went weak and his mouth suddenly had all the attributes of the Sahara desert. Every other person gathered here was suddenly gone; it was only he and Beth. Their eyes met as she walked towards him, towards their destiny and Mick felt tears spring to his eyes. He took a deep gulp of air, trying to steady himself and Josef cast him a sidelong glance and said, “Steady boyo; it ain’t even begun yet – no time to pass out!”



OOOOOOOOOOOO



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqzIgBtfx-o

Mick couldn’t take his eyes off of her as she walked down the aisle, small hand resting on Clarks arm. Her heart was beating rapidly and she had the tiniest flush that made her glow with the lights of the fountains providing a magical backdrop. Slowly and steadily they made their way down the aisle, keeping time with the slow rhythm of the song.

Something in the way she moves,
Attracts me like no other lover.

Mick knew it was one of Beth’s favorites; it was on her iPod and she had several CD’s with it featured on it as well as the fact that she often hummed it as she worked or picked up around the house. It was a perfect song for her to walk down the aisle to.

When they were standing before Mick Clark leaned down and kissed her cheek and said, “I love you Bethy.”

Her eyes brimming with unshed tears she kissed him back and said, “I love you too Dad.”

He stepped away and took his seat next to Dorothy, quickly wiping a tear away. She looked radiant as she stood there next to Mick and he couldn’t have been prouder of her right here, right now.

Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don't need no other lover

The officiate smiled at Mick and Beth and the guests and began to speak:

“We are gathered here this evening to witness the sacred vows of Michael and Elizabeth. The decision to join two lives, two souls into one union is much like combining ingredients in a recipe.” He paused while the guests chuckled a bit over his analogy.

“You must combine love, respect, honesty, trust and faith in order for it to work. Also, do not forget the most important ingredient of all, humor for without it no union stands a chance.”

He cleared his throat and opened a book, reading: "Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and does not brood over the past. It is the day-in and day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you do not have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough."

“Michael and Elizabeth, are you ready to join one another in the bonds of matrimony?”

“We are,” Mick and Beth answered together.

“Do you Elizabeth, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

"I do."

“Elizabeth, please place the ring on Michael’s finger.”

“Do you Michael, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Elizabeth to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.”

“Michael, please place the ring on Elizabeth’s finger.”

“Please turn to one another and join hands as you repeat these words together.”

“There was a time when I felt all alone, but then the sun shined upon me, bringing the gifts of love and friendship.”

Mick and Beth said the words together, feeling their impact and acknowledging their truth. Both of them had tears in their eyes as they continued. Beth’s teeth lightly worried her lower lip, making Mick smile.

Something in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her

“This eternal love, shared and expressed by our two hearts opens our lives to all the possibilities before us. Before, I had only given but failed to accept and receive love with grace. Now, I am no longer alone; your warmth overwhelms my spirit and fills my soul. I am alive with your love.”

Mick traced the silent tears that ran down Beth’s face with his heart; they echoed within him. He knew that he would never again be alone or lonely because this woman would share forever with him - if he were only strong enough to make it happen.

“Michael and Elizabeth, I would like to read to you an Apache Wedding Blessing. May it bring you joy and comfort in your lives ahead.

The Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

“In accordance of the laws by and of the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Michael, you may kiss your bride.”

Mick claimed her lips; tenderly, lovingly letting his every emotion be felt. Beth’s knees felt weak and her toes curled as his lips swept hers, languidly molding them together in a sacred dance.

Their family and friends jumped to their feet, erupting in an ovation of love and support for them. Beth laughed, the sound bubbling forth like the sweetest of sounds. Mick grinned, happier than he had ever been in his life. The hundreds of people who stood at the railings watching the wedding whistled and clapped for the bride and groom, excited to have been a part of it all.

The wedding party and guests made their way to the reception room. It was beautifully decorated thanks to the hotel staff. The buffet was set up and ready for the guests as was the wedding cake.

“Wedding cake?” Beth asked with a laugh.

“Yep, aim more for the side of my mouth, will you?” he teased, his eyes twinkling.

“Will you get sick Mick? I don’t want that to happen.”

“No, it’s only a taste.” He watched the concern wash over her face and he kissed the tip of her nose and held her close. “It will be fine Beth. No worries. Nothing could keep me from you tonight!”

“So you missed me last night?”

“You have no idea just how much! How long do we have to stay here anyway?”

“A while yet,” she laughed. “Come on St. John, suck it up and have a good time. We’ve got the rest of our lives to have wild and crazy sex but we only get to do this once!”

“Hey,” he murmured against her ear as he caught her to him, “I’m not the only St. John in this family any more you know.”

“Yes I do! And I like it!”

“Me too baby, me too!”



OOOOOOOOOOOO



For the next hour they mingled while people ate and listened as Josef, Lani and Clark made speeches to celebrate their marriage. Finally it was time to cut the cake and Beth was really nervous that she would get too much in Mick’s mouth and he would get sick.

They laughed and joked with everyone and when Mick placed his hand over Beth’s so they could cut the cake he realized how badly hers was trembling. He leaned down and kissed her, smiling against her lips. “It’s okay Beth, I’ll be fine. Now, let’s cut this cake!”

Together they cut and he picked up a piece and held it out for her, letting her taste some but smearing the rest. She laughed and tried wiping it away with her fingers and did the same for him. They both laughed and kissed again and he could taste the slightest bit of sweet on her mouth; it delighted him and he licked his lips but he could only taste it on hers. The guests clapped and Lani and Cami came and cut the cake into serving pieces and helped to distribute them. Mick and Beth headed into the restroom to wipe the remains off of their faces.

When they came back the DJ was setting up; there was a small dance floor and everyone was excited. The champagne was flowing freely for most of the guests except for Robbi and her mom. She wondered why her mom wasn’t drinking but then noticed she looked very tired. Maybe she thought that it would make her more tired or sleepy.

The first song started playing and the DJ announced, “This one is for the bride and groom; their first dance as a married couple.” That was accompanied by whistles and cheers as Mick led Beth out to the floor and twirled her around once before they started moving in time to the music.

Mick held her close and hummed along with the song, Moonlight Serenade. “My kind of music,” he whispered in her ear.

“It’s lovely,” Beth murmured, the words a mere sigh as she relaxed in his arms. “This wedding was lovely – how will we ever repay Josef?”

“He’ll think of something!” Mick told her with a laugh.



OOOOOOOOOOOO



Couples danced together for a while; Beth danced with Josef and Carl and even Ben. She still had one more dance though and when she decided what she wanted to went to the DJ and asked for a specific song and the DJ nodded, finding what he wanted. As the strains of Hero began Beth walked across the floor to Clark and said, “I believe this is our dance. We can’t have a wedding without the father/daughter dance can we?”

If Clark was even the tiniest bit surprised he didn’t show it; he took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. He pulled her close to him and smiled as he saw the happiness shining in her eyes.

“Thank you, for all these years. Mom and I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“You’re wrong Beth – it’s me who wouldn’t have made it without both of you.”



OOOOOOOOOOOO



Lani and Eric stood watching as Beth and Clark finished their dance and she sighed, until she saw Josef across the room chatting with Elka and Cami. Eric followed her eyes and looked at her curiously, wondering what she had against Kostan. He asked her and she just shook her head, as if searching for the right words.

“He’s, he’s…pompous and a player. I can’t stand him,” she told him, drinking down the last of her champagne.

“How do you even know him well enough to say that?”

“I first met him in Tokyo; he’s a business associate of Heroku’s and now we are installing some new data storage systems for him.”

“Hm, okay. I hope you don’t act like this around him though.”

“NO, of course not. I can be sweet as honey when I have to be. I just hope he keeps his distance tonight.”

“You know, the guy went to a lot of expense and trouble to make this wedding happen for Beth and Mick,” he told her and watched as she rolled his eyes.

“Yes, lot’s of trouble – he had to swipe his credit card.”

“Lani, sometimes you are totally impossible, not to mention a bit childish.” He shook his head and finally reached for her empty glass. “I’ll go get us a refill, shall I?”

She nodded and watched as he walked away, towards the refreshment tables. When she looked up again Josef was standing in front of her.

“Don’t do that!”

“What, sneak up on you with my crafty vampire abilities? We have many you know, like hearing.”

Oh God. He had heard her comments. He would torture her now, she knew.

“Look Josef, it’s been a long day, a long past few days. I’m tired and bitchy, so don’t mess with me.”

