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A Vampire's Reward

By: A Vampire's Reward



I missed them all so much, especially mom and dad. They were so kind to me when really they could have forced me to marry anyone they wanted back in those long ago days, but didn't. Mom and dad didn't care if their oldest daughter was considered a spinster. They respected my wishes to marry someday for love, not because society expected me to marry by a certain age. 

Imagine everyone's surprise, including my own, when a man finally came along. It happened when I was at my cousin's home for the first dance of the fall season. He was a tall, dark haired man and he asked me to dance. I was shocked really; no one had asked me to dance the entire year. Then out of nowhere this blue eyed man with chiseled features and the most irresistible mouth I ever saw, asked me to dance. 

Oh it was heaven. I didn't know till then just how much I missed the feel of having a man hold me in his arms and waltz me around a room. He was so handsome, his manners so perfect. He never took his eyes from me not even to look at the younger women who danced by us trying to catch his attention. The whole night he kept me laughing with stories, stories that he said were true. I would have bet what little money I had saved that they all were made up. 

Little by little I found out his name was Dante Wilder. He was there for a month on holiday to visit his family and some friends. I never bothered to ask who they were or how he even came to be at my cousin's party. All I knew was that he was different then any man who I had talked or danced with before in my life and that he wanted to dance every dance with me. 

It was late in the night when the dance finally broke up and the guests started leaving in their horse drawn carriages. My family and I were spending the night and would be leaving early in the morning. I walked out with Dante, watching as his sleek and rather large carriage pulled up to a perfect stop right in front of us.

Dante turned to me and bent at the waist, lifting my gloved hand to his mouth. The heat of his kiss went all the way through the silk material of my gloves. Then he looked up at me, "May I see you tomorrow night, Marina?"

I watched as he raised back to his full height and my mouth went dry. I swallowed a couple of times and then finally answered. "I'm sorry but we are leaving in the morning for home."

A look of disappointment crossed his face. "Where do you and your family live?"

"It's a days drive by carriage from here to our home in the north."

"I must see you again, Marina. Please say you will not turn me away if I show up unannounced?"

I looked over my shoulder to see my parents watching us, both of them smiling with joy to see a man take interest in me. I looked back at him, "Whenever you arrive Dante; I will not turn you away from our door."

His smile lit up his face so much his eyes seemed to glow. "You have filled my heart with joy, Marina. As soon as I can dear I will come to you."

He gave my hand another kiss then stepped back. "Till we meet again Marina, may you dream only of me."

His eyes had a hold over me as he stared into mine. "I will dream only of you, Dante. Good night."

With a short bow toward my parents, he quickly climbed into his carriage and his driver got the horses underway. I could not move from where I stood till at last the night swallowed his carriage from my sight. 

That night my sleep was not peaceful. Dreams kept waking me with images of blood red lips and blue eyes filled with an un-human like glow about them. The strangest thing was that every time I would awake, my hand would be at my throat, acting as a barrier but against what I did not know. 

The next morning my mother woke me so I could begin getting ready for our journey. I was so tired from lack of sleep that I dreaded the trip home. The bumpy roads and uncomfortable carriage seats won't even allow me the chance to rest along the way.

Once home it took all my strength to stay awake through dinner before finally retiring to my room. After slipping into my favorite sleeping gown and into my own bed I fell asleep quickly. The dreams came again but this time they didn't disturb my sleep. The blood red lips and glowing eyes had filled out completely to take the form of Dante's image, which must have removed the fear that I was felt the night before and helped me to sleep. 

All week long Dante was in my thoughts and dreams. No matter what I was doing he was there. Whether I was completing my chores or helping one of my younger sisters, he always seemed to be right there with me.

I grew depressed as the days went by, thinking that he had forgotten all about me or that some young beautiful girl may had turned his head after my return trip home. Every night I sat at my bedroom window, hoping for the sound or the sight of a carriage to come down the drive. Even the weather seemed to match my mood, changing from warm fall breezes and sunshine to the cold winds and clouds of winter in less than a week's time. Little did I know of what changes were about to happen on what came to be my final night at home.

Sleep would not come to me that last night. It was so very cold and snow had been falling all day and looked to be well over ankle deep. I loved the snow and how beautiful it looked. Everything was so different when it was covered over by a white fluffy blanket after a storm. 

I stoked the fire in my room and wrapped one of my mother's quilts around me, returning to my seat by the window. The snowstorm had finally come to an end and the moon was breaking through the clouds, showing me how deep the snow was. No carriages would be able to get through this night, not even in an emergency. 

I was about to lay down and try to sleep when suddenly I spot a dark figure moving along the fence line through the drifting snow. Who ever it was they didn't appear to be having any trouble walking through the snow on the ground. When I seen the figure turn toward our house off the lane I quietly left my room and went downstairs, looking out the window by the door only to gasp when Dante's face appeared before me. I pulled the door open to see his blue eyes staring back at me through a curtain of snow being blown off the roof. 

"Come in Dante, come in." I said quietly as I reached out and pulled him in. My fingers turned to ice upon touching his bare hand. I placed them between my own and began to rub, trying to warm them.

"Are you glad to see me, my love?" He asked in a soothing voice. 

"Dante I'm so glad you're here but you shouldn't have risked your life to come this night."

I look down at the puddle forming at his feet and my hands move over his coat feeling the wetness. Without thinking I pull his coat open to feel his clothing inside and found that they to was wet. "Oh love you're soaked all the way through. You need to get out of those wet clothes before you catch your death. What you really need most of all is a fire to warm you but it will take too long to start one."

I thought for a moment. "I know what we can do. If you're very quiet I can sneak you up to my room. I have a fire already going and we can get you warmed up in no time."

I took his hand and lead him up the stairs, dodging lose boards that creaked and finally got him into my room. "You're going to have to remove that wet clothing, Dante. While you do that, I'll fix some blankets and quilts by the fireplace for you."

I remove the quilt that I had draped around myself, "Here take this and wrap it around yourself when you're done." I tried hard not to look over at him as I pulled two quilts from my bed and spread them out before the fire making a pallet for him on the floor. Just as I placed the pillows down I felt him step beside me. "Come, Dante and lay before the fire, you need to get warm."

He stretched out his long body and rested his head on one of my pillows, and then I spread out the rest of my bed covering over him. While looking down at him I remembered that my little sister stayed out in the cold to long once almost freezing to death and that mom got into bed with her to help warm her. So without hesitation I climbed under the covers with him and pressed myself close. I rubbed my hand over his chest through the quilt he had against his skin as he laid on his back, mumbling under my breath, "I can't have you catching cold and dying on me. Not after I've just found you."

He turned on his side to face me, putting his back to the fire. Then he reached out and pulled me close. "Your body will help warm me more then anything, Marina."

I know I should have felt afraid being so close to him, especially since he was naked under that quilt, but I didn't. I don't know what it is but it just felt right to be here with him like that. 

Under the covers my hands somehow found their way under the quilt to touch upon his bare chest. My hands seem to have a mind all of their own as they changed from a healing touch to a caress. "Why did you come to me on such a terrible night Dante? What is it you see in me that no other man ever has?"

He brought a hand up to my cheek and slid the back of his fingers against my skin. "What I see Marina, is a beautiful, strong woman, who stood up for what she believes is in, but I also see more then that." His fingertips lightly moved over my lips. "I also see a woman who cares for her family and friends deeply. Who has her own thoughts and knows her own mind. And most of all, Marina, I see a woman who knows her own heart and knows exactly what it will take to please its desires."

I trembled as he brought my hand up to his cheek. "I can fulfill all of your heart's desires, Marina, if you let me."

He kissed my fingertips, caressing each one with his lips before he placed a gentle kiss in my palm. Next I his mouth was at my wrist; its touch making my pulse jump. He softly moaned as the fingers on my other hand curl against his chest lightly scratching him. "I know what you hunger for, Marina."

He leaned in and brushed his soft lips to mine. Then he kissed me a second time; the gentle pressure of his kiss parted my lips for his tongue. His mouth swallowed my moan as he slowly stroked his tongue inside, making me whimper with need when he pulled away. "I can make your body ache so badly with hunger, Marina. I have so many ways that I could show you, that could satisfy you with, my love." 

I moaned as his words seem to do just that. I ached with hunger for him like I'd never had for anyone before in my life. I took his hand and placed it low on my belly. "I'm so empty inside and so hungry for your touch." 

Some strange power seemed to take over. It made me act boldly as I took his hand and placed it between my legs, pushing the gown and his hand up against my sex. My need for him caused me to rub myself shamelessly against it. "I can't stop thinking about you or dreaming about you. This ache never goes away, it just keeps growing stronger and stronger. Everything I do to try and ease it only ends up making it worse Dante. Please, I beg of you..."

My voice trailed off into a moan when he growled low in his throat and cupped my sex, pushing his hand into my grinding motions. Before I knew it he had my gown off and had me on my back underneath him, cradling him between my thighs as he pressed his mouth hard to mine, thrusting his tongue deep inside. His cock up pressed against me, so big and hard, making my hunger grow hot and so out of control that I rubbed my wetness up against him with each thrust of his tongue into my mouth. 

He took my hands from his body and put them beside my head, twining our fingers together as his mouth moved down over my throat to the side of my neck. He whispered against my pounding pulse. "Soon you will be mine."

As the fire crackled beside us his mouth moved to my breasts. I gasped out when he licked around my nipple in a circle. My back arched upward against his tongue and I moaned deeply when his lips wrapped around it and began to suck. I felt on fire as wetness flooded between my legs.

I lifted my head and watched him slide downward, his sinful mouth causing my belly to quiver under his kiss. He let go of my hands and looked up at me, our eyes locked on each other. He pushed my legs open wider as he moved down farther, a wicked grin crossed his face and his eyes appeared to glow. Then I watched as he closed them and took a deep breath, "You smell so sweet, Marina. I can't wait a moment longer to taste you." 

My body shook with a mixture of hunger, lust and a bit of fear. He turned his gaze upward and held me in place with just a look. Then he slid his tongue out between his lips, the fire highlighting its wetness as he worked the tip into my slit. 

"Dante..." My startled cry slipped out before my hands could cover my mouth. His tongue flicked me again and I let out a muffled squeal as my body jerked up hard from the floor to push my flesh against his hot tongue. 

I heard him growl and the next thing I knew he opened his mouth wide and clamped it tight to my pussy, creating suction so strong that it felt like he was going to suck me completely into his mouth. And his tongue did such wicked things to me. It moved up and down, dipped in and out, and flicked over and around my clit. My insides grew so hot and tight. I felt on the verge of the biggest orgasm of my life as my body strained toward his mouth.

I pulled my hands from my mouth just long enough to beg, "Please, Dante."

He gazed up at my face and broke the suction of his mouth, only to wrap his lips around my throbbing clit and began to suck. That depraved tongue flicked on the tip between each suckle before he bit down on my clit, causing my orgasm to explode.

The juices poured from inside as wave after wave of pleasure went through me. I heard him moaning and sucking between my legs, his greedy tongue lapping at my wetness like he couldn't get enough of me.

After muffling my cries with my hands they fell to my sides. "Oh Dante..."

He slid his wet tongue up my body and dipped it into my mouth and I tasted myself on his lips. My legs spread farther apart as he settled once again between my thighs, his cock teasing my pussy lips apart. The head rubbed over my still sensitive clit and I jerked under him, filling his mouth with my moan. 

His hand slid between us, guiding the head of his cock and then he pushed in. He felt so big, the only thing that has ever penetrated me before had been my own fingers. I cried out when he pressed up against the barrier inside me, making my muscles clamp around him hard.

"Shush, it's all right, love." He softly whispered. His trembling hands stroked over me, calming me a little. He slowly began to move back and forth inside me, always stopping when he reached the barrier. In and out, over and over he moved a little faster each time, then I felt a change in him. He kissed me hard and when he thrust his tongue inside my mouth he thrust his cock all the way inside, breaking the barrier and causing me to cry out into his mouth. My fingernails raked over his back and my pussy squeezed him tight as the pain spread through me.

