There's a Fine Line Ch. 10

Things are a bit calmer in this chaper so no warnings. Thanks to the Terrible Trio as always. Enjoy!

xxxxxx

"I have a meeting this afternoon I can't miss, beautiful." Blake's voice whispered over her shoulder and a wave of goosebumps followed in its wake.

Alicia lay on her side with her vampire's body molded against her back. His left arm served as her pillow and was angled in such a way so that his hand maintained a gentle but possessive grasp of her small breast. The fingers of his right hand danced along her upper thigh, hip, and the curve of her waist. Not even as a child had she felt so secure and cherished. Why had she ever fought this?

"You're the boss, Blake," she grumbled. "Just reschedule it." She knew she was being pouty and petulant, but didn't much care. A meeting meant he had to get dressed, and covering that gorgeous body with anything other than her should be a crime. Punishable by death, if she had her way. Feeling needy, she wriggled even closer to his warmth.

"Behave, brat." He twisted her nipple until she whimpered and then teased it until her whimpers turned to soft moans. "I've been granted the backing of the Primus to discover who's working with Malphas. Though today's interview is with someone I trust implicitly, it is still necessary. He may have information for me, and this is the safest way to deliver it. I'd also like for you both to meet."

"Oh?" Lifting his hand from her breast, she pressed light kisses along each finger. "Who is it?" Having lavished her affection on each long digit, Alicia teased his index finger with her tongue before easing her lips over it. She smirked at her vampire's soft hiss of pleasure and nipped at the sensitive pad.

"Alicia...." Blake's fingers dug into her hips as she practiced the art of fellatio on his trembling finger.

"What's his name, my vampire?" Her breath was a cool contrast to the moist heat of her mouth and Alicia felt his body shake with repressed need. She nipped him with her newling fangs before sliding him between her lips once more.

"August," he panted. Unclenching his fingers from her hip, Blake grasped her thigh and pulled her leg over his. She was exposed and vulnerable, and so wet it was dripping down her thigh to the sheets. He gritted his teeth against the pleasure as he slid his cock deep inside her. "His name is Augustin Calmet."

"Oooooh, fuck!" Tender and sore from earlier, Alicia's slick walls nevertheless welcomed him into their snug embrace. His hand struck her inner thigh with stinging precision on the lingering disciplinary marks he'd left earlier. Her language simply refused to improve when he was assaulting her senses with such bliss.

Blake tightened his grip on her upper body and held her motionless against his hard chest. His thrusts were slow and measured, withdrawing completely before returning to nestle between her tender folds. When she tried to move, he tightened his grip on her shoulder and thigh and pinned her free leg to the bed with his. She may have begun this game, but he was damn sure going to finish it his way.

"You delight in pushing my control, don't you, Beautiful One?" His growling whisper stoked her desire and she arched her back to take him deeper. When she didn't answer, he released her thigh long enough to land a stinging slap to her throbbing and exposed clit. She cried out at the exquisite pain and flooded his thrusting cock with a warm rush of liquid desire. "Don't you?"

"Yes, Sir!" Alicia's sobbing reply caught in her throat when one short claw scraped against her aching clit. The sharp burn as he scraped that razor-like talon across her sensitive nub caused her body to stiffen with her oncoming orgasm. The slight fear that teased her senses only heightened the pleasure.

Blake shifted her in his arms until he was able to nuzzle against the pulsing vein in her neck. He planted a series of gentle kisses along the soft skin before sliding his fangs deep. Her blood flowed over his tongue just as his orgasm shook him and he coated her silken walls with his seed. Alicia whimpered and sank her own small fangs into his wrist, drinking as she shook with the force of her own climax. Her warm tongue lapped at the wound as she floated on the cloud of ecstasy.

"You're going to be the death of me yet, beautiful." Blake's amused voice was muffled against her throat as he cradled her close, their bodies still intimately joined.

"I'm sorry."

"Shush. Never apologize for desiring me." He pulled her closer and kissed the healed bite on her neck. "You simply do not know how much you please me, mate."