He actually laughed at her words and she saw the twinkle in his eyes telling her that she had really amused him by that comment. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Eric approached them, holding the refilled glasses and Josef said, “Would you mind if I asked Lani to dance?”

Eric had to work really hard to keep a smile off of his face; Lani looked outraged and he thought this was good payback for her. “Please, feel free Mr. Kostan.”

“Josef, please. Lani?” he said, offering her his hand. She only looked at it in panic.

She looked like she had been treed as she swallowed down a lump the size of a tennis ball. Looking rapidly back and forth between Eric and Josef she wasn’t sure who she was the most upset with right now but there was no graceful way to escape so she nodded and followed Josef to the dance floor. He tried to take her hand to lead her out but she quickly pulled it away.

The song that was playing was fast one and she was thankful for that. For about 10 seconds until the next song came up. Great she thought, Michael Buble’s Almost Home. Slow and there was no escape; Josef acknowledged that with a tilt of his head and grin. “Shall we?”

For several moments she only looked at him and then allowed him to pull her into his arms. Close, much too close she decided contemplating trying to wiggle away but she didn’t want to make a scene. As she took his hand she hissed, “Back off a bit.”

He complied and looked down at her, still smiling. He was a devil, he admitted it.

He tried another tactic, “The conversion is going well I’m told. Heroku certainly got a gem when he hired you Lani.” He meant the compliment sincerely but he could tell she didn’t think so.

She glared at him, telling herself the song was almost half over. She cast a wistful look towards the edge of the dance floor as if to make a quick escape.

“I’d still like to steal you away from him,” he said and laughed as she raised an eyebrow in irritation. “Only in business my dear. I would gladly double your salary.”

“Money means nothing to me; I have plenty.” Her eyes speared him in defiance.

“Well, then how about a company car, say a Ferrari?”

She shrugged and said, “I have a Maserati.”

“Well, clearly Heroku is the winner Lani. A very lucky man indeed.”





OOOOOOOOOOOO



Mick and Dorothy watched Beth dance with Carl.

Lani, Eric, Robbi and Kevin were on the floor as well as many of the other guests. The song playing was Someday, a song that was popular when they were in college. They were teaching everyone how to do a sort of line dance that they had done back then. They both smiled as they watched them clap and then spin and walk forward. Even Logan was having a go at it and Mick had to admit he did pretty well. He heard Dorothy sigh softly and squirm in her chair a bit and cast a surreptitious glance from the corner of his eyes.

“You look tired Dorothy,” Mick commented.

“Yes, I am; but it’s all been worth it you know. She is so happy.”

“I’ll do my best to assure that she always is.”

“I know that Mick; I’ll never doubt that.”

“But?” he asked, knowing that there was a ‘but’.

“What happens in a few years when she wants to be – become like you? You know that she will.”

He frowned, understanding just how much that bothered her. “She has mentioned it; she told me that if anything ever happened to her she would want to be turned. I just don’t know if I can Dorothy.”

“What? You mean she has asked and you don’t know if you will?” Anger sparked her eyes, making them look like shards of broken glass.

“I – it would be hard.”

“But it’s obviously what she would want.”

“And you’re okay with that?” he asked her curiously.

“It’s not my decision. It’s what she wants. Living forever with the one you love wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Her words shocked Mick and made him ask, “What about you and Clark Dorothy? Have you thought about it too?”

She blanched and looked quickly away; the pained look on her face had answered his question.

To be continued…

You Are Invited...

Please join the celebration of marriage for Mick and Beth!

 

Images created by my very talented friend Moonlightlover60 and used with her permission.  Thank you Lynn!!!

Chapter 46 Words From the Heart

July 6, 2008

It’s early in the morning and I’m alone, sipping a cup of fabulous coffee that room service brought up. There are some croissants as well but my stomach is doing so many flip-flops I’m not sure if I could keep them down. Maybe…

In a little while Mom, Lani and Robbi will be here because we still have things to accomplish today but right now it’s quiet and peaceful. I’m looking out at the city below and even in the early morning it is bustling, the traffic on the strip rushing off to somewhere. I guess it’s true that Vegas never sleeps, or at least not everyone all at once.

It’s hazy here, but I hear it often is. The mountains in the distance are mere shadows lurking in the morning sunlight. Reminds me of LA really; you know that the mountains are out there but some days it’s hard to remember where.

I am getting married this evening. Those words make me smile, feel giddy in fact. A year ago would I have believed this? No, I was with Josh and marriage was never really on the table for us. For me anyway. Still, I wish things had ended differently for us; I mean I would probably have broken his heart but he’d still be alive and would have found someone else eventually.

I still have the insurance check from when he died. Forty thousand dollars is a lot of money. Maybe not to Josef but to me anyway. I’ve been thinking about what to do with it; I can’t keep it, it wouldn’t be right but I think I have come up with a solution. I’m going to start an education fund at a women’s shelter in LA. Maybe I can convince Josef to match that amount.

My mom taught me that education is so important; if Grams and Gramps hadn’t encouraged her to go to college she would never have become a teacher and I might not have understood the importance of education. If I can somehow use that money to help women in crisis get some needed education I think that would be wonderful. I think Josh might agree with me; I hope so anyway.

I dreamt of Mick constantly last night, of what this day would be like. I can only hope he is half as excited about it as I am.

Later…



OOOOOOOOOOOO



Beth stared at the tiara that was lying in the folds of tissue paper and pulled it out of the box and held it up to the light, admiring it.

“Mom, you replaced the cz’s that were missing!” she exclaimed excitedly.

“Yes and had it cleaned too; I thought it could be your ‘something old’. Is that okay?”

“Oh yeah, it’s fabulous, thank you so much Mom,” she said hugging Dorothy tight. Beth bit her lip as she remembered when Gramps had given it to her and that made it all the more precious to her. Her life had been a good one, happy memories and loving family; she felt blessed and very, very lucky.

“I know that I wasn’t always the easiest kid, but thank you for being such a great mom.”

“Nonsense Beth. Now Lani, she was difficult! You were a piece of cake.”

Beth laughed; she supposed that compared to Lani anyone would seem easy. “No, I know I was always asking for answers, about – about when I was taken and stuff and I know that wasn’t easy for you to deal with.”

A sad look swept across Dorothy’s beautiful face for a moment as she remembered that terrible time; still, they had gotten through it all and been the better for it she believed.

“Mom, did you never wonder why I didn’t ever ask about my dad?”

Dorothy felt a sudden chill take her breath; Beth was right, she had never asked about him and Dorothy had no idea what to tell her if she was asking now. Beth noticed Dorothy lightly picking at one of her nails nervously. “No, I guess it never really occurred to me that you hadn’t asked.” Not quite the whole truth, but some of it anyway.

“I never asked because I never felt the need to know; I had everything I ever needed Mom – you, Gramps and Grams and Clark. He was always there for me. When I was little I suppose I sort of thought he was my dad. He isn’t is he?” At Dorothy’s negative shake of her head Beth shrugged; she had realized many years ago that it wasn’t true but she had often pretended that he was. “You gave me so much love and taught me to have strength and determination; I appreciate that more than you could ever know.”

Dorothy was quiet for a few moments as the past played out for her. “Did I ever tell you that Logan and I are the same age? That we were all in school together; Clark was two years ahead of us. He used to tease me terribly when we were little but as we got older he teased less and hung around more. He came to my softball games and walked me home from school with Logan always hanging around too. He was my first kiss, in 10th grade at a dance.” Dorothy sighed as the memories washed over her like a warm wave of happiness that made her heart pound a bit harder.

“I never knew that. And he stood by you when you got pregnant with me?”

“Well, he was actually in basic training in the Army when I got pregnant. He didn’t know until he came home on leave a year later. He wanted me to marry him then, but it wasn’t the right time.”

“Why Mom? I think you must have loved each other back then.”

“Sweetheart, I wasn’t in any condition to love any man then, not really although in reality, yes, I did love him.”

Beth watched something very sad sweep across her mother’s face and wondered what it was. “Mom, if you ever want to tell me, I’ll be here to listen,” she said, reaching for her mother’s hand and squeezing it gently. “I love you so much.”

Dorothy nodded and tried to blink away the tears that were stinging her eyes. “I know Beth, I love you too. One of these days, I promise. But for now, we have a wedding tomorrow.”

“Yes we do.” Beth became serious for a moment, lightly biting her lower lip. “Mom, Mick is a really good guy you know.”