Tears filled my eyes and spilled over, and then I felt his lips as he kissed each one away. "I'm sorry, my love, it had to be this way."

My tears finally stop and the pain had begun to ease when he started moving inside me again. I gasped at a twinge of pain but also at the feeling of my flesh clinging to his cock. "It will get better, Marina. I promise."

My hands squeezed his shoulders as he pushed back inside, feeling like he was going even deeper then before. "Dante..."

He continued to stroke his cock into me faster and faster. The sensations running through me made me think of animals mating in the wild. I wanted something more. Something I knew he could give me but I sensed he was holding himself back. My body started to respond more. My hips lifted to meet him thrust for thrust. My legs wrapped around him to where my heels dug into his rear as I tried to pull him into me harder, still he resisted. I pulled his mouth to mine thrusting my tongue between his lips and this time it was me who swallowed his moan. I placed my mouth next to his ear, sucking on the lobe then whispering to him, "Harder, Dante, I won't break. I need you to let go. Don't hold back from me."

"No!" He growled out. 

"Yes!" I growled right back before moving my mouth down the side of his neck and lightly biting him.

That seemed to break his control as he stiffened for a moment then thrust in harder, making me moan against his neck. His fingers slid into my hair and pulled my head back down to the pillow and he hungrily attached his mouth to mine. Then he tore away from my lips to growl out. "Mine! No one else will ever have you."

I gasped at the sight of his eyes glowing blood red above me. His facial features were tightly stretched. And his teeth, god his teeth had changed and were protruded from his mouth. Fear shot through me at the sight of him but in a matter seconds something changed in my mind. Dante's sweet voice soothed me like a physical touch even though his lips never once moved. "Don't be afraid of me, Marina. I won't hurt you. I love you. Loved you for longer then you could ever imagine. I waited as long as I could, my love. Now I've come to make you mine forever."

A burst of heat and desire shot through me and I groan, wrapping my legs around him tighter. The beast in him was taking over now, making me his. He pulled my head to the side so hard and all I could do was return his savage thrust with my own. 

"Mine!" He growled out again before a white hot flash of pain pierced my neck as he sank his teeth into my skin. I heard the sound of them popping into the vein. Then his mouth took a deep suckle and my insides tightened so suddenly. My sex grabbed his cock, squeezing him so tight that he growled again and sank his teeth in even deeper. His name ripped through my mind sounding so real I thought I had screamed it as my orgasm shook me to the very core.

He pounded his cock in hard and fast, slamming himself in deeper till at last he spilled his seed, grunting against my neck with each twitch of his cock inside me. 

I grew light headed. My arms and legs began weak and fell away from Dante's body, and still he suckled the blood from my neck. The room began to darken around the edges of my vision till only a small circle of light was left. Before I blacked out completely I whispered. "Dante..."

The next thing I remember was floating around in complete blackness and hearing someone call my name. The voice was so far away I could not tell who it belonged to, but suddenly a strange flying sensation came over me. Then something warm and thick filled my mouth and I swallowed. A voice kept telling me to suckle, so I did, and more of the warm fluid filled my mouth.

A burst of energy unlike anything I'd felt before exploded inside me. My eyes popped open and the room looked so bright and colorful that I had to close them again to block out the pain. "Come on love; open your beautiful eyes for me." I heard Dante's voice speaking to me. Slowly this time I open my eyes, ready for the bright colors to burst. 

"That's it, Marina, come back to me." He whispered. I then noticed him holding his arm toward my face and that my mouth was sucking from his wrist. 

I was so hungry for the warm liquid filling my mouth. Dante whispered almost desperately, "Stop, love. Stop!"

He had to jerk his wrist from my mouth and that was when I realized what he had done. He had turned me into the monster he was and the warm liquid that I had been drinking was his blood. I open my mouth and with trembling lips could say only one word, "Why?"

He quickly dressed and then wrapped me up with all the covering that was on the floor. Somehow without making any noise he got us outside and that is where things seemed to turn even stranger. It felt like we were flying but I knew we couldn't be because I could just make out the blurring landscape and see that we were still on the ground.


A Vampire's Reward



The sky had turned lighter in the east when we finally stopped at what looked like an old castle. I was so tired as he carried me inside, not even during past illnesses had I felt this tired.

A few moments later my body was laid down and I opened my eyes to see Dante there beside me, closing a coffin lid over us. Fear filled my throat and came out in a frantic cry. "What are you doing Dante? Get me out of here."

Instead he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, kissing me softly. "It's all right, my love, really. It's for our protection. You're a vampire now and you have to hide from the sunlight, just like all of our kind has to."

"But why did you turn me into, into... Oh god! Why turn me into a vampire Dante? I would have loved you no matter what."

He kissed my forehead. "I know you would have, but you would have also come to hate me, Marina. You'll find out soon enough that time has little affect on a vampire. So while we both may grow older it would've been only you who would show the passage of time. But I have another more selfish reason for changing you, love."

His voice stopped but I still felt his breath upon my skin. "What reason could you have that I would understand, Dante?"

"The reason I made you into the monster that I am is this, Marina. You would have grown old and died without me. You would have left me here, existing here without you forever. All these years that I have lived so far would seem like heaven compared to the living hell my life would be without you beside me. I could not and would not let that happen, no matter how much you may come to hate me for what I've done to you."

My eyes burned with the feeling of unshed tears but none would fall. "I'm sorry, Dante. I didn't think of it like that."

He kissed me softly. "This is all new to you, love and I've had years to think about it. Actually, I've thought of it since the first time I saw you and fell in love with you as a little girl. Do you remember a summer when you and your family went swimming at that lake one night to try and cool off from the heat?"

A few seconds pass before the memory came back, "Yes, I remember. I almost drowned because I went out to far. I went under the water and got tangled in some weeds or something. Then someone grabbed me and lifting me, weeds and all, from the bottom and took me to the surface. I never saw who it was, I guess I just automatically thought it was dad who saved me. Are you telling me it was you?"

"Yes love, it was me who saved you. After that I tried to keep watch over you when I could. Over time, as you grew up, I came to love you more and more. It nearly killed me watching you dance with those boys when you were younger. I wanted to kill each one of them for touching the girl I loved. You don't know how happy it made me that you decided to wait and marry someone you loved instead of going into marriage because it was expected of you. So while you finished growing up into the wonderful and beautiful woman you are, I waited and prayed that no one would come and take you from me before I could make you mine." 

"Now close your eyes, sunrise will soon be here, then you can rest. I promise I will take care of you and show you all the new things your body can do now that you're a vampire. We can do so many things together and we will have centuries to love each other unlike mortals who have only a short time. Nothing will ever come between us."

I blinked a few times and the vision and memories faded as my mind pulled back from the past to take in the current view of the Smoky Mountains before me. I can still hear Dante's words ringing in my ears even now.

"You lied to me Dante. You said we would have centuries to love each other. Now look who is the one that got left behind." I whisper those words with my head pressed against the window and my fingers caressing my necklace. Turning away from the predawn sky, I went to my basement chambers and prepare to climb into my coffin bed. It's the very same bed that my beloved Dante shared with me that he had made special for us well over a hundred years ago. 

Once inside I curled up on my side, hugging the pillow he rested his head upon against my chest. His scent still lingers on it. Feeling something on my cheek I wiped it away with my fingertips only to see that it is a drop of blood that had slipped from my eye. 

"Even after all this time Dante I still cry for you," I whispered against his pillow, placing a kiss there before sleep finally took me. 

*

The following evening I woke with Dante's pillow still clutched to my chest. I rubbed a hand across my face and came away with dried blood on it, evidence that I had cried in my sleep during the day. Slowly I pulled myself together and turned onto my back as my senses took control and checked for any signs of trouble.

I checked the area around my coffin first and found it safe. Next I searched the rest of the house and found that everything was in order. My mental vision searched for Chad and Rose, finding them just sitting down to dinner together in the dining room. Even though I haven't found anything wrong I have a sense that something is not right. I don't know maybe its just me and the funky mood I'm in from all the memories that the first snow always brings to me. 

I lifted the lid on my coffin and climbed out, spotting that Rose had my dinner already sitting beside my antique rocking chair. I sat down for my first glass of blood and took a large swallow, grimacing from the cold taste.

I hate cold blood with a passion.

It's been quiet awhile since I've had fresh blood from a mortal. In fact it's been ten years since I've bitten one. And in that time I still have not found a way to make cold stored blood taste as satisfying as warm blood does from a human body. I finish off the first glass and grab the second one and try to down it quickly. Not even room temperature can improve the taste of it. 

These days I have two ways of keeping myself fed. Depending on where I am in the world, I will sometimes survive on the local animals I find near my home or I survive on cold blood. To get that cold blood I buy what I need from an underground network of mortals and immortals that steal from blood banks around the world and ship it to those of my kind in need. 

I wiped my mouth with the napkin Rose left behind and then changed into jeans and a soft blue sweater. When I opened the basement door into the kitchen I found Chad and Rose washing their dinner dishes. 

"Good evening Rose, Chad. How was your day?" I ask them as warm smiles crossed their faces when they turn toward me. 

"Good evening, Marina, It's been kind of busy around here with all the clean up after the storm. Chad's been outside for most of the day shoveling snow and picking up down tree limbs from around the cabin. I've been inside doing the usual household chores and keeping an eye on him so that he doesn't over do himself."

I looked over at Chad and saw him roll his eyes toward the ceiling. "She didn't tell you about her coming outside and trying to help me did she? No. I could have been inside sooner if I didn't have to watch her trying to chop wood."

"I thought we had enough wood for now?" I asked while fighting a grin.

Chad's voice raised a bit, "Of course we have enough but do you think she would listen to me?"

"I was just trying to help, dear," Rose said before hugging Chad and kissing his cheek, which turned red. 

I cleared my throat and tried not to laugh. "Did you check the shutters for any damage?"

"Yes I did. Well actually we both did. I checked on the outside for any problems and Rose checked from the inside for any light leakage. Everything passed both of our inspections." 

I walked to the window and look out over the snow covered ground. "Did we have any visitors today?"

"No, and it will be a few days before they get the roads back open. This storm caught everyone off guard down in the valleys so it's one big mess," Rose said. 

I opened the French doors and walked along the shoveled path to the railing and glanced out over the snow covered mountains.

I used my senses to search the area close to the cabin. That nagging feeling of something wrong was still with me and weighed heavily on my mind. The first thing that I spotted are a couple of whitetail deer, pawing at the ground for food. After searching with my eyes I listened closely to the sounds of the forest and just when I was about to go back inside I heard something so faint that even with my sensitive hearing I barely picked it up. I listened again and this time it sounded like a whisper. I decided to check it out and stepped off the deck into calf high snow moving toward the trees. 

If I had been a mortal I wouldn't have gone into the forest after dark alone. But with my vampire abilities and strength I had no qualms about doing it. At a down hill slant I went deeper and deeper into the woods, dodging tree limbs and braches weighted down with heavy snow. The whisper grew loud enough that I could at last make out what it said. "Help."

With a burst of speed I moved through knee high drifts and jumped over downed trees, finally stopping in front of an outcropping of rocks from the side of the mountain. My senses pick up a mortal soul very close by. "If you can hear my voice, call out to me."

A minute passed before a weak voice called out, "I'm in here."

I scanned the cracks and crevices of the rock until I found a small opening. Crouched down low, I worked my way inside and saw the mortal sitting on the ground huddled within a thick coat against the small cave wall. I ran my hands over each arm and leg checking for broken bones. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No," the mortal answered with chattering teeth.

"Can you tell me your name?"

"Levi," he mumbled. 

"Levi, we need to get you out of here. Can you make it to the opening of the cave?" He didn't answer so I tuned my hearing to Levi's heartbeat and found it was slow and his breathing very shallow. 

I couldn't pick him up inside the tiny cave structure, so I had to drag him to the opening before I could lift him into my arms. The way back to the cabin took a lot longer then the trip out. I couldn't rush like I wanted for being afraid that I might fall or drop him and cause more injuries. 