"Truly?" Her voice was small, quiet, and revealed her lingering doubts and insecurities. Blake smiled and nipped at her tender throat.

"Beautiful One, I'm sure my fellow vampires would laugh to know just how happy I am with you. For centuries I denied the existence of true mates; I felt they were fairytales invented for gullible younglings to keep the weight of years from tearing at their sanity. Now I know the truth." With a final kiss to her neck, Blake slid from her body and eased her onto her back. Resting his weight on one elbow, he caressed her cheek with a loving finger. "You are perfect for me, Alicia. All I could have ever asked for and never dared to dream I'd find."

Her light brown eyes searched his darker ones and what she found there brought a shy smile to her lips. This amazing, gorgeous, and powerful vampire was happy to be her mate. She hadn't repulsed him with her desires; she hadn't disgusted him with her insecurities. As she trailed a trembling hand along his strong jaw, joyful tears seeped from her eyes to disappear into her hair.

"Thank you."

His kiss was gentle -- a promise to care, guide, and protect his mate – all given without the necessity of clumsy words and explanations. Acknowledging and accepting his promise, Alicia surrendered the last bit of her heart into his keeping. The words had yet to be spoken but lay between them as evident and existent as the bed upon which they embraced. When their lips parted, it was impossible not to smile. Such joy could not be contained behind a façade of indifference.

"Now, brat." Blake nipped her nose and grinned. "I'm going to grab a shower in the guest bathroom and then have a meal sent up. I'm sure you're starving by now. While I'm gone, I want you back in that tub to soak as long as you need to ease your aches. We have been rather...enthusiastic, and it may take some time for my blood to heal you fully."

"And if I don't want to be healed fully?" Alicia's eyes dropped to his chest as her cheeks flooded with color. "I mean, I kinda like being reminded of what we did."

"By the Firsts, Alicia, you're too tempting for words." Resting his forehead against hers as his body responded to her confession, Blake took a deep, steadying breath before chuckling. "Bathe, my beautiful mate, and join me in my office after you've eaten."

Still shaking his head, her vampire rose from the bed, gave her a lingering kiss, and then slipped out the door. Alicia lingered for a moment, basking in the warm contentment enhanced by the lingering scent of her vampire upon the sheets. Easing to her feet, she winced at the variety of aches, pains, and stinging tenderness found all over her body – the primary location being the delightfully abused flesh between her thighs. As much as she wanted her mate, she now saw the wisdom in letting certain areas heal before they made love again.

xxxxxx

A cold shower and warmed glass of bottled blood went far in settling the vampire's raging libido, and he settled into his office determined to accomplish something other than lusting after his beautiful mate. The morning's correspondence was unremarkable and easily dispatched, leaving him with an opportunity to do some research before Augustin arrived. With all other avenues exhausted for the moment, Blake decided to check some of the more factual demonology sites on his laptop. After talking with Merrow, he was fairly certain of Malphas' race and resident Circle of Hell. Now he hoped to uncover more useful information – such as why he wanted Alicia. He was making notes when a pair of slender arms slid over his shoulders to embrace him from behind. Tilting his head back, he smiled into the hazel eyes of his mate.

"I was beginning to worry that you'd gotten lost, Beautiful One."

"Nah, just being lazy." Alicia placed a teasing upside-down kiss on his lips before moving to sit gingerly upon his lap. "The bath helped a lot, by the way. Thanks."

"Is that why you sat so very carefully?" Blake's wicked grin sent a shiver through her and he wrapped his hands around her waist to pin her into place.

"Not even a long soak could get rid of everything." The color rose in her cheeks as she confessed, "I wouldn't have wanted it to, anyway."

"And why is that, Alicia?"

"It reminds me of what we did. Makes me feel..." Biting her lip, she frowned and played with the hem of her shirt.

"Makes you feel...? What, beautiful?" Blake gripped her waist with one hand while scraping the fingernails of the other along welts that striped her sore ass. She hissed at the stinging sensation with a look of sheer pleasure.

"Like I'm back in that room, Sir."

"Does this upset you?"