“I do know that. Our family has always been safer because of him; because he stood silent vigil for us. I never meant for him to stay on the fringes; we would have let him in but he never would come to any of the birthdays and such that we invited him too. He loves you and will always keep you safe and I’m thankful to him for that Bethy.”

Beth nodded, fully aware of the magnitude of Mick’s devotion. “Mom, I’m going to be very happy, I promise you.”

Dorothy stood up and pulled Beth up as well, hugging her tightly. “I know, I do believe that.Rest well sweetheart because tomorrow is a big day.”

Beth walked her to the door and closed it firmly. That bed was going to feel terribly lonely without Mick here with her. She hoped he was having a fun time – just not TOO fun she thought with a giggle.



OOOOOOOOOOOO



After Beth took her shower and had crawled into bed her phone rang and she giggled when she saw that it was Mick.

“Why are you interrupting my party? The stripper isn’t done yet!” she teased.

“Oh, well mine just left and so I thought I’d call and see how you liked yours?” he joked in return. “What are you doing? Did I wake you?”

“Nope.Just got out of the shower. I’m lying in bed deliciously naked and horny!”

A low growl escaped Mick’s throat and he found that he was suddenly rock hard. “Really?” he finally choked out, the vivid images tormenting him.

Beth laughed and looked down at his Henley that she had on. “Does it make it better if I tell you that while I am in bed, I’m wearing one of your Henley’s?”

Mick thought about it for a moment and finally said, “No, it does not. I’m jealous because that shirt is caressing your beautiful body right now and I’m not. I’m stuck here in Josef’s suite because of some nonsense of bad luck if I see you before the wedding.”

“That’s what they say St. John. Better not push our luck!”

“Hm, if you say so. Are you ready for tomorrow baby?” He held an unnecessary breath while he waited for the answer.

“More than you would believe Mick. But,” she paused for a moment trying to think of how to say what she felt. In that silence Mick died a thousand deaths, worried about what she was going to say. “Mick, you know that I’m just never going to stay in the car, right? I mean, I guess what I’m trying to say is that we both have different ideas about what a marriage should be.”

He thought about her words for a moment; she was right he acknowledged. In his day the man reigned supreme in the marriage and had this been 1952 it would have been that way. But things were different and he loved her for the person she was; he had no desire to change her. Protect her; love her yes, but not to change her. And yet, he was bringing her into the vampire world and it was fraught with danger; from other vamps and humans who would expose them. He had to protect her and there would be times she would have to listen to what he said for her own safety because her life could very well depend on it. He sighed and ran his hand down over his face and then pushed his hair back with a careless gesture.

He tried to explain it all to her and she listened, quietly as the words sank in. She loved him for who he was and she didn’t want him to change. This was the Mick that she loved, the man who would always be there, her protector, her champion. They would work it out as they went she knew.

“I understand that Mick and I will do my best when things get difficult and it’s important but you have to remember to talk to me; not just go off and do something with no explanation about what is going on, okay? I can deal with anything as long as I understand.”

“Okay, I get that and I agree. I love you.”

“Yeah, I kinda like you too!” she laughed.

“You will pay for that!”

“Promise?”

“Absolutely. I can be really wicked when provoked you know.” His voice was a low murmur that sounded like rustling silk. He heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled when her heartbeat sped up.

“Okay,” she said with a sigh, wishing he was there with her right then to show her just how wicked he could be. “I love you my delicious, wicked vampire lover. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Oh God Beth, I can’t wait either. Good night,” he said, knowing he had to end the call or he’d be at her door in a matter of seconds.

“Good night Mick.” She pressed the end button and sighed, leaning back amongst the down pillows and closed her eyes; she fell asleep and dreamt of her vampire lover.



OOOOOOOOOOOO



A few minutes later there was a knock on Mick’s door; he was just getting ready to climb into the freezer and he let out an exasperated breath. He was tired and he really wanted some uninterrupted freezer time but he guessed it would have to wait.

At the door stood Logan, looking very uncomfortable. Mick raised an eyebrow and stepped aside so the Logan could come into the room. Mick noticed that he was paler than usual and his hands were shaking too.

“Do you need to feed Logan?” he asked, concern for the young vamp making him curious.

“Uh, no…maybe. Mick, I gotta talk to you.”

“Well, you have my attention Logan,” he said while he poured him a glass of O+. “What’s on your mind?”

“It’s Audrey, or, well really about um, how we…I’ve never uh… you see and I don’t know what to do.” The words came tumbling out and Mick tried to follow along and make sense of them.

Mick thought for a moment and then pinched the bridge of his nose as it all started to make sense. The sex talk – he was going to have to have the sex talk with Logan. He groaned; how the hell was he supposed to talk to Logan about it when he wasn’t comfortable with it himself?

Mick poured himself a stiff shot of scotch and added a splash of the O+, just for good measure. “What exactly are you curious about Logan? Give me an idea of what you need to know.”

“I’ve never, I mean, not even in school and now I’m a vampire and it, well it changes things – I think – and I don’t know what to do or how to do it.”

Oh God, it was worse than he thought; not only had Logan never bitten someone during sex, he’d never had sex.

Mick spent the next hour talking about the sexual act itself and some possible variations. Logan alternately flushed and then paled all the while sipping nervously on his drink. Mick couldn’t tell if he was really following or not.

“But I’ll have to bite her won’t I, to uh, achieve – you know?”

“Well, I’d advise biting yourself at first Logan until you feel sure you can control yourself. When you were first trained we taught you how to feed fresh; it’s like that but you’ll be caught up in the rush and it’s hard to control it all.”

Mick was thinking about his own fear of biting Beth, of maintaining control. How on earth can he teach that control to Logan when he felt so unsure of his own?

“Just go slow with it Logan; it’s the best thing I can advise. Take your time, for both of your sakes. Stay in control.”

Logan left a little while later and Mick sat back in the chair feeling as if he’d only made matters worse. Beth wanted him to turn her eventually and how could he when he had no idea in hell how to handle it all? Feeling bummed out he finally climbed into the freezer but it was a long time before oblivion overtook him.



OOOOOOOOOOOOO



The next morning was such a rush of activities that it passed by in a blur. After going back to the dress shop to make sure the alterations were correct the women stopped for a quick bite of lunch before heading to their spa appointments. Beth decided to indulge in every single bit of pampering that she could, as did the other women.

Beth had a hot stone massage followed by a mud treatment;a facial, pedicure, manicure and deep cleansing and conditioning for her hair followed. By the time they were done all the women glowed and looked beautiful. When they got back to Beth’s room they discovered that the dresses had been delivered; they were freshly steamed and perfect. Excitement rippled through Beth as she looked at the dress and she couldn’t wait to get ready. She went into the bathroom and saw that all Micks’ personal items were missing; his razor, brush and other things and she figured he must have come and got them while they were at the spa. She knew it was only because he needed them to get ready but it was a terribly lonely feeling.

She wandered back out into the living area and sat down with a sigh. Nothing to do now but wait until it was time to get ready but that wasn’t for another hour or more. She closed her eyes and listened for a few minutes as Lani and Robbi compared their pedicures with Robbi laughing because she couldn’t really see her feet.

A knock on the door startled her out of her musings and she sat up straight and watched as her mom opened the door. Carl was waiting on the other side and looked in the room, seeing all the women gathered there.

“Hey, am I interrupting?” he said as he smiled at them. “Robbi, look at you! You look beautiful.” He walked to her and hugged her tight and then grinned at her belly. “Number two I believe?”

She nodded yes and watched his eyes travel to Beth who had stood up at his entrance. She grabbed Lani’s arm and tried to tug her towards the door, where Dorothy was already heading. Lani stood her ground for a moment and then with a reluctant sigh followed Robbi and Dorothy.

Outside as the door closed she complained, “I don’t know why we had to leave for heaven’s sake! It’s just Carl!”

Dorothy put her arm around her shoulders and said, “Come along Lani. Give them some space.”

Inside the suite Carl swallowed hard, completely caught up in the glow radiating from Beth. She was happy, inside and out and that was the best thing he could have seen.

He and Beth’s past made them both stop and take pause at times. He had often worried about her in the past, the head-long jumps into some of her dangerous stories and now the cases at the DA’s office. He loved her and always would; he wasn’t ‘in love’ with her and hadn’t been for years but that didn’t stop the caring and concern he had for her or the desire to want to protect her. He hoped that she didn’t need protecting from herself.