The cabin came into view with the lights inside blazing bright like a welcoming beacon in the night. I called out to Chad with my mental power to open the doors on the deck, that I had an injured man and to tell Rose to get all the blankets she could find. When I reached the deck the doors were standing wide open and Chad rushed over to help me carry the man inside.

Quickly we took him over in front of the fireplace and removed his coat, hat, gloves and shoes. We didn't stop to think about modesty when we started with the rest of his clothing; our only thoughts were of saving his life. 

Rose came into the living room with her arms full of towels and blankets that we rapidly put to use. Carefully we patted Levi's skin dry trying not to rub incase he had any frost bitten areas. Then we wrapped two thick blankets around his body before laying him down on the sofa.

I went downstairs to the basement and change out of my wet soggy clothes into a pair of grey jogging pants and an orange sweatshirt, then return to the living room. Once there I found Chad spreading out more blankets over top of Levi who was starting to shake. I searched his clothing trying to find some form of identification so we could figure out if he was a tourist or a local and if there was anyone who we could notify that he had been found, but came up empty handed. 

"Chad, why don't you and Rose head on to bed and rest? Since the roads are blocked there is no way of getting him to a hospital, so we're going to have to take care of him ourselves. I can watch over him tonight but you and Rose will have to see to him during the day tomorrow."

"I guess that you're right. Promise to come and get us if you need any help?" 

"I promise if I need anything I'll come get you or Rose."

Chad walked off toward the kitchen then a few minutes later him and Rose came back. "Marina, I've got some chicken broth made up from earlier today in the fridge. If he wakes up enough to eat just heat that up in the microwave or come wake me up and I'll fix it. Okay?"

"Thank you, Rose, that sounds like the perfect medicine."

I pulled myself a chair up close to the sofa so I could watch over him as Rose sat down beside Levi. She reached out and brushed his jet-black hair away from his face. "Everything will be just fine once you wake up young man. We're here and we'll take care of you for as long as you need."

Rose got up and came over, hugging me close. "You keep your eye on him, Marina. I think there is something special about him. I can't say what it is but I just feel it."

She left the room leaving Chad and me to stare at one another over her odd behavior. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head a little, "Well goodnight, Marina. Remember come get us if you need help."

"I will, Chad. Goodnight."

I sat down on the edge of the sofa and took my first good look at Levi. From the looks of things he appeared to be part Native American. Even though he was pale I could see that his complexion was naturally dark. Long black eyelashes dusted the tops of his beautifully high cheekbones. At one time his nose must have been broken cause it crooked slightly to the left. But what kept drawing my attention the most was his mouth. His lips were perfect for kissing. The bottom lip had just the right amount of fullness to it that seems to be begging for someone to suckle from it. 

The first couple of hours went by at a snails pace as I sat there watching him sleep and listening to the sound of his breathing. Then around midnight he began shaking badly and moaning. I went to his side, running my hand over his cheek lightly and whispered, "It's okay, Levi, your safe and warm. No one is going to harm you."

He seemed to settle down after a few minutes of my touch on his skin and the sound of my voice. When I tried to go back to my chair to sit his hand shot out from under the cover and grabbed my arm and he would not let go. I could have easily broken his grip if I wanted, but then he moaned and softly said, "Don't leave me."

So I removed the blankets from over top of him and, with my back against the sofa and him toward the fire, I laid beside him. After situating the blankets back over us, I wrapped one arm around him and held him close to me. Almost immediately he settled down, his breathing returned to normal and his body only slightly trembled. 

It felt awkward at first for me to hold someone close again, having been ten years since the last time I had. Memories of the many times that Dante and I had laid in each other's arms rushed through my mind causing grief and loneliness to over whelm me. I felt trickles of blood fill my eyes as I whispered brokenly to Levi, "I promise you, Levi, that I will not leave you. I'll be here for as long as you need me."

The rest of the night I laid there holding him, my fingers caressing his cheek and combing his hair off his forehead from time to time. I could feel dawn approaching but I did not leave him. I was still lying there close to falling into the blackness of sleep when Chad walked over to the sofa. "Marina, you can't stay with him any longer the sun is about to rise."

I looked up at him. "I don't want to leave him, Chad. I promised him I would stay with him."

"You're not leaving him love; you're just going to get some rest. Rose and I will take care of him till you rise later this evening. Now come on, off to bed with you," he said, holding out a hand to me. I finally pulled back the covers and took it and then I tucked the covers back around Levi's still body and kissed his lips. 

I turned away feeling the sunrise nipping at my heels, but I didn't have enough time to get down to the basement. I fell to my knees as the darkness started descending upon me, crying out weakly, "Chad..."

I barely felt his arms as they scooped me up from the floor. My last memory before the darkness finally pulled me into sleep was of him putting me into my coffin; placing Dante's pillow in my arms and then closing the lid as the sun rose above the mountain peaks. 

*

My eyes opened wide and I woke to another night, wondering why I'm still dressed in my regular clothes. Then it dawned on me. The memory of Chad as he brought me down to my coffin that morning and me making a fool of myself. And it was all because of the promise I made to Levi about not leaving him while he needed me. 

I know why I made that promise. It's because of Dante and the promise he broke to me. All the memories from the past couple of days of him, with his words still ringing so loud in my mind caused me to make that promise last night to Levi. I know Dante could not help breaking his promise ten years ago, but it still doesn't lessen the hurt that I feel. 

Over two hundred years ago he told me that we would have forever to love each other. I know I should be happy with the amount of time I did have with Dante but I still needed him. I still needed him at my side and in my arms. I needed to hear him tell me that he loves me and that forever would not be nearly long enough for him to show me just how much he did. 

Lost so deep in my thoughts I didn't hear Rose come into the basement. "Marina, dear, I know I shouldn't be here with you just waking but I wanted to see if you're all right after what happen this morning."

If I were to open this coffin lid right at this moment, with her standing there, I would scare Rose to death. She has never seen me right after awakening, never seen the look of hunger on my face or the dark red glow of my eyes caused by my need for blood. So I did something that I rarely do with Rose, but that I do all the time with Chad, I talked to her mentally. 

"I'm all right Rose. Truthfully, I feel really foolish about Chad having to help me to bed this morning. It's just that, well you both know how I get when the first snow falls. Then finding Levi last night and, and holding him in my arms, well it just made things even harder on me I guess."

"I know dear."

"And you know what you said about there being something about him? You're right, cause I feel it to. Maybe it has something to do with him being Native American. We're not far from the Cherokee, maybe that's where he's from."

"That could be what it is then, Marina. But I don't know all that much about Native Americans. Do you?"

"No I don't. Is he awake yet?"

"Yes he is, has been for about an hour now I believe. He had some chicken broth but hasn't said much other than to ask where he was. He's still very weak; Chad had to help him to the bathroom because of his legs being shaky."

"Hum... Well I'll be up shortly Rose. Then maybe we can find out just who this Levi person is and hopefully get him out of here soon before he starts asking to many questions about all of us."

"Okay dear. I'll let Chad know you're all right. He's been worried about you all day."

"Thank you Rose, for everything. I hope you know how much I've come to love you both over the years. You're the closest thing to parents I've had in a very long time."

"And we love you too dear, just like you were our very own."

I hear what sounded like a sniffle before the door closed. I cracked the lid to make sure she was gone then as quickly as possible I got myself fed and cleaned up to go upstairs.

I went up the basement stairs silently and opened the door to step into the kitchen to hear the sound of muffled voices. I moved over toward the doorway that lead to the living room and spotted Rose seated in the chair I had used last night. She was talking to a very alert Levi. Thankfully he hadn't seen me as of yet, which gave me time to look him over.




A Vampire's Reward



He was on the sofa with his back against the arm and his legs stretched out under a thick blanket. His long hair gleamed, as it trailed down over his shoulders and his color looked almost normal. I had no trouble picturing him dressed like one of his ancestors that came before him, astride on a horse with the wind pulling his hair away from his face.

For the first time in a very long time I felt a tug of desire in my gut, and truthfully, it made me angry. Because, I can see myself as the young maiden, waiting for his return, knowing that when he does great pleasure would be found once again in his arms. 

I growled low in my throat and thought no one could hear me, but someone did. Levi. As Rose chatted on he turned his head toward me and it was all I could do not to gasp as those piercing dark eyes landed on me. I couldn't help but return his stare; feeling like I was sinking into a black ocean that was filled with knowledge beyond their years.

"Well there you are, dear, come meet our guest." Rose waved me over toward the sofa. I hesitated for a moment. Fought the urge to run which increased my anger because since my turning I had never run from any mortal, much less a mortal man. 

I circled around to the front of the sofa and Rose put her arm around me. "Marina, I want you to meet Mr. Levi "Tansy" Greer. Levi, this is Marina Wilder."

He raised his hand out to me and I took it carefully with mine. Sparks seemed to fly when we touched but neither of us pulled away. For the longest time we just looked at each other. I was like we were in a battle of wills to see who would give in and look away first.

"Welcome to my home, Mr. Greer. I'm glad to see you awake this evening. How are you feeling?"

He rubbed his thumb over my skin. "Thank you, Ms. Wilder for bringing me here. Most of all thank you for saving my life. I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for you." His caress burned mewith their warmth. "And as for how I feel, I'm so much better, especially since I'm now warm and dry."

"I'm very glad to hear that, Mr. Greer."

"Please call me Levi, Ms. Wilder."

I swallowed a little to loud but finally answer, "As long as you call me Marina, Levi."

Silence filled the air as I looked down at our hands that were still locked together. His complexion was so dark against my pale skin. His fingers so much bigger then my own, but surprisingly he had a soft touch. I glanced back up at those dark eyes and my nipples tighten into hard pebbles and desire pooled between my legs. 

"Thank you, Marina." His husky voice said my name and caused me to shiver. 

I jerked my hand away from his. I don't know who I'm angrier with, him or me. "Is there someone we can call for you like a wife, parents or maybe a girlfriend?"

I saw him try to fight a grin but he soon lost the battle, which irked me even more that he knew he got to me a moment ago. "No, everyone I know doesn't have a phone. Even if they did the only one I would care about calling would be my grandmother."

"Are you from around here or are you on vacation, Levi?" Chad asked.

"I moved here back in the spring and been living with my grandmother over in Cherokee ever since." Not once did he look away from me as he replied. 

"So what happen? Did you go on a hike and get lost?" I asked, sitting down in a wooden rocker next to Rose.

"Well I was on a vision quest, not a hike, and I was on my way back to my grandmother's when the storm hit. It's to early in the year for a storm like that. All I thought we would get was a light dusting of snow, so instead of finding shelter I kept on walking. Then I got wet and so cold that I couldn't keep going. Somehow I lucked upon that cave, but we see what that did for me."

Chad poked at the logs in the fireplace and then turned around. "I've heard of that term vision quest before but don't know exactly what it means, Levi. Can you tell us?" 

"A vision quest is a journey for the body and spirit. There is a lot of preparation that goes into a quest with a guide or mentor helping you before hand such as cleansing of the body inside and out, special diets and spiritual training, but this is only a small part of what takes place."

Levi ran his fingers through this hair and took a breath, "Now if this person has a certain job like medicine man or warrior, then certain test are given and they must be passed before any quest is taken. Once all the preparations are done you may begin your journey, usually somewhere remote, the farther from civilization the better really."

He sighed as he shook his head. "Where I went wrong at was by not following the rules exactly when I started my quest or I would have never ended up lost in that storm. You're suppose to take your mentor or guide with you and I didn't. I knew it was dangerous to go alone but I didn't listen and so that's how I ended up in that cave." 

Rose fluffed a pillow behind her back as she asked, "Since you were on your way back to your grandmother's I take it that you found what you were looking for?" 

He looked at her for a long time before answering. "Yes Rose, but you know I didn't understand what my visions and dreams were trying to tell me. What they showed me I didn't think it was possible much less real."

He turned his head slightly and looked at me, "It wasn't until Marina found me, Rose, that I knew the spirits had not lead me astray with what I was shown."

"I know it may be to personal son, but what was it you went looking for?" Chad asked quietly.

