This is the first Round Robin that was originally posted to the FK Vals list.
Standard disclaimers apply.

Natalie closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She thought of her life, its fullness and its emptiness. She needed to be loved, not chastely as Nick was wont to do, but fully in celebration of every part of her that was and is a woman. She opened her eyes and stared first at Lucien and then at Nicholas. She had to choose, the question was how.
"Nick, why do you want me to go home with you to the loft?"
"Why? Natalie, don't you know why?"
"No, Nick, how could I? You keep your emotions and your body away from me. If I was to go home with you tonight, what would you do--what do YOU want for our future?"
"I want to love you, Natalie."
"How?"
Nick threw up his hands in exasperation. He started to pace around the room. "How? What do you mean, how? I want to love you in the same way every man who loves a woman wants to love her. I want to make love to you."
"Then make love to me. Here and now. Bring me across, and pay Lucien back the debt you owe him for Fleur. Give us the chance to love." Natalie reached for Nick's hand and started toward LaCroix's bedroom.
Nick pulled his hand from Natalie's grasp. "Natalie! What are you doing?! We can't make love. I--I--can't damn you to my life."
"If it had come down to it at Azure's on Valentine's, would you have brought me across? Would you have given me the choice? I remember everything, Nick. What would YOU have done?!" Natalie's rage filled her body at the thoughts of the love Nick had denied her.
LaCroix could stand no more. "Enough, Nicholas! I won't stand by as you deny yet another woman in your life the joys of our existence. I lost Fleur to death because of you; I won't let another of her caliber slip away because of your cowardice."
"You would have used Fleur and spit her out, the same way you have used me. You would have made her existence miserable and would have tried to control her every move."
"Nicholas, my son, have you ever stopped to think about why I take such delight in controlling you? No, I imagine you haven't."
"It was because of the loss of Fleur's love," Natalie whispered. "That is why you have been so hard on Nick, because your heart was broken, and he was the cause." Natalie stepped toward Lucien and gently touched his cheek with her fingers. "You loved her--you still do."
"As long as I exist, I will love her, but that does not mean that my heart does not have room for another." LaCroix kissed Natalie gently on the lips. "You are the most incredible woman, Natalie, and I would treasure you for all of eternity."
Natalie looked into the ancient's eyes and knew what her answer was. She knew, though she could not explain how, that he would not try to control her as he had controlled Nick. He would love her, fully and completely.
Natalie turned toward Nick and whispered, "You can leave, Nick. I can't live a life of unfulfilled desires, and I know you will never be able to complete me."
"But Nat...."
"Go, Nick. You had your chance. Now it is over."
Nick stared into Natalie's eyes and saw the determination that was there. She would not be deterred. "You are making a mistake. When you understand that, I will be here for you." Nick exited his father's apartment. He closed the door behind him as the bloodtears streamed down his face.

Natalie stared at the closed door. Tears slid silently down her face at the ending of her relationship with Nick. She could feel LaCroix's hand as he lightly touched her shoulder, drawing her body back against his. She breathed in his scent, and enjoyed the warmth that radiated between them.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on LaCroix's shoulder. She could feel his hands as they lightly caressed her arms. LaCroix captured one of her hands in his and brought it to his lips. The feeling of his lips made her forget her sadness. She smiled as she turned to face LaCroix.
"Make love to me, Lucien," Natalie whispered as her eyes locked with her new lover's.
"It would be my pleasure, my lady."
Their lips met, and their tongues quickly began to duel for dominance. Her fire and courage spurred him on, but she was not to be undaunted. She gave in to her desires fully now, stripped of all pretense of never having wondered about making love with one of his kind.
Lucien pushed her up against the nearest wall. He untied her robe and pushed it slowly off her shoulders. His mouth descended on her breasts, devouring them. His fangs scraped her skin, her blood intoxicating him. He captured first one and then the other of her nipples in his mouth, sucking gently at first but then increasing the pressure. Natalie moaned loudly, as her fingernails tore the delicate silk material of Lucien's shirt. A short scream escaped her mouth as she felt her lover's fangs pierce her nipple.
At the feel of her nails scraping along his back, Lucien could no longer control himself. He bit her sensitive skin and sucked her life into him. Natalie ripped the remainder of his shirt off and started to work on his pants, as his mouth found hers again.
They kissed deeply, each feeling as if time was standing still. Nothing else mattered but the other's pleasure. Natalie broke the kiss and looked deeply into Lucien's eyes. His passion for her was evident. Lucien ran his fingers through Natalie's hair, gathering it together. He gently pulled her head back, exposing her neck for his pleasure. His tongue traced delicate lines from her jaw bone to her shoulders. Next, his fangs slid down the wet skin, causing Natalie to shiver.
When he felt her hands slip inside his pants, his control started to snap. He wanted her blood, now. Lucien closed his eyes and released Natalie's hair. He lost himself in the feeling of her hands touching him, making him ache with the need to become one with her--by body and blood. He picked her up in his arms and carried her back to his bed. He gently laid Natalie on top of his silk sheets and brushed her hair back from her face. He kissed her lips gently before he stood to remove the rest of his clothing.
Natalie stretched out her arm toward Lucien. "Join me, and I will join you."
"Are you su--"
"Very. I want to feel you inside of me, and I want to feel you become a part of me."
Lucien smiled as he laid down beside Natalie. His hands gently stroked her body. When Natalie thought she could not stand one minute more of attention, he moved on top of her, parting her legs with his own. He slowly entered Natalie's wetness, looking deeply in her eyes for one sign of pain or regret. He found only acceptance. Natalie kissed Lucien deeply, as he plunged fully inside her.
They rode the wave of their passion, increasing and then slowing their pace--trying desperately to prolong the moment. When they could stand it no more, Natalie turned her head, exposing her neck to Lucien's aching fangs. He kissed her neck gently, and then pierced her skin and artery. Her blood rushed into his mouth, caressing his long-forgotten soul as his orgasm washed over him.
Natalie's eye's flew open. The images assaulted her mind as her orgasm flooded her body. She moved with him, closing her eyes to better absorb the images. Soon the darkness surrounded her, and she was almost no more.
Lucien moved quickly off his new found love. He sliced his wrist and offered her slightly parted mouth his blood. The words flowed from him, as if he had been born a poet instead of a warrior. He pleaded with her to come back to him, to join him in experiencing immortality and its delights. He spoke of her beauty--soft hair of curls, and blushing, full breasts.
As his other hand cupped Natalie's breast, he felt her sucking gently at his wrists. This was unlike any of his other children--their hunger so great and new that they almost drained him a few moments after they returned from the light. Not Natalie. She slowly fed on his blood, savoring every moment of his life that she now glimpsed fully.
Natalie broke away from Lucien's wrist and kissed him soundly on the lips. "I won't leave you. I'm sorry for all your pai--" Lucien stopped her words with a kiss and then cuddled her in his arms, gently stroking her hair until she fell asleep. As she slept, Lucien quickly tasted of her blood again. He smiled at what he saw there. This one was wise, and she was beginning to love him.

The Beginning... Tyra

End Part Seven