She had fallen in love with St. John and Carl hoped that he was the right man for her. He’d obviously taken steps to protect her; had he avenged Josh for her? Carl was sure that he had and he didn’t fault him a bit for it. He only wondered how much Beth actually knew for sure. She wrote in her diary that he was a vampire but was that just some romantic notion? He wished he knew because one thing was for sure; there was definitely something about him that wasn’t quite human Carl had to admit.

He’d decided he was okay with that too.

“Wow, you look happy Beth, very happy.” He looked around the room and saw the dress hanging on a rack and whistled. “That the dress? You will look stunning in it,” he told her.

She walked across the room and hugged him, blushing delightfully. “Yes, that’s it. Thank you Carl! Can you believe all this?”

“Pretty remarkable, but then so are you. Kostan must think pretty highly of you to do all this.”

“Um, I think it is probably more for Mick; they have been best friends for about fift – um, fifteen years I think.” Beth’s face flushed briefly and she shrugged. “A long time anyway.At any rate I do consider myself extremely lucky that so many of you could come for this Carl. Did you bring a date?” she inquired impishly.

“No, no date,” he laughed. “Unless you count Ben.”

“He probably wouldn’t, so I guess I won’t either.”

They sat down on the sofa and both turned so that they could look at the other as they talked. “He’s the one for you then?” Carl asked.

“Yes. Do you doubt that Carl?”

“Strangely enough, no. It’s no secret that I didn’t like him much at first but he kind of grows on a person, you know?”

“Yes, I do. He is amazing Carl.”

“So I’ve heard. He’ll take care of you,” he said and smiled as he watched her mouth open to protest. “I mean in the way that a husband and wife take care of one another Beth. Not that he was going to hold you back in any way.”

She nodded as she caught his meaning. It was still hard for her to think about what Mick’s idea of marriage 50 years ago was and what hers now were.

“Well, you’re definitely in good hands. Someone else to worry about you and I know that can be a full time job,” he teased.

“So, you’re handing over the reins, so to speak?”

His eyes flashed quickly with some unrecognizable emotion, but he nodded. “So to speak.” He stood up and held his hand out to her. They walked to the door and he held her close for a moment and kissed her on the forehead. “Be happy Beth – always.”

“You too Carl.” She watched him walk down the hall with the merest hint of tears stinging her eyes. She stepped back in the room and closed the door thoughtfully. She could only hope that he would find his own love someday.



OOOOOOOOOOOO



Around six the women came back to get ready. The ceremony was to take place at seven so they had plenty of time to make sure everything was perfect. They all applied their make up in front of the huge vanity mirror in the bathroom, comparing colors and tilting their heads this way and that to make sure it looked good.

“Beth, is your mascara waterproof?” Robbi asked, ever practical and vigilant.

“Yes it is – I was thinking ahead. What about you Mom?”

“Mine too sweetheart. And just what makes you think I’ll cry anyway?” she smiled.

Beth rolled her eyes and giggled, “Get real. We’ll both probably sob like babies.”

“Me too,” Robbi said and Lani nodded in agreement.

“Ah jeez people, come on! It’s a wedding, not a funeral. Although some would say…” Lani teased.

“At least we’re in good company.” Beth stared into the mirror looking at all their eyes and added “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else with anyone else. Thank you all so much.”

“Ah, now she’s done it,” Lani said, handing out tissues. “C’mon, group hug!”

By 6:30 Lani, Robbi and Dorothy were slipping into their dresses. “Holy cow, you guys look fantastic!” Beth exclaimed.

“I resemble that remark,” Robbi quipped, smoothing the dress over her belly.

“Seriously, you can hardly even tell in that dress. Really good choice guys,” Beth said. And it was true, only from the side could you really tell she was pregnant.

Kevin brought Brianna in to the room and they helped her get her dress on; she was going to be the flower girl although Robbi was afraid she was so shy she might not make it down the aisle. They decided that after Kevin walked Dorothy to her seat he would walk down the aisle with Bri.

Next was Beth’s dress. They slipped it over her head and fastened it up, admiring how beautiful she looked.

Dorothy handed Beth a box and she opened it revealing her mother’s pearl necklace. It had been her grandmother’s necklace first; she had worn it on her wedding day and so had Dorothy.

“Your ‘something borrowed’,” Dorothy said with a smile as she fastened the clasp.

“Now all you need is the ‘something new’,” Lani commented. As if on cue there was a knock on the door. Lani answered it revealing Josef bearing another box.

“Did I hear someone say ‘something new’?” he asked. “Wow.” He stared at Beth and thought that Mick was one lucky guy.

“I’m sure you did,” Lani mumbled, allowing him to enter into the room. No one else heard the remark but he did and gave her a quick wink and then laughed.

“A gift for the bride from her groom,” he said, proffering the box to Beth.

She reached for it and smiled. She couldn’t wait to see what it was. As she opened it she saw a beautiful set of pearl earrings that would go perfectly with the necklace. “How did he know?”

“He asked and I showed him the necklace,” Dorothy told her, helping her to slip them on.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” she recited, touching each item. The tiara was still sitting in the tissue paper and Josef smiled as he saw it.

“Masquerading as a fairy princess?” he asked.

“Aren’t all girls supposed to on their wedding day?” Beth said. She picked up the tiara and held it out to her mom. “Will you please Mom?”

“Of course sweetie.” Dorothy picked up the tiara and set it on Beth’s head, sliding the combs into place securely. “There, go look in the mirror.”

Beth could only stare into the mirror; she did sort of look like a princess she realized with a giggle.

“Well, on that note I shall leave you ladies! Beth, you look perfect.” It was an uncharacteristically serious remark from him and Beth’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Josef knew exactly what that was about and added, “Don’t get used to it!” With a wave he left the room and the ladies to whatever they still had to do.

The next knock on the door was Clark; Robbi let him in and he smiled at them all. “Never have I seen a more beautiful group of women,” he declared. “Robbi, Lani and Dorothy, they are ready for you downstairs. I’ll bring Beth down in a moment.”

Dorothy stopped to kiss her precious daughter on the cheek and told her, “I’ll see you down there sweetie. Deep breaths!”

Beth stood in the middle of the room, her hands clasped in front of her to keep them from trembling. Clark pulled her close and kissed her cheek and then patted her back gently. “It’s all okay Beth.”

“I know; I can’t believe how nervous I am!” she exhaled. “Silly…”

“Not at all. I’m scared too,” he told her.

“You? Why?”

“I guess I always dreamed that I would one day walk you down the aisle but I never really knew for sure if it would happen. Now that it has, it’s just all hitting me – that you are all grown up and getting married.”

“I used to pretend you were my daddy,” she said, her blue eyes huge and round as she waited to see what he would say to that.

“Me too. Beth, being a parent isn’t just biology; that’s about this important,” he said holding up in thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. “What’s in here,” he said, patting his heart “That’s what makes someone a parent. Love Beth. It’s all about love.”

She pursed her lips for a moment, thinking about her conversation with her mother the night before. “You’ve always been there for me; Mom too. She told me that her first kiss was with you Clark.”

“Yes it was.” He smiled at the memory, lost in that first and only love. “She was really something back then – still is.”

“Yes, the best mother anyone could ask for. And likewise, you were the best father anyone could have. So many of my memories of my childhood revolve around you; you coached my softball team, put up with Lani, Robbi and I hanging around all the time. I remember when I was 5 and you helped me to learn to ride my bike!”

He laughed, seeing her wobbling down the street. He’d hold his breath every time he let go of her and then run like crazy to catch her before she toppled over. “You were so damn stubborn, wouldn’t let me put training wheels on the bike because you thought they were for sissies.”

“Yeah, until finally at the end of that day you let go and I just kept on going. I remember feeling the wind brushing across my face as I rode to the end of the cul de sac and managed to turn the bike around. It was all great until I hit that hole or bump or whatever and that guy came…” The accident flashed brightly in her memory. She had hit the pavement hard and it had knocked the wind out of her. Mick picked her up and cradled her for a moment before letting her down after she caught her breath. “It was Mick, wasn’t it?” she asked, her voice so quiet it was barely a whisper.

“Yes, it was. That was the first time I had officially met him. I always felt better, knowing that he was around, after what had happened.”

She nodded her head shakily, fighting back tears. “Always there. My shadow man and my Dad…”

“Come on Beth, let’s get you downstairs. That man down there is very excited and waiting none too patiently for you.”