"Well sir, my mother died when I was very young, I was told I was only a year old when it happen and I was never able to find out the reason behind the middle name she gave me."

"You see my mother was part Hopi and my father part Cherokee. When I was born my mother gave me the Hopi name of Tansy. For the longest time I only knew of Tansy as the name of a flowering herb. Well last year I was finally able to find someone who knew the Hopi meaning. That meaning has been gnawing at me continuously and eventually led me to go on a vision quest." 

He stopped speaking and looked at me again and I swear the hair on my neck stood up. With a voice barely above a whisper I found myself asking, "What does Tansy mean?"

His eyes filled with a strange light. "In Hopi, Marina, it means, immortality."

*

The trees shot by with blinding speed as I sprinted through the forest. Small limbs and branches broke off, scratching and cutting my skin through my clothes as I left a trail of debris behind me. I wished I could feel the pain of those scrapes then maybe that would take my mind off Levi. 

Why would his mother give him a name that means immortality? I know only that Native Americans sometimes name their children certain things because of signs or visions that they had on the day of a child's birth. Did one of his parents have a vision, or was it a family elder who saw something in Levi when he was born? 

And what about the vision quest Levi took and the answers he was shown? He told Rose he didn't understand them till he met me. I feared that he knew exactly what type of monster I am, especially with the way he stared at me when he told us the meaning of his name. 

I stopped on the edge of a rocky ledge and stared down into the deep ravine below. A black bear walked by the stream and I watched as he tried to catch fish with his mouth. I fingered my necklace that held Dante's and mine wedding rings and tilted my head to the night sky to stare at a moon so bright it nearly blocked out the stars. 

I longed for Dante to be here with me.

This was our favorite place to come to almost every night. We would sit here, his arms around me, my head resting on his shoulder and gaze at the stars. He would tell me stories about his long vampire life that happened before he met me. On some nights, though, we never said a word to each other. Those were some of the best nights of my life. He'd make such tender love to me here. Never in a rush, always caressing every inch of my body again and again till my cries echoed through out the woods. 

Before tonight Dante had been the only man to fill my thoughts. But now Levi was on my mind and no matter how I tried, I can't push him from there. I'm so drawn to him, like there is something in his soul calling to me. And I feel like he can see into my soulless body, seeing exactly what I am and everything I've done. 

There are millions of reasons why I shouldn't think about Levi besides the guilt and disloyalty I feel toward Dante's memory. The biggest reason deals with him being a mortal. With all the immortals that I know in this world my feelings had to come back to life for a mortal.

I made my way back to the cabin, snow softly crunching under my feet. I can't let him find out that I'm a vampire. No matter what his name means or what vision he saw during his quest, giving him, a mortal, that information would put my undead life in danger. 

By the time I returned all the lights were off. I entered through the kitchen door and tried to be quiet and not wake anyone, especially if Levi was still on the sofa instead of moving into the guestroom.

Once inside I saw that the fire still burned in the living room fireplace. Carefully I walk over to the sofa and found Levi lying there with the blanket down around his hips. His chest was bare and so smooth; his muscles so well defined that my fingers ache to touch him. 

I stood there and watched him sleep, matching my breathing to his and listened to the strong beat of his heart inside my head. My eyes scanned and found the vein in his neck throbbing softly, making my mouth water with the need to taste him. 

I sat down in the chair I had used last night and leaned my head back. All my senses were focused on him and I remembered the vision that came to me earlier that evening of him being an Indian warrior of old.

I let myself slip into the fantasy and found myself standing in a village as my warrior rode up on his horse with his black hair blowing behind him in the wind. His dark skin was covered in sweat and glistened in the hot afternoon sun. Just looking at him made my breasts swell and heat pool between my legs.

He stopped the horse beside me, leaned down and pulled me up to sit in front of him. He wrapped me in his arms as his hands took hold of the horse's mane and started us off into the forest. His scent was strong and filled my lungs. I turned my head to look at him and found his dark eyes staring at me. Slowly one of his hands slid into my hair and held my head in place as his lips touch mine. His kiss were soft at first, coaxing my lips apart with the tip of his tongue. He barely pushed inside before pulling back then in again, this time deeper, running the tip over the roof of my mouth. My tongue followed his retreat and pushed into his mouth. He moaned deep and sucked at my tongue as the proof of his need hardened against my bottom. 

The horse continued to stroll through the forest, having been this route numerous times before he took us to our spot by the waterfalls. My warrior moved off the horse then put his hands around my waist and slid me down along the front of his body. I gasped as my breasts rub against his chest; the thin material of my dress couldn't hide the effect he had on my nipples as they hardened. 

His callused roughened hands cupped my face and he kissed me again. That time his need was even greater as he plunged his tongue between my lips and rubbed his growing bulge against my belly. His dark eyes sparkled with heat as he stepped back, breathing harsh as he watched me slip from my clothes. My nipples hardened more as his eyes go to my breasts. His soft murmurs of love and affection told me how much he had missed me while away on the hunt. 

Once undressed I stood in front of him a moment before I turned and slipped into the water. After quickly diving under I surfaced, turning to watch him remove his clothing. His chest was so big and strong and his shoulders so broad. His body was so sleek as it narrowed down toward his hips, leading my eyes to his cock that was heavy with need. He walked into the water and swam out toward me and then disappeared. He brushed his body against me under the surface before rising in front of me.

He pulled me close and moved my breasts over his slick chest while his mouth glided over my neck to my shoulder. His hot tongue licked drops of water from my skin as his mouth moved down onto my breast. I moaned when his wet lips closed around my nipple. He sucked it deep into his mouth and the sharp tugging sensation of his lips seemed to be pulling all the way from between my legs and out through my nipple. 

My legs circled around his hips in the water and my hands went to his head holding him in place. His big hands moved down to my bottom and pull me closer, his long legs allowing him to support us both. He ground my sex against him under the water and my moan echoed around the small waterfall. Panting with hunger, I pulled his mouth from my nipple and without one word he walked out of the water and dropped to his knees laying us down on a soft bed of grass. 

His eyes took on a fierce look as he held himself over me, rubbing his cock between my legs and growing harder with each movement. Whimpers of need came from inside me then turn into a sharp cry as he slammed in hard and deep, taking me roughly and making every inch fill me. He pulled back slowly, leaving only the head inside before plunging deep once again. Over and over he kept up the fast and slow movement of his cock as my cries echoed far into the distance. 

His movements became fast and hot as he hooked my legs over his arms, going deeper inside me, feeling like he was reaching up into my womb with every thrust. My body was wide open and unable to do anything but take what the savage beast inside him gave. I craved what this warrior does to me. He was the only one who could take me and claim me that way. 

I cried out sharply as he pushed my legs back even farther against my chest. His balls slapped out the rhythm of his thrust on my bottom. I lifted my head up and look down watching his cock pump into me, so slick with my juices. My sex clung tight to him, fighting his withdrawal only to stretch and swallow him whole once again. 

My moan pulled me out of the fantasy and back into reality. I kept my eyes closed as I worked my hand, that had somehow found its way inside my pants, over my wet pussy, pushing a finger between the swollen lips and stroking my pulsing clit. I moaned again when I found the right stroke that would take me over the edge. My body slid lower in the chair as I spread my legs wider, slipping two fingers over my engorged clit, stroking faster. My sensitive hearing picked up the sound of them on my wet skin. I can't stop the hungry groan that left my throat or the shiver that went through me from the ache in my teeth as they extend.

"So close," I moaned, slipping the two fingers down and pressing them inside me as my thumb takes their place on my clit. 

I heard a deep groan, but it wasn't mine. My hand froze in place it leaving my fingers deep inside me. I opened my eyes to find Levi awake and watching me. The moon and the glow of the fireplace provided enough light for him to see what I'm doing. 

"Levi," His name sounded so husky from my desire filled voice. He moaned again and that's when I noticed that I'm not the only one playing. He had his blanket thrown over the back of sofa and his boxers were in the floor. And there he was, naked, hard, and stroking the biggest cock I'd ever seen. 

"You're so beautiful, Marina. Please don't stop. Let me see you come." He whispered, slowly running his hand over the long length of his cock. 

My pussy squeezed my fingers hard as I watched him. My breath caught in my throat when I slid them free and removed my hand from my jeans. I stood up and never took my eyes off of him. He never once stopped stroking his cock as he kept his gaze on me. 

I pulled my shirt up over my head and dropped it to the floor. Quickly I removed my bra and kicked off my shoes. Levi mumbled something unintelligible and quickly removed his hand from his shaft, leaving his cock to twitch in the air. 

Juices flooded my panties when I slid my pants down my legs. I smelt my own scent in the air mixing with the scent of aroused male. Finally I pulled my panties off, ready to drop them onto the floor when he asked, "May I Marina?"

Hand shaking, I tossed them over to him, and then watched as he brought the crotch up to his face and inhaled. "Mm, you smell so good."

I sat back down as desire weakened my legs. Once settled in, I positioned my legs wide enough to put one over each arm of the chair. 

I ran my hands down over my throat to my breasts and squeezed them gently before circling my nipples with my fingers. Leaving my left hand to caress my breasts, I moved my right hand to my pussy and rubbed over its slick folds. 

Careful to keep my face in the shadows, so Levi doesn't see my canines, I bring my wet fingers to my mouth, sucking loud enough for him to hear. He brought my panties to his mouth and I saw his tongue slide out and lick the crotch, and we both moaned. 

I pushed those two fingers back up inside me hard and began to work them back and forth. My hips pushed and lifted up to meet each plunge. The wet sounds kept getting louder and louder the harder I pumped. I watched and listened as Levi stuffed the crotch of my panties into his mouth and began sucking as he pumped his cock, working himself in the same slow rhythm as my fingers that filled me. 

Each suckle of his mouth on my panties made my clit swell and throb that much more as thoughts of Levi sucking my cunt filled my head. I used the fingers on my other hand to rub over my clit, finding it so hot and hard with my fingertips. No way could I hold out any longer. I found the right speed and worked my clit faster, pushing my fingers into my tightening hole harder. 

Levi rolled his heavy balls with his free hand while pumping his thick cock faster; his hand making slapping sounds from the pounding he was giving it. Then he wrapped both hands around that thick shaft, thrusting his hips into the air, fucking his hands and all I could think of was how much that I wanted him inside me. 

"Levi," I grunted out his name as my body bowed from the chair, fingers plunging into my contracting cunt as tidal waves of pleasure washed over me.

"Marina," he groaned out hard. His hips jackknifed up off the couch as the first rope of white cum shot all the way to his chin. The next one was just as strong as it landed on his chest. 

"Yes," I hissed between clenched teeth, my muscles contracting with each shot of cum from his cock.

My orgasm began to subside and my teeth slowly retracted. Levi's chest heaved from the power of his orgasm. I removed my legs from the arms of the chair and went to him. I straddled his body and sat my weight his thighs, reaching out to take his hands one by one. My eyes locked with his as I slowly licked and sucked the drops of cum that had ran down them into my mouth. On my knees, I leaned forward and licked the cream off the underside of his chin. "Mm, I love your taste, Levi and think I need more."

I cleaned the rest of Levi's cum from his chest and belly, taking my time and savoring his flavor. My lips at last reached his cock and found that he ass hard once again with a drop of pre-cum already on the tip. I stroked his cock with a tight hand and saw another drop rise to the surface. I swirled my tongue around the head before sucking it into my mouth. He gasped and I felt him tremble as I moved my lips down his cock, not stopping till his balls touch my chin. 

Levi's cock slid deep into my throat as he fucked my mouth, stroking all the way in and pulling out till only the head popped was in my mouth. I made my throat vacuum tight around him, loving the sounds he made as he pumped in and out so much that my pussy throbbed with need.




A Vampire's Reward



A touch of my mental powers drove him higher. His hands held my head as he thrust into my face, balls slapping my chin and, with one last flash of heat, Levi came, ramming his cock all the way in to shoot his cum straight into my waiting belly. 

His hands fell to his sides and I looked up to find his head back against the arm of the sofa, mouth open and panting, "Marina."

I let his cock slip from my mouth and land on his belly without a trace of his cum left behind. "Look at me, Levi." 

