January 2000

Natalie heard her beeper chirping in her purse. "I wonder how long that has been going off?" Natalie got up out of bed and went to her purse. LaCroix moved slightly in bed, searching for Natalie's missing form.

"Natalie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Lucien. My beeper was just going off. I thought I should check it. It's my doctor's number." Natalie looked at the time. "I missed my appointment this morning."

"You should call her." LaCroix tossed her the cordless phone he kept besides the bed.

Natalie smiled at LaCroix, and sat on the bed beside him. He started to rub her back, offering her comfort and support for what she had to face.

"Hello, this is Natalie Lambert. Diane paged me earlier this morning."

"One minute, Dr. Lambert. She will be right with you."

Natalie leaned back into LaCroix's gentle touches. She bent down and kissed him gently on the lips. "Thank you."

"Natalie! I'm so glad you called! I've been calling all over town for you. I just got off the phone with the gentleman I met at your apartment last night."

"I'm sorry I missed our appointment this morning. I needed some sleep."

"Natalie, that's ok. I have some good news for you. The damn lab mixed up your biopsy with a Chris Lambert. I noticed that the blood types did not match. Natalie, I can't tell you how sorry I am. Your biopsy was benign. You don't have cancer, Natalie."

Natalie sat in silence, not knowing what to say.

"Natalie, did you hear me? You don't have cancer."

"Thanks for tracking me down, Diane. I'll give you a call in a few days."

"Stay in touch, Nat. And again, I'm sorry for the mix-up."

Tears of relief flowed from Natalie's eyes. LaCroix held her, until they stopped. "You do not have cancer?"

"No. I don't." Natalie smiled, reaching her hands up to caress LaCroix's face. "Thank you for being here for me."

"When you are ready, my offer still stands."

Natalie looked LaCroix directly in the eye. "I am ready. Make love to me, Lucien."

"If I do, you may not survive. You know the ris--"

Natalie crushed LaCroix's lips with her own. Their desperate hands tore at each other's pajamas. LaCroix flipped Natalie on to her back. He covered her neck and breasts with small bites. Natalie moaned under LaCroix's ministrations.

"Natalie, you are so beautiful and strong." LaCroix's kisses bites moved lower on her body, covering her stomach and then her upper thighs. "You are delicious...so sweet." LaCroix parted her wetness with his tongue, licking her nub hard and fast.

"Lucien!" Natalie moaned, pushing her hips forward toward LaCroix's willing mouth. "So long...so, so long..."

LaCroix kissed his way up Natalie's body to her lips. "A woman should never go long without the love of a man." He closed his eyes when he felt Natalie's hand on his hardness, guiding it toward her wet opening.

LaCroix slid inside of Natalie. Her eyes widened at the feeling of being filled completely by a man, again. Slowly, LaCroix moved in and out of her.

Natalie's breathing became more labored and she whispered, "Faster, please, faster."

LaCroix smiled at her pleasure and increased his pace. Their eyes locked as their tempo increased--each rising to meet the other. Natalie arched her back as her orgasm washed over her. LaCroix plunged into Natalie, as his lips kissed down her neck. His fangs entered her vein, drawing her life into his body. His bloodseed spilled into her body as he climaxed. He drank deeply, but quickly stopped. His mouth again found Natalie's.

Natalie broke their kiss. "I'm still alive--I didn't think--I mean--how..."

LaCroix laughed at her musings, as he drew her onto his chest. "I am very old, my dear Natalie. I have many tricks up my sleeve."

"I can't wait to feel the rest of them."

The lovers settled into a gentle sleep. It was broken by the sound of the door being slammed open.

"LaCroix!!! Where is she?"

Nick threw the door to LaCroix's bedroom open. He froze at what he saw there. Natalie sat straight up in bed, the sheet dropping from her body, exposing her bitten torso.

"I'm too late. Natalie, there was no need for this--you don't have cancer."

"I know, Nick. I knew before 'this' happened."

Nick listened--he still heard her heart beating. "I'm not too late. You haven't been brought across."

"No. Just passionately made love to." Natalie rose from the bed, her naked form moving toward Nick. "Completely made love to--passion finding form and expression. No, I didn't come across today--but I may tomorrow, or the next day. It will be my choice."

LaCroix rose from his bed, slipping on his robe. "Nicholas, I think it is time you left."

"So, does Natalie belong to you now?"

"She belongs to no one, Nicholas. If I did try to make her 'mine,' as you put it, it would kill her spirit, and it is her spirit that entrances me." LaCroix poured himself a glass of bloodwine. "Leave, Nicholas, before I get angry."

Nick took one last look at Natalie's naked body and exited the room.

A single tear slid down Natalie's face. "I don't know how I feel about anyone or anything, Lucien."

LaCroix reached into his closet and pulled out a robe for Natalie. He handed it to her as he walked toward the phone. "Miklos, please make a reservation for one for Hawaii. It is for Natalie. She will need a driver and a hotel as well. I believe she will be ready to leave late tomorrow afternoon." LaCroix hung up the phone and turned toward Natalie.

"I thought you would enjoy getting a way from here for a little while. If you do not wish to go to Hawaii, tell Miklos, and he will change the reservations. You need not worry about the expense, I will take care of it. I, of course, will be staying here."

Natalie smiled. "Thank you, Lucien. Hawaii will be fine. You don't have to--"

"I do not wish for you to have any regrets."

"Will you join--"

"If you wish, yes."

"I may just wish that." Natalie put her arms around LaCroix's neck and kissed him. "Let's go back to bed, Lucien. I want to learn more about those secrets of yours."

LaCroix gathered Natalie into his arms and carried her to their bed.

The sounds of newfound love soon filled the room.

THE END

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