Beth took his arm and let him lead her towards her destiny.



To be continued…

Authors Note:
Next week wedding festivities begin! Thanks to Moonlightlover60 we have pictures ladies! So get ready and plan to attend the wedding of Mick and Beth, next Monday!

Freshie Friday!! Twisted Chapter Five

I forgot to put this in earlier!  OOPS...

Stephanie, the author of some of my favorite blogs is back with a new one.  Check it out!  Here's a brief synopsis of the story.

...Tears From Me..., written by Stephanie, the author of Macyn and Dreams From Yesterday, will follow the lives of Amanda Avery and Gavin Hart along their intriguing journey in discovering what truly has become important in their lives.  Along this journey, they will encounter a murder that will cause them to think twice about their futures and realize they may not be who they thought they were.

http://storyofgavinandamanda.blogspot.com
 

Beautiful banner by Moonlightlover60

This is an AU Moonlight story. What if Mick regularly fed fresh when Beth discovered the truth about him? Come along for the 5 part adventure and find out!

*DISCLAIMER* If you recognize anyone in this story, I don't own them. Only the story idea is mine.

Thanks for waiting so patiently for this chapter. I appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers that were sent out to me. The mean so much, especially when things are so tough. I've missed you all!

I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. It's very long, but a lot needed to happen! Enjoy!!!




They both undressed in record time and were on the couch, skin to skin. Beth wrapped herself around Mick’s taut body like she had done it a million times. They fit together perfectly.

Mick’s mouth descended onto hers and kissed her lovingly, taking his time to enjoy the feel of her warm mouth as it moved lazily against his. As badly as he wanted her though he didn’t think it was a good idea; she had been through a lot today and he started to back off a bit, simply holding her close to him. He reveled in the steady beat of her heart against his chest.

“I love you,” he said simply.

“I know. I love you too,” she replied, kissing him again. She noticed he seemed to be pulling back a bit and it puzzled her. “Hey, what’s the deal?”

Mick knew exactly what she was asking. He kissed her lips and then the tip of her nose before speaking. “Beth, you’ve had a really hard day. I think maybe we should just go to sleep, okay? I’ll still be here in the morning, I promise.”

Beth couldn’t help but fight a yawn; she knew he was right but she didn’t want to admit defeat. “There is such a thing as ‘quickies’ you know St. John!”

“Yes, but you deserve so much more. I don’t want to rush anything baby, I want to take my time and kiss and caress every bit of you. So tomorrow, okay?”

Another yawn overtook her and she finally nodded. “Don’t you need to sleep in your freezer?” she asked.

“Why, trying to get rid of me?”

She felt him grin against her cheek and she reached between them and tweaked his nipple.

“Hey, that’s not fair! Hm, maybe you aren’t so tired after all!” he joked. He kissed her and then added, “I can do without the freezer tonight, okay? I just want to hold you in my arms while we sleep.”

“Mick St. John, those are the sweetest words you have ever spoken to me.” She yawned again and snuggled down against his chest. “Goodnight Mick,” she murmured.

“Good night Beth. Sleep well.”



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Dawn came and went and still they slept, wrapped around one another in a snug embrace. Mick woke slowly, feeling Beth against him and enjoyed the warmth of her skin against his own. He looked down at her head, snuggled against his chest and smiled as her soft breaths blew gently and teased the hair on his chest. He wanted this moment to last forever.

Her color was better this morning he noticed and he sent up a small prayer of thanks for that. It had been horrible to have to drink her blood in the desert but she had saved him and he felt like the luckiest man alive because of it. They really were a good team and he hoped that she would want that, maybe even more than that. Would she move in here with him he wondered? Marry him someday even?

A wry thought occurred to him and he decided that today he had to go shopping and get a bed, a real bed that they could share. Also, get some groceries in here and whatever else she might need. He admitted that he really had no true idea of what a human female might need though so he would have to get a bit help with that. He also needed to get a key made.

He chastised himself before he got too carried away because the truth was she might not want to move in here with him. Mick admired her independence as well as her strength and determination and those things might not make moving in here something she would want to do. Suddenly he was aware that she was looking up at him wearing a smile.

“You look pretty serious this morning. Is everything okay?” she asked as she leaned up to kiss his lips.

He returned his kiss enthusiastically and soon it deepened, her mouth opening under his as she melted against him. When she finally pulled away to catch her breath she said, “Good morning!” and then placed a kiss on his neck. She instinctively honed in on the vein and rubbed her tongue up and down it, stroking it lightly and driving him crazy. When he felt her teeth nip lightly at he pulled away. He needed to talk to her and if she continued he knew that wasn’t going to happen, not right away anyway.

So what’s an hour or so Mick?

“Um Beth, that feels wonderful but I really want to talk to you.” He kissed her forehead and then sat up, pulling her with him and making sure she was wrapped in the afghan.

“What’s up Mick? You seem so serious,” she told him, watching his face as he tried to think of how to say it all.

Just talk about the bed and a few basics he decided. Don’t over-whelm her with too many details.

“I’m going shopping today Beth, uh, for a bed. Do you have any preference?”

Her face lit up and she laughed. “What, the couch getting a little too cozy for you Mick?”

“No, I was thinking about other things that we could do in the comfort of a nice large bed? What do you think?”

“Other things huh? Like what?” she teased, tracing a finger down his chest and circling one of his nipples which immediately grew hard. It wasn’t the only thing that was hard she noticed since she was sitting in his lap. She shifted so that she was sitting directly on him and she wiggled herself back and forth over him and was rewarded with a groan. “Like that?”

Mick could feel her wetness spreading over him and smell her arousal and suddenly he didn’t care if they talked about the bed. He lifted her hips and then settled her back down on his aching length and she let out a sigh.

Her hips immediately started working, up and down and twisting in small circles so that he rubbed in all the right places. His head dipped down and captured a rosy pink nipple that immediately blossomed under his ministrations. Beth threw her head back in pleasure, exposing her lovely neck to him and he watched the blood in her veins pound rapidly through them. It was a sirens song and one he couldn’t risk this morning; he had taken too much yesterday.

Beth rode him fiercely, and they both thrilled to the sounds of their lovemaking. Mick dipped a finger down between them and found her swollen love knot and rubbed it gently. She instantly became even wetter and increased her pace, almost frantic now for the sweet oblivion of release.

Mick felt her body start to clench around him, holding him tightly and he knew she was there and he let go too. He brought his arm to his mouth as he felt her spasms begin and she moaned through her orgasm. He bit himself and joined her and she felt the warm rush of his release as it flooded her body.

Beth leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and she caught her breath. “Why didn’t you bite me Mick?”

“Oh baby, I wanted to but I took too much blood yesterday. You need a couple of days to recover, okay? I’m fine, it was okay for me, I promise.”

She nodded in understanding but said, “I get that, but I love it when you do it. It makes it so much better for me.”

“I know baby, I do. Soon, I promise.”

They were quiet for a few minutes and Mick brought the subject of the bed up again. “So, you have no preference for a bed?”

“Right now I’m really digging the couch Mick. Ask me later,” she told him with a giggle.

He laughed and scooped her up into his arms and carried her up to the bathroom so they could shower.

And eventually, they got around to that.



MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML



As they got dressed Mick commented, “You know, you uh, could actually leave something here, for when you stay over, if you want.” He tried to be nonchalant about it but he was afraid it only sounded desperate.

“You want me to stay over sometimes? Really?” she asked, totally pleased. “I could do that, but where would we put my things?”

“Well, I was thinking that when I bought the bed and I could buy the furniture to go with it and then there would be a place for your things. I have another room up here and it would make a nice bedroom.” He watched her reaction and felt his stomach do flip-flops when she was so obviously pleased. “Oh, and I thought I could get you some groceries too, so you have something to eat. You want to make me a list?”

“Sure, that would be good. I’m hungry now, so I’ll stop on the way to Buzzwire for something. What about you?” What she was really asking was if he was going to Josef’s to eat.

“I have some blood in the fridge downstairs, I’ll have that Beth.” He felt she needed a bit of reassurance on the subject.

“Oh. Okay. That sounds good.” She nodded and felt suddenly happier at that news. She smiled at him as she looked into the mirror to make sure that she looked okay. “I’ve got to go, okay? Um, the bed stuff, whatever you like will be fine.”