He raised his head up slowly and gazed at me with heavy lidded eyes. "Beyond this point and until you wake, Levi, you will not remember anything that happens."

I saw the dazed look I needed cover his eyes as he said, "Yes, Marina."

Quickly I spread his legs apart, my eyes zeroing in on just the right spot to bite. I trembled as my canines extend once again. "I'm sorry, Levi. It's been so long since I've had warm human blood. I just have to taste you. Please forgive me."

Gently as possible I bit into his thigh. The first rush of blood was hot and the flavors burst upon my tongue. The heat and the power in his blood moved through me so fast and so strong that my orgasm slammed into me with a force unlike any I'd ever known. I took another deep pull and my body shook almost violently as the intense pleasure filled me. 

Not daring another taste I pulled away from him, the saliva I had left behind already at work to seal and heal his wounds. I lay my head on his stomach as my canines retracted. Tremors racked my body as the long denied passion for warm human blood was finally fulfilled. 

I jerked against his body when I felt Levi's surprising touch upon my head. His hand brushed over my hair before he combed his fingers through the long dark strands. 

"It's all right Marina. I understand.", was all he said to me. For the longest time I lay there, unable to pull away from his soft touch. With each gentle caress of his hand I felt a little more of my heart cracking. Long forgotten feelings were coming back, rushing over me. Memories of what it was like to be held and touched so long ago rushed over me and my chest filled with the need to sob. 

I pulled away abruptly and stood beside the sofa looking down at him. Not able to be around him a moment longer I gave a quick mental command to his mind and watched as sleep took him. After covering his naked body with his blanket I gathered up my clothes and head down to the basement. 

As soon as I opened the basement door guilt crashed down around me when my eyes landed upon the coffin Dante and I used to share. Dropping my clothes, I went over and ran my hands along the old gleaming black surface before climbing in and shutting the lid. I took Dante's pillow in my hands and held it close to me. "Don't hate me for what I've done Dante. I never thought, nor did I ever intend. to be with anyone else again. I still love you with all my heart." 

I kissed his pillow and hugged it close to my heart. Closing my eyes, tears streamed from my eyes as Dante's image filled my mind and stayed there till sleep took me. 

*

I woke with an anger so deep that it was almost beyond my control. I threw the lid back on my coffin with a loud bang, not bothering to check for any danger and really not caring if their was any. I by-passed the cold blood that waited for me and instead cleaned up and went straight upstairs. 

Rose was at the kitchen sink washing the dishes from dinner and jumped when I slammed the basement door. "What the..." she gasped when she turned around and found me there, my eyes filled with anger and hunger. I watched her hand go to her throat as she stammered, "Marina, what, what's wrong?"

I didn't bother to answer her question. "Where's Chad?"

She fidgeted with the dishrag in her hands and her voice trembled. "He's uh, he's outside."

Without another word I stepped onto the deck through the kitchen doors and heard the sound of wood being chopped at the side of the cabin. I turned the corner to find Chad watching over Levi as he swung the ax down with a resounding crack, splitting the wood in half with one try. My gut ached at the sight of him with one of Chad's shirts clinging to his body and his hair damp with sweat. I tried to bank the glow from my eyes and relax the muscles in my face but I knew I failed from the look on Chad's face when he turned at the sound of my voice, "Chad, I need to speak with you. Now!"

As Chad walked toward me I looked over his shoulder and stared at Levi as he sat the ax down and wiped his face on his shirt before looking at me and smiling. His smile faded quickly when he took in the look on my face. I saw his confusion and his fear as they spread across his features before I turned my back to him and started toward the woods once Chad reached my side. 

"I don't care what you have to do Chad but I want him gone tonight. I don't care if you can or can't get him to his grandmother's. Drop him off in town and pay for his room if you have to, just have him gone before I return tonight. Is that clear?" My voice growled out the last few words and my hands curled into fists.

Chad looked at me for a few seconds, his expression changing from friendly, to worry and then kind of fearful. "If that is what you wish Marina, I will see that he is gone as soon as possible."

I then turn moved into the woods and once I was sure that Levi couldn't spot me I let my powers take over and sent such a burst of speed to my legs that I barely touch the ground as I ran down the mountain side. Before long I reached the edge of town and slowed down to normal speed. The run had help lessen the red glow of anger from my eyes. 

I strolled along the streets watching the tourist and listening to all the different accents, When a couple from England stopped me in a candle shop I felt the rest of my anger drain away as their voices brought back fond memories of home and my family.

After a couple of hours I started on my way out of town. When I turned onto one of the small empty side streets I picked up the feeling of fear pouring out from a dark alley. With no one around I zipped to the edge of the alley and heard someone begging. "Please, no! Don't hurt me."

Carefully I peer around the corner and spotted a man standing in front of a young teenage girl. The fear rolled off the her in waves and my anger intensify rapidly. 

In the shadows I made my way closer to the pair. The man's menacing laugh filled the air as he ripped her blouse open. The girl tried to pull away from him but he was much to strong for her, easily shoving her down to the ground.

Before he could even think of getting on his knees I reacted. In a split second I came up behind him and grabbed him by his ski jacket and threw him against the brick wall, his body dropping to the ground.

"Get out of here. Run!" I growled deep in my throat at the girl. She scampered to her feet and took off around the corner without ever looking back.

The man staggered to his feet and I seen his blood running down the side of his face. My canines had reached full length and the scent of his blood caused my gut to ache from were I had not fed before leaving the cabin. 

"Why don't you pick on someone who can fight back or are you to big a pussy for that?" I asked, as the anger took hold of the jerk in front of me. Suddenly he lunged forward and tackled me. I could have easily moved and made him crash into the other wall, but I was looking for a fight. 

I grunted as he rammed me backward, turning over trashing cans as he pushed me against the wall behind me. I laughed as only a twinge of pain went up my spine. I then raised my fists high into the air over my head and slammed them down onto his back, knocking him flat to the ground. 

"Is that the best you can do? I'm surprised that that young girl didn't knock you down." I can't help but taunt him, wanting him to get back up and fight.

He slowly rose to his hands and knees then finally to his feet, but still bent over at the waist. Out of nowhere he swung his arm out, metal flashed from a knife blade before it slashed across my stomach, cutting through my sweater and deep into my skin.

Shafts of pain ripped through my belly and I howled. My eyes glow deep crimson and everything in my vision turned blood red as I backhanded him across the face, sending him flying down the alley.

"Get up!" I growled, taking my time walking toward him as he struggled to his feet. 

I got close enough that he took another swipe at me with the knife but this time I'm was prepared and moved, grabbing him by the wrist and squeezing. The bone shattered beneath my grip and he screamed out in pain, dropping the knife onto the pavement. His shoulder popped as I jerked his arm behind his back and dropped him to his knees. I then quickly picked him up and threw him over my shoulder and ran off out of town. 

Deeper and deeper into the forest and up the mountainside I climbed. The man cried out as tree limbs and branches hit him almost continuously along the hidden trail that I took. A few minutes later I came to the top of a deep ravine and dropped him to the ground, gaining much satisfaction from his scream of pain. 

I pulled him up by the hair at the back of his head and walked him to the edge, pushing his head down so he could see in the pale moonlight just how far it was to the bottom. The man through, broken cries of pain tried to speak. "Please, whoever you are, let me live. I'm sorry, really. I promise, I wasn't going to hurt her. I just wanted to have some fun."

My body grew weaker by the second from the loss of blood due to the wound in my belly and his whining voice only angered me more. I twisted him around to face me and caused him to scream in fright as I opened my mouth wide baring my long teeth with evil intent. 

"Why should I show you any forgiveness bastard? You would have hurt that innocent girl, even through she was begging you not to, if I hadn't of stopped you." I pulled him to me then, my hand at the back of his head and fingers wrapped in his hair. His screams echoed as my teeth shined in the moonlight before I slammed them into his neck. The popping sensation in my mouth, as I sank into his jugular, sent a burst of energy through my veins. Hot tasty blood filled my mouth as I suckles, twisting my head and sinking my teeth in deeper.

I tuned out his screams, listening to his pounding heartbeat beginning to slow. My strength began to build as more and more of the man's life force filled me. Once drained, I finally let go of him, his body weighted pulling him to the ground caused my teeth to rip from his throat, making it appear as if a wild animal had ravaged him. I tilted my head back and stared up into the night sky, blood running down my chin, growling so loud that the sound carried into the forest causing birds to fly off in fright.


I reached down and tore the man's shirt off and then lift him up and threw him into the ravine, watching as his body rolled and bounced it's way to the very bottom. I wiped my face clean of blood then used the shirt to press against the wound in my belly. As quickly as I dared I made my way back to the cabin, staggering through the kitchen door to find Levi standing there.

"What the hell are you doing still here?" I gasped, before I fell to my knees.

"Marina! Oh my god! Chad, hurry its Marina and she's hurt." Rose shouted out in a panic filled voice. 

Chad came bounding into the room as Rose knelt beside me. I looked up at her. "Get Levi away from me Rose. Now! I'm holding onto my control, but just barely. So please, just get him away from here fast."

She went to Levi and took his arm, having to drag him away. As Chad came over to me I heard Rose's voice in the living room, "Here's the key to our truck, Levi, take it into town or to your grandmother's, which ever you choose doesn't matter as long as you just get away from here."

"But Rose I want to help her. Marina needs help." Levi's voice drifted into the kitchen.

"Don't you get it; you're in danger if you stay here. Now leave us please, Levi. Marina would never forgive herself if she did something to harm you. She's sending you away for your own good. Chad and I can take care of her. We have before. Now go." I heard the front door open then slam shut. A few seconds later Rose was back at my side.

"Rose you get the bandages and the blood she's going to need while I take her down stairs." Chad picked me up into his arms as if I weigh nothing and took me to the basement. He then pulled out a metal table from the wall and lay me upon it, cutting the blood soaked clothes off my body.

I groaned in pain when Chad and Rose started sponging the blood from me. The lightest touch felt like a punch and when they drew near to my wounded belly the pain caused me to lash out at them, knocking both of them to the floor. 

Chad was the first to recover and came back to the table. With the loss of blood the beast in me went into survival mode, fighting for it's life, and made me reach out and grab Chad by his throat. I pulled him down to me, arms shaking as I brought his neck closer to my mouth. Somehow I found a thread of control to restrain myself as I growled against his skin, "Tranquilizer!"

Tears ran down from my eyes as the human part of me saw what the beast was trying to make me do to Chad. He tried to pull away from me, but I couldn't let go. The beast wanted his blood so badly. My mouth opened wider in preparation ready to bite him. 

"Oh god, I can't, I can't do it." Rose cried, her voice shaking. 

"I don't want to bite you Chad, but I can't stop it." My teeth scraped over the skin on his neck as tears flowed freely from my eyes. I thought it was hopeless until a shadow fell over me and then I felt the prick of a needle enter my arm that caused me to jerk my head toward Rose. But it wasn't Rose who jabbed me, it was Levi who gave me the drug. 

My anger at seeing him there caused me to toss Chad to the floor. In the space of a second I reached out and grabbed Levi by his throat, pulling him down to me, "You shouldn't have come back Levi, cause now you're going to pay dearly for it."

I jerked his head violently to the side and my teeth began to sink into his neck. Before my canine's could pop into his vein the drug kicked in. My entire body relaxed, my hands let him go and my arms thumped back onto the metal table as I stared up at the ceiling. 

The shot didn't put me out completely. It leaves me the ability to function enough to swallow the blood I need to stay alive until I can sleep and recuperate. Until then my life depends on Chad, Rose and now Levi.

"Thank you so much, Levi. I just couldn't give her the shot. I don't understand why but thank you. You saved Chad's life and most likely mine as well." I watched as Rose hugged him to her then quickly pulled away.

"Chad and I can do this now, Levi. I think you may want to go upstairs for awhile." He stepped back from the table but didn't leave the room. I moaned as Rose and Chad both pressed gauze pads over my wound, soaking up some of the blood. Then they packed it and bandaged slowing the flow of blood greatly. 