"No!" She turned to look at him in shock before an embarrassed blush suffused her face. Dropping her eyes to a button on his shirt, she mumbled so softly even his keen hearing failed to catch her words.

"Alicia." Tilting her face back to his, he frowned at her reluctance. After last night, there should be no more hiding.

"I said it makes me wanna beg you to take me again." She repeated her words in a rush and was rewarded by his delighted laughter. As the color flooded her face, she attempted to wiggle from his lap. His hands tightened around her waist and he pulled her tighter against his growing erection. "Blake! Stop laughing at me, you annoying vampire! It ain't funny. I can't spend all day lusting after you!"

"Whyever not, Beautiful One? I'm constantly dreaming of burying my cock in your sinfully tight pussy while I drink from your beautiful breast." One hand snaked beneath her blouse to tease her taut nipple through the thin lace of her bra. "Maybe next time we'll use the cross that fascinated you so and I'll stripe your pert little ass with the cat..."

An amused chuckle interrupted the couple and Alicia struggled once more to rise from Blake's lap. Her color, already high from his touch and words, bordered on purple at the embarrassment of being caught making out with her vampire. Escaping from her mate's arms, Alicia nervously smoothed her blouse and skirt in an effort to regain her composure. The older gentleman simply grinned even as she prayed the floor would open up and swallow her. A strong hand on her arm pulled her away just seconds before she fell through the hole she'd unknowingly created in the floor.

"What the fuck?!" Alicia gaped at the large room beneath her; rows of storage cabinets visible between the exposed pipes and insulation.

"Mate. Language." Blake's growl broke through her shock and she simply stared at him.

"I put a hole in your floor and you're gonna bitch about my language? Dude, you need to reassess your priorities."

"That's two, Alicia. I wouldn't advise a third."

"You're unbelievable, you know that?" Alicia placed her fists on her hips and looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Normal people, and I'm pretty sure even normal vampires, would be worried a bit more about a brand new sunroof in their storage room than a few cuss words."

Blake rose to tower over her, anger turning his brown eyes into twin pools of crimson fire. "I will not have my mate screaming obscenities like a common fish-wife!"

"Oh, you won't, will you? Well, let me give you a bit of a news flash, fang face..."

Her words were swallowed by his mouth devouring hers. His lips were hard, punishing; she felt the sting of his fangs and the coppery taste of blood. At first she fought against his blatant show of dominance, pushing at his firm chest and broad shoulders with little effect. Then he tangled his long fingers in her hair and jerked her head back. Her pained gasp fed into his need to over-power her, to force her into submission. Alicia's hands gripped the shoulders she'd pushed against so desperately and arched towards him, wanting more.

"I do not ask for much, Alicia." Blake's fangs scraped along the thick vein that throbbed with her life's blood, leaving behind a stinging pair of crimson trails. "Honesty is one. An effort at mannerly speech is another." He growled and tightened his hold on her hair until her vulnerable throat was fully bared to his heated gaze.

"I'm trying, Blake, but you've got to cut me some slack. Nothing's gonna happen immediately."

"Are you trying, beautiful?" he murmured against her throat. "I think you delight in seeing how far you can push me."

"Of course I'm trying! For God's sake, I've spent almost twenty years as a human -- only able to do human things -- so give me a break when things get a bit FUBAR."

"Very well." The hand in her hair relaxed, turning from a painful grip into a caress. He kissed his way up her neck to brush her lips with his. "I'll concede the point this time, Beautiful One, but do not expect such leniency often. This is important to me."

"I know." Alicia cupped his face in her hands and returned his gentle kiss with one of her own. "I was embarrassed at being caught and then the hole appeared and it scared the crap out of me. I mean, it's not every day you almost fall through a perfectly good floor. Thanks for grabbing me, by the way."