He nodded and followed her down the stairs and to the door. She kissed him before she left and as she walked down the hall his eyes followed every step, taking in the gentle swell of her hips as she walked. When the elevator door opened she turned and blew him a kiss before stepping in, light-hearted and happy.

It was going to be a great day!



MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML



Right before she left Buzzwire her phone rang twice; the first time it was Josh and she ignored that call but the second time it was Mick and she immediately picked up.

“Hey, so you want to come over and see the bedroom?” he asked, excitement in his voice.

“Sure, I wouldn’t miss it. Uh, how about if I stop at my place and pick up a few things, you know, to put in those drawers?”

Mick grinned like an idiot; she wanted to see him tonight! And, she was bringing things to put in the drawers too. “Would you like me to meet you there, in case you need help? I mean, carrying things.”

“Sure. I’m on my way out now. So, see you in um, 20 minutes or so?”

“Okay. Bye,” he said and pushed the end button. He looked around the room that he had done just for her and he hoped she would like it. He cast one last look around the room to ensure that everything was perfect and then headed out the door on the way to Beth’s apartment.

When he got there Beth was just pulling up. Together they walked up the stairs, fingers entwined, both of them smiling broadly. At her door Mick scented something disturbing, the heated scene she had with Josh the other night and it was terrible. He also knew that Josh didn’t believe it was over and that Beth would still have to deal with him again.

Inside the apartment Beth hung her jacket up on the hooks by the door and made her way into the kitchen to set her purse down on the counter. “Hey, while I gather some clothes and things could you pack my computer into the case there? I’ll need it and somehow I feel naked without it.”

“Naked isn’t such a bad thing Beth,” he teased and then he laughed as he saw her impudently stick her tongue out at him. He almost made a flippant remark about bad girls but decided that if they started on that they would never get out of here. Plus, there was too much Josh still left in the room; he could scent him all over and he had no intention making love to Beth while smelling that.

Instead, he headed over to the desk and started packing up the necessary equipment so that she would be able to use her computer. After he was done he went into her bedroom and watched as she sorted through things to take with her. It wasn’t a huge amount but it was enough to make him see that she intended staying with him a lot. He couldn’t help the grin that lit up his face.

“What are you grinning at?” she asked as she folded night things into neat little piles. Beautiful, scanty night things he realized. He saw her removing the tags on some of it and realized it had never been worn which made him grin even more.

Mick’s brain started racing to think of an answer because he doubted she would like the truth. “Just watching how neatly you are folding everything. I hadn’t expected you to be so neat I guess.” He hoped the answer would satisfy her.

Beth knew a line when she heard it but let it go. It was disconcerting having him in her bedroom and while she wanted him really badly, she wouldn’t do it with him in the bed she had shared with Josh. A new bed would be on her list as well.

Beth packed it all away into a large suitcase and then went into the bathroom for toiletries. Mick heard her humming while she was in there but couldn’t place the tune. This felt so intimate, being here with her in her bedroom as she rummaged around in the bathroom and suddenly he knew he had to get out of there.

“Hey Beth, I think I’ll take the suitcase and computer down to the car okay? I’ll be right back up,” he said, already on his way.

As he came down the steps he was lost in the emotions that were overpowering him; he had never been so happy in his entire life. But that joy kept him from noticing Josh sitting in his car across the street, watching Mick as he loaded the suitcase and computer into the car.

Josh knew it; he knew that all this involved Mick St. John. Now Beth was apparently moving in with him. Well, not if he had anything to say about it that is. When Mick headed back into the apartment Josh started his car and drove away, determined to figure out a way to make Beth see what a mistake this was.



MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML



When Beth and Mick got back to his building she pulled the Prius into the space next to his and hopped out. Mick was already waiting for her and she smiled because he was practically bouncing up and down with happiness. He wore that goofy, half grin he sometimes got when he was really happy and it made her feel good too. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him enthusiastically.

“Whoa Beth, let’s get upstairs,” he laughed.

“What, afraid of a little excitement down here? It could be fun!”

He shook his head and picked up her bag and the computer and headed to the elevator. “C’mon, let’s go upstairs! I have a lot to show you.”

As soon as the door closed behind them Beth made a dash for the stairs. At the bottom step she turned to Mick and said, “C’mon Mick! I’ll race you!”

He laughed and before she even knew it he was past her and waiting at the top of the stairs, bags and all. She blinked her surprise and giggled, taking the stairs two at a time in order to get to him. At the top stair she leaned up and kissed him and then walked past him, throwing a sultry look over her shoulder.

Mick was a smart guy and before she knew it he had set the bags down and scooped her up into his arms. They stood in front of the bedroom door and Mick asked, “Ready?”

Beth’s response was a giggle and a nod. “Okay, close your eyes!” Mick opened the door and carried her in.

“Carrying me over the threshold?” she teased and then grew embarrassed as she realized how her words must have sounded to him. Great, now he thinks I’m not only moving in but looking to get married!

Mick looked at her, trying to decipher her words. Would she even consider marrying me? He wished he dared to ask because nothing would make him happier. Try as hard as he might to be a 21st century guy, the truth was that he was still an ‘old school’ kind of guy and when you loved someone, you married them.

He sat her down on the floor and told her she could open her eyes. When she opened them and took in the sights before her she sighed at the beauty of the room.

“Oh Mick, its perfect! She walked forward to the large king size pedestal bed, in a beautiful teak finish. Four large carved posts decorated each corner and Beth ran her hands lovingly over the smoothly polished wood. The dresser, chest and night stands were all of the same polished teak. The duvet and bedding were all a rich coral color, with cream colored accents. It was girlish enough to please her but the wood of the furnishings also gave it a masculine feel.

She stepped up on the pedestal and sat on the bed, running her fingers over the satiny duvet. She looked up at Mick who was watching her reactions and she patted the bed beside her. “Are you going to stand there all night or are we going to try it out?”

Her words and the fiery look in her eyes made him suck in a deep breath. He could swear that her eyes flashed a dark blue for an instant; a look of intense desire and for a moment his eyes flashed silver in response. They stared into each other’s eyes for a few heartbeats and Beth licked her lips in anticipation.

He finally moved forward to her and she rose from the bed and met him halfway. He pulled her against him and she felt the heated proof of his desire pressing against her belly. He kissed her, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss that seared them both. Beth tipped her head back and Micks mouth slid down, over her jaw where he placed small nibbling kisses only to glide even farther down, to her neck. She arched her neck, offering it to him and thrilled to feel his mouth lovingly kiss it. His tongue traced the vein that was pulsing frantically and he pulled gently at the silken skin with his blunt teeth until her knees started to give away and she was trembling.

His mouth glided back up to her rosy lips that were parted as they waited for his kiss. He scooped her up and carried her back to the bed and gently laid her down on the bedcovers. He stood above her, staring at her beauty and a low growl escaped him as he smelled her desire for him.

“Let’s get rid of a few of these clothes, hm?” he said, unbuttoning her blouse slowly. His eyes never left hers as one by one the buttons opened revealing her satiny skin. His eyes swept downward to look at her as he drew a finger down her neck and over her collar bone. His mouth followed the path, nibbling along the way. Goosebumps rose in the wake of his mouth and Beth shivered with desire.

Mick eased her blouse off of her and slipped his fingers into the sheer lace of her bra, dipping to find nipples that were already puckered with need. His mouth captured one through the lace of her bra and tugged gently on it. A small mewl of desire escaped Beth’s lips and Mick smiled as he gave her other breast the same attention.

Her heart was racing and the scent of her arousal filled his senses, enthralling him, making him want her so badly that he had to fight himself to wait to take her. He reached down and unfastened the clasp of the bra and she shrugged out of it. He tossed it carelessly to the floor, joining her blouse. Mick then unfastened her slacks and slid them down her legs, letting his hands caress her skin as he went. One final tug pulled them free from her feet and she lay before him, wearing only tiny lace panties.

He stared at her, mesmerized as he realized he could see the proof of her desire through the lace, the outline of her swollen lips and the tight knot of desire that were already bathed in the juices of her need for him. Mick swallowed hard and repeated the action as he imagined tasting her.

Beth looked into his eyes that were just beginning to silver with his need. She slipped her panties off and handed them to him. He raised them to his face and inhaled, letting the scent of her arousal flow through him. His eyes raked at her hungrily, first watching the pulse that was thrumming wildly in her neck and then down to the twin rosebuds that topped the swell of her breasts. Finally they came to rest on the blonde curls that covered her wet folds. A finger slipped between them and he stroked delicately, feeling the slickness of her juices cover his fingers.