I closed my eyes and tried to rest but before long Rose came to me and held my head up, pressing glass of blood at my lips. "Come on, Marina, you need to drink this."

My mouth opened and the blood poured in. I gagged at the cold awful taste but the beast in me happily swallowed every drop. Hour after hour the routine remained the same. The bandages are changed and the glasses of blood were swallowed till the last hour when I refused to drink another drop of the disgusting glasses of blood. 

"Marina, this is your last glass and then you can sleep." Rose whispered, not wanting to wake Chad or Levi who were asleep on the floor against the far wall.

I twisted my mouth from the glass. "Rose, I can't swallow anymore of that sorry excuse for blood. I just can't."

I heard movement off to the left of me and saw Levi stand up, stretching then rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he came toward me. "What's going on, Rose?"

"She needs this last glass before sunrise but she won't drink it." Rose said, while glaring at me. 

He took the glass from her and sat it down on the table. "Why don't you and Chad go up and get some sleep, Rose, and let me take care of her till sunrise."

"I'm doing all right now. I swear, Rose. Just take Chad and get some rest. I promise I'm feeling a lot better."

Rose looked ready to protest then I saw her glance at Levi and she gave a weak smile. "Okay, I'll leave you with Levi but you had better drink that blood Marina."

I made her no answer as she went over to Chad and woke him. He came over and patted my hand. "You'll be back to your old self when you wake later on this evening love, trust me."

"I'm sorry for everything that happened tonight. You both know I would never hurt you if I could help it."

"We know dear, now you get some rest." Rose said before her and Chad climbed the stairs.

"You gave them quiet a scare tonight, Marina. Hell, you scared me even. What happen to you out there? Was it some wild animal that attacked you?"

"It was an animal all right, but not the kind you're thinking about."

He took my hand in his, caressing my fingers. "Why don't you tell me what happen then?"

His eyes held such a gentle and caring look that, with no struggle at all, I told him everything that happened. From the alley all the way to the ravine and until I arrived at the cabin. Not once did he look away. Not once did he cut me off, he just let me talk until I was finished. 

"You know, Marina, you saved that girl tonight. And by killing him who knows how many others you saved. I find that truly amazing considering that you're a vampire. I always thought your kind killed people, not save them.

"I don't kill mortals unless I have to, Levi. Ever since my turning I've been that way. I would take just what I needed and leave them with a pleasant memory to wake up to the next day. Even Dante didn't understand why I didn't kill. But he ended up changed his way to mine and was happy about how it made him feel." I smiled, remembering how much more loving Dante became after that change.

"I need to get into my coffin soon, Levi; I can feel sunrise coming."

"Let me carry you over there, Marina."

"No, I want to walk over there myself." I pulled my hand from his and flung the sheet off my naked body. I swung my legs to the side and sat up, groaning as the room began to spin and I fell forward. 

Levi quickly stepped forward, wedging his body between my legs and closing his arms around my waist holding me close. "Hang on there. I gotcha."

The table was the right height to align him against me. My breasts pressed into his chest, his jean covered crotch pressed against my pussy and with the way he held me my mouth was inches away from his neck. 

I slid one hand up over his shoulder to the back of his neck, my fingers combing through his long hair. The sound of his blood rushing through his jugular called to me and I couldn't resist moving my mouth those last few inches and sucking his skin inside. H stiffened and I immediately pulled away and licked the taste of his flesh off my lips. "I'm sorry, Levi. Maybe you better not help me after all."

I looked into his eyes and saw his eyes grow wide with understanding. He surprised me, though, by leaning in closer. "Go ahead, Marina and take what you need. I trust you."

I swallowed and the need rose in my gut for the warmth of his blood that I know travels just under his skin. The same warm blood that I had tasted just the night before. "I can't do that, Levi."

I tilted my head down so that I couldn't look at his oh so inviting neck, only to feel his fingers under my chin lifting my head upwards. "Marina, it's the least I can do after you saved my life. Please, let me do this for you."




A Vampire's Reward



I cupped his right cheek with the palm of my hand and felt him press into my touch. Then I slid my hand to the back of his head, supporting it as I carefully tilted it. With trembling lips I kissed my way down his strong jaw, stopping to whisper at his ear, "This goes beyond payment for saving your life, Levi. Thank you."

When my lips trailed down the side of his neck I felt his hands tighten at my hips. I moaned as my teeth ached for that throbbing pulse in his neck. Gently I bit down, carefully sinking my teeth into his skin. Quickly I snapped my teeth into his vein and instantly hot fresh blood rushed into my mouth. The pleasure so intense for me that I growled and sucked even harder.

"Marina." Levi's groan vibrated through me as he moved closer and pressed his bulging cock against my pussy. My legs came up around him locking him in. His hips ground against me as his hands slipped down under my ass, pulling me tighter to him.

Right before I took my last deep suckle I sent a strong flash of desire through him. He gasped and hips buck out of control, humping himself against my pussy so hard as I took my last taste of him. He groaned deeply and stiffened in my arms as his fingernails dug into my skin. I felt him throbbing between my legs as he came inside his jeans.

His ragged breath blew against my skin as I very gently removed my teeth from his neck, licking the wounds to seal them. Leaning back, I saw his eyes open, their dazed look scaring me a little. "Are you okay, Levi?"

He shook his head a few times as if to clear it. "I'm, I'm fine, Marina, but is it always like that?"

"No. Most times it is a lot rougher and I usually get to come as well." I smile a little wicked at him and watched him grin.

I pushed him away and slid off the table, his rich blood helping me to stand without assistance. Before I climbed into my coffin I cupped Levi's face between my hands. "Thank you, Levi. I'll never forget what you did for me."

"Now, why don't you go on upstairs to the guestroom and get some rest. I'll see you later on this evening if you're still here when I wake." I climbed in reaching for the lid when Levi bent down and kissed me on the lips.

"Goodnight, Marina," he said, then gently closed the lid. 

*

That evening I was happier than I had been in a very long time. I wanted to say that it's because of the amount of fresh blood I'd had recently, but I knew what it really was. It's Levi.

I climb out of my coffin and looked down at the bloody bandage on my stomach and tore it away. My wound was completely healed. There's no scar or redness to show that I was even injured last night. 

After I ate and cleaned myself up I went upstairs to a very quiet cabin. No one was in the kitchen but I saw that the dinner dishes have been taken care of. At the doorway leading to the living room I found the lights down low, a roaring fire burning and music playing in the background. I glanced around the room thinking no one was there till movement from the sofa caught my attention. 

Warmth filled my heart as I found Chad and Rose snuggled close together in the corner of the sofa. He had one arm around her holding her to his side while her head rested on his shoulder. I'm envious of what those two have after being together over 20 years with each other. I couldn't help but wish that I had that once again in my life. 

My thoughts went to Levi, wondering where he might be. My senses scanned the cabin but I couldn't feel his presence anywhere inside. I must have sighed out loud because Chad turned his head and looked at me. "Marina, you're finally up. How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine now thanks to all of you."

Rose came over and hugged me. "We were beginning to worry dear; you slept longer than usual today."

"I guess I needed the rest. I want to apologize for my actions last night. Please tell me that I didn't hurt either of you?"

"We're both okay, Marina. So don't you worry, we understand what happen and that you did everything you could not to hurt us."

I smile with some relief then asked, "Where's Levi?"

Chad spoke up this time. "The roads are completely open as of this morning so he had me take him home. He really wanted to get back to his grandmother and let her know he was okay. He said that it's been almost seven days since he left and he knew she would be worried."

Disappointment filled me. "Oh, well that's good news. I'm glad he was able to go back home."

The walls felt like they were about to close in on me. "I think I'll go for a walk and let you two get back to snuggling on the sofa. You both deserve some time alone after what I put you through last night."

I gave them a weak smile and left the cabin and head off into the woods, wondering along creeks and long forgotten trails till I came to my old familiar ledge and sat down. 

It's for the best really that Levi is gone. There was no way it could have worked; we had to many things to keep us apart. The biggest of course was my being a vampire. 

Still though he could have left a note or at least had Chad give me a message of some kind. Maybe he freaked out after letting me bite him this morning. That had to be what happened. Maybe I missed some sign from him because I was so sure he was all right with the idea of me taking his blood.

An ache started deep in my chest near my heart. I've had this feeling only one other time. It was after I met Dante at the dance. I dropped my head back and looked up into the star filled sky. I can't really believe it, but it's happened. I'm in love. I think I've known in my heart since that first night I held Levi in my arms, I just couldn't or wouldn't admit it to myself.

So many feelings were running ramped inside me but somehow I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For a split second I thought about finding him over in Cherokee and telling him what had happen, but in the next second I knew I couldn't do that. Levi must not have had any feelings for me or he wouldn't have left without saying anything. 

With my heart full of love and breaking because of the impossible situation of Levi and I being together, I walked back home. At the edge of the woods I spotted someone standing out on the deck of the cabin near the living room doors. I could tell that it wasn't Rose or Chad immediately. My senses zeroed in on that person and my heart quickened as I recognized Levi. 

I fought every instinct I had in me not to run to him. I took my time closing the distance between us. I felt his eyes follow my every step until I climbed up onto the deck. "Good evening, Levi, I didn't expect to see you again."

His gaze went up and down my body. " I had to see if you were all right, Marina. Are you sure you should even be up and walking around? That was a serious wound you suffered last night."

I smiled at him. "I'm great. Couldn't be better actually. You can't even tell where I was cut."

He moved closer. "May I see, Marina, please?"

I swallowed hard, desire beginning to tighten inside my body. "Go ahead and see for yourself, Levi."

I kept my arms loose at my side and held perfectly still as he reached out and lifted my sweater to expose my belly. "My god! If I hadn't seen that cut with my own eyes I wouldn't believe this."

My nipples tightened and my stomach muscles quivered as he stroked his fingertips over my skin, causing me to gasp. He started to pull his hand back and asked, "Did I hurt you?"

I placed my hand over top of his to stop him from moving away. "You could never hurt me, Levi."

"You don't know how scared I was last night, seeing you covered in so much blood like that, Marina. I hated that you were in so much pain and I thought for sure that you were going to die." His voice shook with emotion as he kept stroking his hand back and forth over my skin. 

I removed his hand from my body and stepped closer, cupping my hand along his stubble covered face. "But I didn't thanks to the three of you. Especially you, Levi, you gave me the ultimate gift by letting me feed from you."

I slid my hand from his cheek, over the side of his neck and down to his chest before curling both hands around the opened edges of his coat. Rising up onto my tiptoes, I stopped my mouth just short of touching his, leaving only a whisper of space between our lips. "Thank you."

I closed that space between us and pressed a soft kiss to his lips before pulling away. His eyes opened to stare back at me and as he licked his lips my gut tightened. 

"Marina." My name came out in a husky whisper from him. Then he surprised me by swiftly placing his hands on either side of my face, holding me still as he dropped his mouth to mine.

His kiss was hot and his tongue even hotter as it plunged into the depths of my mouth. It pulled a groan deep from my gut as I opened wider wanting, needing his kiss to go deeper.

He trembled as my arms wound around his waist inside his coat, pulling him closer to press my breasts against his hard muscled chest. My nipples ached with need, wanting to feel his naked skin against them. He pulled away from our kiss, gasping for breath as he rested his brow on mine.

I lead him into the now empty living room where the fire continued to blaze and music still played. My gut tightened again as I watched the muscles under Levi's shirt flexing as he removed his coat. He came to me and took my hands in his to lay them flat against his chest. His heart beat strong and steady beneath my palm. 

"Dance with me," he whispered, and slowly moved, sliding my hands up over his shoulders to circle around his neck. Then he stroked his hands down my arms and along my sides until he reached my hips. His long fingers curl into my clothes and pulled me closer, bringing our bodies together from chest to thigh.

I caught my breath as I brushed against him. My nipples grew hard as they moved over his chest and sent fingers of sensation through out my body. My hands caressed the corded muscles of his neck and shoulders before I brought them back and combed my fingers through the long silky strands of his hair. 