He delved first one and then another finger into her silken depths, stroking her until he felt her muscles grip him in response. When he pulled his fingers out of her he slipped them into his mouth and tasted her which sent an immediately signal to his inner vamp. It demanded to come out and Mick quickly removed his clothes and joined her on the bed, spreading her legs apart a bit farther before burying his face in her honeyed folds. His mouth and lips paid homage to her, before his tongue started a slow and sensual dance up and down the slippery valley. He lightly sucked on her flesh and was rewarded with a loud moan as she pushed her hips up to his mouth, urging him to lick harder and faster.

Mick was happy to oblige. He worshiped her, kissing and licking until she was coming undone for him, her hips gyrating wildly with her release. After she settled down a bit he started kissing his way upwards until he could capture her mouth in a searing kiss.

“Mick, I want to taste you, please?” she begged as she reached for his hardened length.

“No Beth, tonight it’s all about you,” he murmured against her neck, nuzzling it with his lips before nipping lightly at it. He slid himself into her depths, driving all the way in before kissing her mouth again. His tongue stroked her boldly, twisting and entwining with hers as their tongues mated in a scorching dance that melted them both.

Beth’s legs came around Micks hips and she moved with him; coming together and then moving smoothly apart. On and on it went until both of them were panting and ready to come.

“Please Mick, bite me,” she begged, aching for the bite that connected them.

He wanted that bite, but he was so afraid it was too soon. He decided that he’d only bite and take a mouthful, just one. He needed her, the essence of her. She saw the vamp emerge in him and thrilled as she realized she had won, that he would bite her. Her neck arched in invitation and after a few more strokes he was ready, they both were and he lowered his head, sniffing along the vein to find the right spot.

Beth fell over the edge when she felt his mouth on her neck and when the bite came she immediately shattered again, screaming his name. Goose bumps covered her body and her hips jerked wildly, pushing against him in abandon.

When his fangs sank into the delicate skin of her neck Mick almost swooned with the pleasure that the bite brought him. He let her sweet, passion filled blood flow over his tongue as he took one mouthful, then another before he pulled his mouth away because he couldn’t trust himself to stop. He gently licked at the marks, sealing them with a final kiss and then rolled to his side, pulling her with him.

Mick listened as her breathing returned to normal and her heartbeat slowed a bit. Beth rested her head against his chest and her fingers played lightly in the fine hairs that covered his chest. She sighed and curled up a bit tighter.

“Are you cold Beth?” he asked, immediately worried about her.

“Um, a little. Can we get under the covers?” she asked, smiling up at him.

He stood up and pulled the covers back, sliding them under her body so she didn’t have to get up. “Um, satin sheets! Wow Mick, you really went all out.”

He grinned and went to the dresser and lit a candle that was on top of it. It cast a warm mellow glow about the room and in the flickering light he could see her eyes sparkle as she smiled at him.

He crawled back into the bed with her and she snuggled closer, wrapping an arm around him and draping her leg over his.

“Happy?” he dared to ask; he held his breath waiting for her answer.

“Yes. I’ve never been happier! But there is one thing wrong; just one tiny little thing really!” she teased.

He looked at her with alarm, almost afraid to ask. “What’s wrong baby?”

“I’m starving! Do you think we can go downstairs and find some of that food you bought me?”

He gave her the lop-sided grin again and said, “Whatever you want!”



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The next few days flew past as Beth and Mick worked a case involving a missing call girl, a dead call girl and a juvenile delinquent 16 year old vampire who was going on 197 years old. It was actually two cases that turned out to be the same one and when it was done one of the girls went home with her parents and the other was buried, lost to this world.

It was a difficult case and made both Mick and Beth think about their lives and the newfound happiness they shared. When they weren’t working they made love and shared meals. Mick was self-conscious at first about drinking his meals in front of her, but she finally got it though to him that it didn’t bother her a bit. Once or twice he had a ‘fresh’ meal at Josef’s and although Beth wasn’t thrilled about it, she accepted it when Mick assured her there was nothing going on but feeding.

She understood all that better after the situation in the desert. When it finally occurred to her that he truly did see the freshies as only food she was okay with it. Well, if she were really honest maybe not ‘okay’ but she could live with it. It was a part of his life and so she accepted it.

What bothered her the most was knowing that the girls felt pleasure in his bite. It wasn’t that she wanted him to hurt them, but did he have to make them so damn happy? She decided that she just couldn’t think about it anymore and put it out of her mind.

A few days after they wrapped the call girls murder up she got a call from Mo to cover a fashion shot. Mo was pissed because Beth refused to bring in cameras to cover the reuniting of the one of the girls and her parents and since them Mo had sent her on every type of shoot except for crime stories, knowing how much Beth detested it. So that afternoon Beth and Steve found themselves at a high-fashion shoot with models who were veritable stick figures in clothes as Beth described, ‘fashion only a broomstick could wear’. Steve teased her about her harsh and condescending attitude but she didn’t care, the whole shoot was boring.

Until Renee Beresford, one of the models collapsed into convulsions and died, right in front of them all. Steve captured it all on tape and Beth counted that a stroke of luck.

They were getting ready to file their report when Carl and Josh walked in, taking charge of the crime scene. Beth could only stare at Josh for a moment; they hadn’t seen each other since she broke up with him.

“Beth,” Josh said, smiling at her. This could be just what he needed he decided to get her back.

“Hi Josh…Carl,” she said, nodding to the detective.

“You get any video on this Beth?” Carl asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m gonna need that tape he said,” and Beth’s curiosity immediately kicked in and she asked why.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave this crime scene,” Carl countered as Steve handed him the tape.

“Crime scene?” Beth asked.

Josh told her, “I’m asking you not to follow this story Beth.”

“Why? Since when did this become a crime scene Josh?”

He didn’t answer but only walked her to the door, thinking of what he wanted to say to her. “Hey Beth, things have been really crazy lately, but how about dinner soon, just so we can talk?”

“Josh, we said everything we needed to say,” she told him, already dismissing the idea.

“Yeah, I know how you feel but come on Beth, we were together for a year! Don’t you feel like you owe me a dinner to, I don’t know, finish things out?”

“Closure? You want closure? Is that what this is about Josh?”

It absolutely wasn’t; he figured if he could get her alone he could talk some sane, rational sense into her. But he was willing to play whatever cards he had in order to get what he wanted. “Yes, I need that Beth. Please?”

“Okay. I’ll call you next week and we can talk.”

Beth walked to the Buzzwire van unaware of the satisfied smile that Josh wore.

On the way back to Buzzwire Beth asked Steve, “Have you ever heard of Club Valis?”

Steve frowned for a moment and replied, “Nope. What is it?”

“Some new club in town. One of the models I talked to mentioned that Renee was there last night and that this morning she said that she was quitting modeling. Something must have happened there.

“Maybe. Who knows? So how pissed is Mo going to be that we don’t have a tape?” he grinned.

Beth laughed, but it was a wry laugh. Mo was going to be plenty pissed but Beth was already working on a way to redeem herself. She needed back on the crime beat.



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Beth did some research and found Club Valis and made plans to head there that evening. She got ready from her apartment because Mick was working on some case for Josef. She spent way too much time getting ready but she knew how those clubs worked, you had to look fantastic to get past the doorman and she definitely wanted past.

At the door she got right in and after talking to a few people discovered a VIP room that had her curious. She couldn’t get past the door guard though and she left, puzzling over how to make it past him.

She lucked out when she got a call from Ryan at the morgue saying she could look at Renee’s body. Beth discovered that there had been a computer chip in Renee’s hand and she remembered how the door guard scanned her hand before refusing her entry. She knew that she had found her invitation.

She ran into Mick outside and he told her he could help with the microchip issue. While he was implanting it in her hand he told her about what he was working on for Josef. He was trying to find a woman named Lola who had made off with a million of Josef’s dollars. He had tracked her and found out that she had bought a large amount of silver, which was deadly to vamps. Beth told him that what had likely killed Renee Beresford was silver that she got in a drug at Club Valis. Mick decided he needed to check the club out with Beth.

Outside Club Valis they went their separate ways; Mick to gain entry through a window because he didn’t have a chip and Beth through the door. When the door guard scanned her hand he let her in but immediately went to Lola and told her that Beth had Renee’s chip.

Upstairs was like some kind of drug parlor, people engaged in various acts, some sexual and some not but all apparently under the influence of some kind of drug. A server came by and offered Beth Black Crystal, which she accepted and slipped into her purse.


“We prefer you consume it on the premises,” a sultry voice with a British accent said.

Beth looked at the woman; she was beautiful and she looked at Beth with a penetrating gaze that disconcerted her.

“I’m going to share it with a friend,” she said.

Just then Mick appeared and said, “Am I late? You must be Lola.”

“And you are?” she asked, immediately recognizing that he was a vamp.

“We have a mutual friend. He’s worried about you.”

“Trust me, he’s not worried. Is this your little friend here?” She walked around Beth, eyeing her and said to her, “Your friend and I have something in common but you can see that can’t you?”

“Leave her alone!” Mick demanded. To Beth he said, “You got what you wanted now leave.”

“He has feelings for you but he hasn’t turned you. Don’t you want to know what it feels like to move through the night so powerful nothing can touch you?” She indicated the Black Crystal and said, “Try it, just once and you’ll see.”

Just them the lights started flashing and people were yelling that LA PD was there and it was a raid. Lola whispered into Beth’s ear, “Remember darling, half the world is night!”

Josh and Carl came up the stairs and saw Mick and Beth. Josh looked defeated but told Carl to search everyone, beginning with Mick. It infuriated Beth as she watched Carl push Mick roughly up against a column to pat him down. She and Mick got separated and she sat outside waiting to talk to Josh about what she had been doing there. He was upset because he had told her not to follow the case.

“You were there with Mick.” It was an accusation.

“Yes, I was. We’re together now, but we were only working a case Josh. We weren’t there to party.”

“You and Mick huh? I thought you said it wasn’t about him?”

“Things have changed since then Josh. I love him and he loves me; that’s not going to change.”

Josh digested the information and it finally made sense to him and fell into place – he had lost her, really lost her; to Mick St. John of all people. He sighed and said, “Come on, I’ll take you home, okay?”

She nodded; it was against her better judgment, but she went with him. She figured that the whole way to her apartment would be an interrogation but surprisingly he was silent for most of the ride. When he pulled up in front of her building he said, “I have to admit that I’m sorry things worked out this way Beth, but I really hope St. John deserves you. “

“Thanks Josh. He is a good man, he really is.”

“Yeah, a good man. Well, take care.” He watched her get out of the car and head into her apartment. It was over and it was time to move on.

Beth got out of the car and shut it softly and ran up the steps at her apartment. She didn’t look back.



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Beth tried calling Mick a couple of times but his phone went straight to voice mail. While she waited for him to get home she started to investigate the BC. She opened the vial and sniffed it; it smelled really weird. She was tempted to taste it but decided against it. Instead she sat and pensively stared at the computer but all she could think about were Lola’s words, “Don’t you want to know what it feels like to move through the night so powerful nothing can touch you? Try it, just once and you’ll see.”

What did that feel like she wondered? What did Mick feel as he went through his life? The thoughts went round and round in her head and she finally decided what she was going to do.

An hour later she knocked on Mick’s door. She had a key but still felt a bit strange using it. Mick answered right away.

“Hi,” she said, walking in and taking her coat off.

“Hi,” he answered back, pulling her to him for a kiss.

“I walked all the way here,” she told him, looking around the room.

Mick could only stare at her in puzzlement. She was wearing something that could only loosely be called a dress; it looked more like a slip to him and she was acting really strange. “Why would you do that Beth?”

“I wanted to feel the night,” she told him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down for another kiss.

“Did you take some of that drug Beth?”

“No. I thought about it, but then I decided it wasn’t what I want.” She ran her finger down his lips and said, “I’m going upstairs Mick, join me.”

He stared at her as she walked up the stairs. What the hell was going on he wondered. No matter, he followed her and found her in the bathroom pulling her dress off and turning the shower on. She stood under the spray and held her hand out to Mick.

He wasted no time shedding his own clothes and stepped into the shower with her. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her, her face, her lips, and her neck.

“Yes Mick, that’s it. Mick, turn me!”

“What?” He took a step away from her and looked down at her, meeting her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on Beth, but I’m not going to do this, not like this.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for days Mick. I know what I’m getting into. Turn me, now please.” She entwined her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth back down to hers. “Turn me Mick, NOW!”

“Oh baby, are you sure you want this? Really sure? Beth this changes everything about your life, you know that.”

“I know Mick. Now, turn me!” she demanded.

Mick sank to the floor of the shower and pulled her down with him. “Baby, this isn’t so easy. I have to drink a lot of your blood and you’ll feel dizzy and light-headed and your heart will slow down. It’s scary Beth. And then you’ll have to drink my blood. Can you do that?”

To demonstrate she bit him on the neck, hard enough to break the skin and she lapped at his blood and immediately felt a rush of energy flow through her. “DO it Mick!”

He buried his face in her hair and kissed her lips again and listed to her heartbeat; a sound he wouldn’t hear any longer. Tears ran down his cheek, mixing with the warm water of the shower. “Beth,” he almost cried. “Are you sure?”

“Yes Mick. I’m positive. I want this; I want to be with you. Do you want that too?”

If he were really honest with himself he knew that he wanted that more than anything. She seemed so sure as she waited for him to make his decision, not afraid at all. She was his mate; this was meant to be.

He dipped his head to claim her lips in a kiss; his lips opening and playing deliciously with hers. He shifted her on his lap so that his hand could stroke her warm and wet depths in an effort to relax her even more. Soon, she was moaning and squirming with the pleasure he was brining her.

His mouth slid to her neck and struck quickly and surely; her blood started to flow into his mouth and he drank, trying not to suck to hard because he didn’t want to collapse the vein. It brought her over the edge and she came against his hand, panting through her orgasm.

Beth felt herself sinking or maybe floating was a better word. Yes, floating on a cloud. She felt the rhythmic pull of his mouth against her neck and she realized she was having a hard time breathing.

“Mick, don’t stop. I love you Mick…don’t stop.”

Mick continued to drink, paying attention to her heartbeat which was beginning to slow down.

“I love you…don’t stop Mick. I love you…I love yo…”

He pulled away, realizing he had taken enough of her blood. He used his fang to tear open a gash on her wrist and held it to her mouth. “Drink Beth, c’mon baby drink for me.”

The blood dripped into her mouth and suddenly he saw her tongue creep out and lick it off of her lips. She then pulled his wrist to her mouth and drank deeply until she had taken enough. Mick pulled his arm away and held her close.

Beth was between worlds, not quite dead and not quite alive either. There was no bright lights, only a heady feeling and then the delicious taste of Mick’s blood. God, she couldn’t get enough of the blood and she drank until she could drink anymore. She was at peace.



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Mick washed and rinsed her body and then dried her off lovingly. He placed her into the freezer before drying himself off and crawling in with her. It was cozy and he knew that soon there would be another purchase he would need to make; a new, bigger freezer.

She rested for several hours with Mick watching her carefully. She was still breathing, a reflex left over from her humanity. When her eyes opened she looked around and saw Mick holding her. She smiled at him, reaching up to feel for fangs.

“Didn’t it work?” she asked when she didn’t feel them.

“Yes, as soon as you’re hungry they’ll come down, I promise.” He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her tenderly.

“We’re in the freezer,” she noticed.

“Um hm; I put you in here as soon as I got you dried off. Your hair was still a bit damp though, sorry.”

“No matter. I made it. You did it Mick!”

“Yeah. Are your happy Beth?” He was almost afraid to hear her answer.

“I couldn’t be happier. Thank you Mick.”

“You’re welcome Beth. You are my life and it means so much to me that you wanted to share this with me. Thank you Beth.” He kissed her and felt her fangs start to poke through. He traced them with his tongue and then smiled as he said, “I think you must be hungry.”

“Yes, a little. I’m hungry for our new lives to start. I love you Mick!”

“I love you too Beth. Always.”

“Forever Mick.”



The End…Beginning.



Thank you for reading my sometimes strange and Twisted tale of what if for Mick and Beth. Your comments are the perfect encouragement for an author to hear. I love hearing what you think and all the speculation. It makes it all worthwhile! There will be a second set of stories in the Twisted family in the new year as Beth learns to cope with her new life and threat comes along that could change their lives together forever.

I have to say a special and heartfelt thanks to VF5 for all her help, ideas and opinions that were so freely offered and shared as I wrote this story. Without her, it might now have ever taken shape. Julia, you are the best!