I placed a tender kiss at the base of his throat and worked my way up, giving small flicks of my tongue to his skin. Ever so gently I nipped his chin before I let my lips hover over his mouth. We stared into each other's eyes keeping only a breath of space between our lips. I swept my tongue across his bottom lip and felt his hands slip down to my ass pulling me harder against him. "Do you feel that, Marina? Can you feel what you do to me?"

"Yes." I moaned and dropped my head back as he ground me against the bulging evidence of his need. His hands then slid upwards to support my back as he leaned me backwards slightly and placed a kiss in the open v of my sweater. His lips were so hot on my skin as they skimmed towards the side of my neck. 

"Levi!" I gasped suddenly as he opened his mouth on my neck and sucked the skin between his lips. When his teeth nipped my skin I couldn't stop the cry of surprise that escaped from my lips. My fingers gripped his hair tight in my hands as I held him to me. The to long forgotten joy of someone biting me left me unable to pull him away. 

"Please!" I cried, as the suction of his mouth grew so strong that the tugging feeling went straight to my clit. It swelled and throbbed so hard I thought I would cum right then. 

I growled and jerked his mouth from my neck. My breath ragged as I stared into his eyes, letting him see the hungry glow that burned in them before I locked my mouth over his, pushing my searching tongue deep into the hot interior of his mouth. 

I pulled away from him barely holding onto my control. "If we do this Levi, I will bite you and it will be rough. The need for blood and sex entwine with each other very strongly inside me, so now is the time to either say yes or walk away from me."

I trembled and watched his eyes as they moved over my face, wanting and hoping for the answer that I so needed to come from his lips. He leaned in and kissed me. "I'm not going anywhere, Marina."

"Come with me." I took his hand and moved toward the guestroom, closing the door behind us before going to him and beginning to unbutton his shirt with shaking hands.

He placed his hands over mine, "Hey; everything's going to be fine. Trust me."

"It's been along time since I've been with someone Levi. I've never made love to a mortal, not before and not after becoming a vampire. I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

"I trust you, Marina, especially after yesterday morning." His smile was so sweet and gentle, looking into his eyes I saw that he really did trust me. 

He let go of my hands and placed his on either side of my face as he kissed me. I gave up trying to unbutton his shirt; instead I tore it open, scattering the buttons across the carpet. He dropped his hands from me and removed his shirt while I slid my mouth down the side of his neck. My lips paused over his pulse and sucked gently. "Soon, very soon."

Somehow I made my mouth move down his chest, nipping his skin as I went. I sucked one nipple into my mouth and swirled my tongue over it before biting, taking a small sip of his blood.

His fingers slid into my hair as I dropped down to my knees, my tongue running down the middle of his chest and over his belly to stop at his waistband. I made quick work of his belt, button and zipper, pushing his pants and boxers down to ankles in one motion.

He had already kicked off his shoes making it easier for him to step out of his clothes. After I removed his socks I slid my hands up his legs and placed wet kisses on his thighs.

His cock in front of my face was so thick and full of desire. I cupped his balls in my hand and wrapped my other hand around his shaft, softly stroking him. Opening my mouth, I took one of his balls inside, rolling it with my tongue then sucking.

I look up at him as I slid my tongue along the length of his cock and then slipped my lips over the head. His fingers curled in my hair as I began to take him deeper, dragging a moan from his belly when I pulled back only to slide down fast and swallowing him completely. 

I loved the way he feels and moves inside my mouth and over my tongue. He tasted so good that I didn't want to stop sucking him, but Levi had other plans for me. He pulled me to my feet, kissing me hard. I stepped out of my shoes while he pulled my sweater over my head and his nimble fingers removed my bra.

"Beautiful," he whispered, taking my breasts into his hands and teasing my already hard nipples. His dark head bent swiftly, kissing each tip before pulling one into his mouth, hungrily sucking it.

I held his mouth to me while he pushed my pants and panties over my hips and down my thighs. Once naked he lead us over to the bed and lay me down. My legs parted as he moved over top of me and I watched as he kissed my stomach making it quiver. "I'm dying to taste you, Marina."

He slid his big hands along the insides of my thighs pushing my legs farther apart. The closer his mouth got the more my teeth unsheathed in my mouth. My hips jerked when his fingertips slid over the swollen outer lips of my pussy. 

I moaned when he pulled my lips apart and felt his hot breath on my wet skin. I closed my eyes tight and wrapped my fingers into the bed cover, holding on to my control by a single thread. "Please, Levi. Don't tease me."

With one slow flick of his tongue he licked me from bottom to top. I cried out and my back pulled up off the bed when the tip of his tongue dipped in just enough to tease my clit. Again and again he licked me, increasing the pressure with each stroke, always swirling his tongue over and around my clit till I growled in my throat. 

At last he wrapped his lips around my clit, flicking me with his tongue and sucking. His hands slid under me, grabbing my ass and pulling me against his mouth. My orgasm came so fast and my clit throbbed so hard that I thought it would burst in his mouth. 

I fell back on the bed with my chest heaving. Levi's mouth was still attached to my pussy licking the cream as it flowed from me till my clit became to sensitive to touch. I reached down and pulled him up my body, kissing him hard and tasting myself on his lips. 

I was shaking hard trying to restrain myself from biting him, trying to hold out and deny myself the pleasure for as long as I could. With teeth scratching at his skin I moaned against his neck. "Hurry..."

I felt him push the head of his cock in so slow and gentle. I didn't need or want that. I needed to be impaled hard and I needed him to do it fast. I wrapped my legs around him, heels against his ass and I pulled, using my strength to drive his long cock deep into my cunt.

"Yes..." I growled in a mixture of pleasure and pain. My long unused muscles stretched to the limit to accommodate the length and thickness of his cock. I contracted around him and he let go a deep guttural groan above me. 

"Don't hold back from me, Levi. Just let yourself go, nothing you can do will hurt me." 

He pulled back and slammed in deeper. I hissed between my aching teeth as his cock slammed up against my womb. I slipped into his mind and raised his level of desire and he responded by pumping faster and his cock turning even harder inside me. 

"Marina." He moaned my name long and low as I keep notching up his desire. I licked the length of his neck, finding his pulse hammering away and tasting the sweat on his skin. 

The animal in me locked onto the sound of his blood flowing through his veins and took over. In one fast move I had Levi underneath me with my hands supporting me above him. My hips pumped hard and fast, slamming my cunt all the way down to the base of his cock. 

I tried to hold on to the last thread of my control but it was useless when he grabbed my ass and started thrusting up into me. I lost it. I jerked his head to the side exposing his neck to me and started down with my mouth open and teeth fully extended, I sent a finally burst of pleasure through Levi's senses before sinking my canines deep and violently into his jugular. 

His body stiffened under me and he rammed his cock up to my womb when I took my first suckle of his blood. My cunt grew tighter around him and then the first hot splash of his cum spilled inside me. With each flex of his hips he drove more seed up into my belly, which along with his blood filling my mouth, triggered my own orgasm. 

My greedy body kept sucking for more and more of Levi's sweet juices. None to gently I pulled my teeth from his neck. My back arched and my head went back as I let out a long deep growl. My hips couldn't seem to stop pumping me onto his cock as spasm after spasm grabbed a hold of my muscles and made me clench around him. 

Finally I relaxed enough to settle on top of him with my mouth once again going to his neck, sucking at the blood that still trickled from his vein. He circled his arms around me and one of his hands presses my mouth against his neck even tighter. Tremors moved through his body with each suckle I take. "Marina..."

I lift my head to look down at him and found his eyes closed and his mouth partly open. I knew I shouldn't, but I went ahead and kissed him though the taste of his blood was still on my lips and in my mouth. 

Once I pulled back I asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Mm, I feel wonderful," he mumbled. 

I slid off of him, lying on my side next to him with my head against his shoulder and fingers lightly stroking his chest. He wrapped his arm around me pulling me even closer. "Why don't you sleep for a while? I'll wake you before I have to go down stairs."

He chuckled lightly. "I don't think I have any choice love, you drained me pretty good."

I stiffened and held my breath for a moment at his use of the word 'love'. Thinking it's the loss of blood making him say that, I gently placed a command in his mind for him to sleep and less then a minute later I felt his body relax. If I actually thought Levi meant that, he would have just made me the happiest woman in the world. I kissed his chest, closed my eyes and lay my head down, listening to him breathe and whispered, "I love you." 




A Vampire's Reward



*

The following evening after climbing out of my coffin and putting on a short, sky-blue silk robe, I sat down to my usual meal. As I picked up the first glass from the serving tray I spotted a note with my name written in bold letters across it.

Somehow I finished the first glass of blood without picking up the note. I tried to make it through the second glass but my curiosity got the better of me and I grabbed it, flipping it open to find:

Dear Marina, Though the days are growing shorter as winter approaches, the sun could not set fast enough this evening. You were on my mind and in my thoughts every second of every minute as the sun rode across the sky. Just by closing my eyes I could smell your scent, I could taste you on my lips, I could see the look on your face as I brought you pleasure. I feel a connection to you unlike any that I have ever known before. If you feel half of what I do Marina, then come to me. I'll be waiting for you. Love, Levi

By the time I read the last word my hands were trembling so badly that the note slipped from my fingers to the floor and the glass in my other hand almost followed it. I jumped up quickly and headed to my closet. It took me a few minutes to get my act together before putting on a black skirt, a long sleeved v-necked red sweater along with short black boots.

I ran up the steps to a darken kitchen. Hearing the crackles of a roaring fire, I went toward the living room and found Levi crouched down in front of the fireplace. I stopped in my tracks as he rose up to his full height; his long black hair was loose and flowed down his back over a white pull over sweater. His slacks fit his body so well, lovingly cupping his taut ass.

I breathed in deep trying to calm myself but Levi must have heard me for he turned around abruptly to stare at me. I watched the appreciation fill his eyes, as he looked me up and down. Then he held out his hand and smiled so sweetly. I walked across the space that separated us placing my hand into his. He pulled me close and wrapped me in his arms. His heart beat so loudly as he trembled when my hands wandered over his lower back.

He leaned back and brought his hands up to my face, staring into my eyes as his thumb stroked over my skin. His eyes seemed to hold a new light in them that only got brighter as he leaned down giving me a feather soft kiss. "I love you. I think I have since that second night when I first touched your hand. I know this is moving to fast but deep inside my heart I know it's right. I know you're the one I've been waiting for all my life, Marina."

My insides shook and my heart felt ready to burst with so much joy. I brought my hand up to cover his on my face. "I think I've loved you longer. That first night when I held you in my arms, my heart knew it had found the right one to love again. You don't know it, but it about killed me to leave you that morning at dawn. I just can't believe how much I love you, Levi."

He kissed me slow and deep this time then he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up off the floor, swinging me around in a circle. I couldn't stop laughing as I held on to him and looked into his smiling face. 

"What in the world is going on in here?" I heard Chad's loud voice break through our laughter. 

Levi let me slide down along his body before he finally answered with a grin on his face. "She loves me."

"Is that true, Marina?" Rose asked with a look of hope in her eyes as she reached for Chad's hand. 

I wrapped my arms back around Levi's waist and stared into his eyes. "It's true, Rose. I love him."

Levi grabbed my hand walking us toward the door smiling over at Chad and Rose. "I promise to have her back before dawn."

Once outside he helped me into his truck telling me to sit in the middle next to him. Once he climbed in he reached over and pulled the seatbelt around me, and as he did I lean forward, nuzzling his neck and inhaling the wonderful combination of man and cologne. When he had me locked in he turned his head and kissed me hard. He tasted so good I could have taken him right there in the driveway.

Levi didn't have any plans for us other than to be alone, so as we drove along backcountry roads we got to know each other a little. We talked of the books we read, the music we liked and the movies we loved. He loved action-adventure type stories and Native American history while I loved all kinds of history books and yes, I also loved paranormal stories. Our taste for movies was completely opposite of each other. He was into war movies while I enjoyed a good chic flick. But we both came together when we talked about our love of all kinds of music. I told him of some of the artists I've seen in person through out my life and he just looked at me in awe.

Later on he talked of the few places he had lived, including his life as a child on a reservation. I told him I had been around the world and that some of the places didn't exist anymore except in some history books or on old maps. He listened to every word as I told him about how much harder life was back then compared to now for people. Even those who had money still had to struggle to keep it. And though it was harder now being a vampire in some aspects, I still prefer life of modern times over any period I had lived through. 

About two hours into our drive, over snake like roads that curved their way through the mountains, we came across a nice sized town that had a movie theater. Since neither of us had seen the movie playing we pulled into the parking lot. We were a bit early for the show and decided to stroll along the sidewalks and window-shop. 

We took our time, stopping at almost every shop pointing out something we liked or some odd item that made us laugh. There seemed to be an abundance of antique stores and art galleries here, with a jewelry store or two thrown in the mix since the Smokey's were very popular for weddings these days. 

We stopped at one of the jewelry store windows and looked even though most of the items had been removed so as not to tempt any thieves. But there were a few pieces like simple necklaces and plain gold wedding bands. Seeing those wedding bands, I couldn't help but be reminded of the two that I still wore around my neck: Dante's and mine.

Finally it is time to head back to the theater. The previews had just began as we bought our tickets and sat down in the back roll. We basically had the place to ourselves with only a few couples sitting up closer to he screen.

As the movie started he held my hand, his thumb caressing my skin. A little later he put my hand on his thigh then pulled me as close as the old fashion seats would let him. I was being good until his hand started caressing the back of my nape sending shivers down my spine. My hand squeezed on his well-muscled thigh, and then I started lightly stroking my hand up and down, creeping higher and higher till my hand found his cock. Never turning my face from the screen I let my fingers and hand discover the hard contours that lay just under his slacks, pulsating with life.

I leaned over and whispered in his ear. "I'll stop if you want me to, lover."

I made to pull my hand away only to feel his press mine down against his crotch as he pushed up into my hand. I let my voice fill his mind. "Slide down in your chair, Levi, and then I want you to quietly as you can lower your zipper and take your cock out."

Once I removed my hand from him he slid down in his chair quick as lightening but when it came to his zipper he had to take his slow sweet time so that no one would hear. By the time he got his fly open and his cock pulled out into the open, he was breathing hard. 

"Easy baby, I'm going to wrap my hand around your cock. Don't make a sound or you'll draw attention to us." Keeping my mind connected with his, I reached over and took his shaft into my hand, feeling it jerk when I had him completely surrounded. 

"Answer me mentally, Levi and I'll be able to hear what you say. Have you ever done anything like this before?"

He was so turned on that when he did answer me his mental voice was filled with excitement. "No. I've never done this. Oh god, that feels so good. Run your fingers over the head, baby. Yes, a little more."

Wetness coated my fingertips so I brought them to my mouth, turning my head enough for the light of the screen to show Levi my tongue licking his pre-cum off my fingers. With his taste on my tongue my teeth started to pinch as they grew from sexual need. "Damn, lover, I should have known better then taste your juice. I need to get out of here. Fast as you can, Levi, you need to get your cock back into your pants."

It seemed like forever before he finally stood up and pulled me with him. Fighting the urge to run, we walked out into the lobby and out the doors as calm looking as could be. Outside we made a mad dash for his truck on the other side of the building. 

We got as far as the passenger door and that was it. He pushed me hard against the side of the truck, crushing his mouth on mind for the hottest kiss of my life. It was all lips, tongue and teeth, and it was so carnal in it's heat. He pulled his mouth away roughly. "Please tell me you aren't wearing any panties, Marina?"

I pulled my skirt up with one hand while I reached for his and slid it up along my thigh, letting him feel the wet curls of my pussy. He let out a hungry groan and jerked his hand back, lowered his zipper down over his thick erection and pulled it out. 

In seconds he had my bare ass in his hands lifting me up and pressing me into the side of the truck. Then I was crying out, as he slammed up into my cunt hard, impaling me on every inch of his cock.

My legs and arms wrapped around him tight trying to hold on as he plunged deeper into my body. His fingers dug into my ass pulling my cunt onto his cock making me take each of his thrusts.

His mouth was hot and wet against my neck, licking and sucking my skin where a pulse should have been and then he bit me hard. His teeth broke the skin and, when they did he started sucking the tiny amount of blood that surfaced, I came. I screamed as he penetrated my body two different ways at once and growled like an animal against my neck. My cunt was contracting so hard around him but he was thrusting in so powerfully that he didn't slow down. He just kept pounding me into the side of the truck.

I slid my hand into Levi's loose hair and curled my fingers in it tight pulling his mouth from my neck. I gasped when I looked into the hungriest face I'd ever seen. He growled out his demand, punctuating each with a powerful stroke into my body. "Bite me, Marina. Make it hard, make it rough, make me cum."

His cry echoed through the cold night air in the parking lot as I sank my teeth deep into his neck. His blood rushed into my mouth hot and rich. I could taste his passion flowing through his veins. 

"Yes! Yes!" He growled as he pumped me harder. He swelled inside me, growing longer and pushing at my womb.

My control slipped and for a few seconds Levi felt everything that I was feeling as he kept pushing himself deeper inside me. "Marina!" My name burst from his mouth as he felt the sensations my body was going through. And with one mental stroke of my mind in his, he rammed in deep holding there as his cock twitched inside me, my body sucking and draining him dry of cum as my mouth took one more taste from his neck before pulling free.

He gasped for his breath as I held him close. I closed my feelings off from him and felt the tremors start in his body. We both moaned when his cock soften and slipped from my cunt. 

Levi could barely hold himself up against the truck. Knowing he was too weak, I placed his cock back in his slacks then helped him into the passenger seat. By the time I got behind the wheel Levi had fallen asleep. A few miles out of town he came around enough to reach over and take my hand in his then went right back to sleep.

There was lots of time left before dawn would arrive, so instead of going home I drove us around till I came to an abandoned farm that had a run down barn to hide the truck behind. I left the engine running to keep Levi warm but turn the headlights off so no one would see us.

I rested against the door and watched him sleep and wonder what happen to make him so wild tonight. I brought my hand up to my neck and could still feel the small but shallow puncture he made. It made me wish that I could cast a reflection and look at them in the rear view mirror to see what type of mark he left behind. 

It's know among us vampires that some humans have something in their DNA that enables them to be turned, but I knew that was not the case with Levi for I would have sensed it. There was a story I'd heard that some vampires had came back through reincarnation, but I couldn't see how that could happen since a vampire loses their soul when they are turned from human. So it made me wonder at what caused him to bite me and taste my blood.

I watched his eyes begin to flutter as he began to wake. He looked so sexy all rumpled and drowsy. He stretched his tall body then turned to look at me. He reached out his hand and I put mine into his. "Did I hurt you, Marina? I, I don't know what got into me. I've never been that excited or rough and I sure haven't bitten anyone before either."

After I raised the armrest I slid across and pressed in close to him. I ran my fingertip over his lower lip. "You didn't hurt me, Levi. You just, surprised me."

He lifted his hand toward my neck and rubbed his fingers over the spot where he bit me. I sucked in a deep breath at the tingling feeling that shot all the way to the tips of my breasts. He then leaned forward and kissed the wound and I gasped as he licked it. His hand gripped my hair at my nape and pulled, moving my head to the side

"What are you doing?" I struggled to get those few simple words out, fighting my bodies craving for another of his bites.

"I want another taste, Marina. And I know you're craving more." He nuzzled against my neck and I began to throb between my legs.

"But, but you're human, not a vampire. You shouldn't like the taste of blood much less want it." I gasped when he shifted us to where I was straddling him. He pushed my skirt up high till my pussy was able to press against his crotch.

He lifted up against me as he pulled me down, his big hands holding my ass and moving me over him. "I can't explain, but I needed to taste you blood while ago and it excited me just getting those few small drops. I know it pleased you, Marina. You came so hard when my teeth sank in. Tell me you don't want it and I swear I will never bite you ever again."

His hands moved up and pulled my sweater over my head. Then with a flick of his wrist he had the front clasp of my bra opened and pulled it off as well. He cupped my left breast while his other hand went back to my ass. He moved his head down and licked my already budding nipple. He took another lick and suddenly he bit me. My body reacted by pushing my pussy into his crotch and arching my back. 

His voice was raspy as he asked again. "Tell me, Marina, yes or no?"

I shuddered against his body as need and desire burned to a fevered pitch inside my gut. I took one of my extremely sharp fingernails and cut the skin just above my nipple. Levi gasped and his hand clenched on my ass as the blood welled up to the surface and started to coat my nipple. "Yes, Levi."

He swiped his tongue over my nipple moaning when he tasted it. My hips pressed me into his bulging cock with every lick he took. He then took my nipple and the cut into his mouth and sucked.

My insides grew tighter and tighter with each suckle his greedy mouth took. I was humping my pussy against him faster feeling so close. My hands went to his head pressing his mouth harder to me and then begging him, "Please, bite me."

I felt his hand go between us, heard the rasp of his zipper, then felt his hard cock pressing against my pussy. I raised up on my knees till I felt the head press against the wet opening of my cunt. His hands went to my hips and pulled me down hard and when I bottomed out he sank his teeth into my breast.

My scream filled the cab of the truck as the pain of his teeth set off my orgasm. He kept biting and sucking me causing my body to contract around his cock. His fingers dug into my hips as he worked me up and down his shaft. He growled something fierce against my breast as he swelled then burst inside me.

I pulled his mouth from my breast and bent my head down as I lifted it to my mouth to lick the wound and stop the flow of blood. No sooner had I lifted my head his hand cupped the back of it and pulled my mouth onto his. His kiss was greedy and hungry as his tongue plundered the recesses of my mouth.

He reached over the side of the truck seat and leaned it back into the extended part of the cab. His touch was so gentle as he pulled me down to lay across his chest. He fanned my hair out across my back, combing it with his long fingers before finally holding me in his arms.

"I love you, Levi."

"And I love you, Marina, with all my soul."

*

It was an hour before dawn when Levi walked me to the front door of the cabin. I didn't want to let go of him, hated the fact that I couldn't have him by my side as I slept. My hands curled into his sweater holding him close as I kissed him once more. 

We clung to each other and I had a feeling come over me that made me shiver in fear. A feeling that this may be my last time to kiss him, to touch him, to love him. 

I poured ever ounce of love I had for him into that kiss. I tried to show him just how much he meant to me. He groaned when I pulled away, his eyes holding a look of excitement and surprise.

"Never forget that I love you, Levi. No matter what happens I need you to remember that." Caressing his handsome face watching his eyes close, I ingrain every line, every angle of it into my memory. Then before he could make a reply I turned and entered the cabin. I leaned against the door and heard him say, "Not even death will make me forget your, love Marina." And then he walked away.

*

I had just stepped into the kitchen when from behind me, Chad said, "Cutting it kind of close aren't you?"

I turned and smiled at him then frowned at the look on his face. "What's wrong? Is something wrong with Rose, with you?"

"No we're both fine but I think you better take a look at this, Marina. It arrived right after you left and the man said it was very important that you read it as soon as possible." He held a long brown envelope in his hands then offered it to me.

Reluctantly I flipped the envelope over and found it was from the "special" private investigator I had hired to try and find that one remaining underling. 

I removed several sheets from inside it and began to read. The letter was a detailed report of the last four weeks and as usual it was reading like all the rest, nothing found. I almost didn't read the second page but instinct kicked in, screaming at me to read the rest. When I did I had to sit down. 

They had found the underling in Tampa, Florida. He had two underlings of his own now traveling with him. The detective followed him as he moved along the gulf coast, stopping in a few cities and small towns I had visited like Crystal River and Yankeetown before he moved on up into Georgia.

It seems that the underling, whose name the P. I. found out was Jackson Kimble, had been asking questions of the locals about me. There was no way anyone would tell him anything because no one knew I had ever been there.

Five years after Dante's death I came back to America. I was lost without him and so I drifted. For two years the gulf coast of Florida drew me. I walked the beaches at night, alone except for passing the occasional pair of lovers, letting the ocean and salt air try to purge my heart of loneliness and grief.