"Of course, beautiful. It's my duty as well as my desire to protect my mate." Blake kissed the tip of her nose before pulling her flush against his side. He eased her away from the hole and towards his Child. "Come now, I want you to meet August."

xxxxxx

Alicia sipped her orange juice and sighed. She really wished there was something else she could drink to make up for Blake's bites. She'd been toying with the idea of college after obtaining her GED and wondered if becoming a nutritionist for human mates of vampires was a marketable career. Setting her empty glass onto a side table with a grimace, she figured it wouldn't hurt to investigate the possibilities.

Her mate and his Child were discussing the members of the local vampire council. The names meant nothing to her, though she was enjoying watching the interaction between the two men. It was obvious that each regarded the other with respect and affection, and their friendly banter revealed another side of her vampire she'd yet to see. As they discussed the potential candidates for the councilman who'd sent Blake to spy upon the HPL's splinter group, something about the entire situation bothered her. She waited for a break in the conversation before speaking up.

"Blake? What was the purpose of sending you to this meeting?"

"I couldn't guess as to their actual purpose, beautiful. The reason they gave me for the assignment was to infiltrate and monitor the group in case they proved to be a danger to us. I was to report any plans that specifically targeted our race."

"Yeah, I get that much but it still makes no sense."

"What do you mean, child?" August leaned forward in his seat, twirling a glass of Sangue Vino between nimble fingers.

"This group was a spin-off of the HPL, right? A group that's already known for its intolerance and hatred of nonhumans. It would only stand to reason that anything that was too extreme for it had to be up to no good. So, sending Blake to this group to find out if they were plotting something would be like sticking your hand in a fire to see if it was hot."

"True, Beautiful One," Blake placed a kiss on her head with a chuckle, "but it is always best to know in advance what those plans might be."

"Yeah, I know, but what if the point wasn't the group or their meeting at all? You said that this vamp was working with Malphas, so he had to know what was going on. That means they wanted you at that meeting. The reason they gave you for being there was just a smokescreen -- something feasible so you wouldn't be suspicious. What if the point of the whole thing was to get you to a certain place at a certain time? What if you were the target of this councilman?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say you did your job, made your reports, and washed your hands of it all. Now, what would have happened if the kids got snatched, bumped off by the Creepy Colonel and his Goon Squad, and it's later proven that you were at the meeting? There's no official trace of your assignment since it was done outside of normal channels. It'll look like you acted on your own and in agreement with this group's plans."

"She has a point, Blake."

"So, what would happen if the council thought you were involved?"

"They'd apply to the Primus to have me investigated and, if need be, neutralized." Blake stood and began to pace. "If we follow this reasoning, we have to conclude that the sole purpose for the councilman to work with Malphas at all was to get at me."

"So it would seem." August leaned back in his seat and tapped the crystal stemware with a manicured nail. "That leaves us with but one question: Who on the Council wants you dead badly enough to work with a demon?"

"Exactly." Blake poured a second glass of brandy and swirled the amber liquid in the tumbler as he worked through his thoughts aloud. "If this theory proves true, then the discovery that Alicia is my mate will only make their partnership stronger. This makes finding our culprit even more important. I won't have them using one of us against the other."

"What of the Primus? They have offered their backing to this investigation."

"Even with the involvement of the Infernals, they're likely to withdraw their support if it's determined that this is a personal vendetta. Should they attempt it, I'll try to persuade them that the use of the position as well as Council resources for personal gain and vengeance are reason enough for their continued backing. I believe Hauhet will agree, but am uncertain of the others."

August spent another hour with the pair, discussing every angle of the situation before excusing himself to attend a prior engagement. Though they knew nothing would be resolved instantly, all three were frustrated over having nothing more than suppositions and educated guesses. They did agree to meet over the next week to compile and compare any additional information they'd gathered, which soothed Alicia's soul somewhat. Now that she finally had her vampire, she wasn't willing to part with him due to another's misguided need for vengeance.

Once the elderly vampire was gone, Blake returned to reviewing the financial reports his new CFO had dropped off, after encouraging Alicia to study for her upcoming GED exam. She also studied her sexy mate.

He had a slight frown marring his handsome face as he moved from one report to the next. His slender fingers gripped the paper with both strength and delicacy, reminding her of how they'd caressed her body with tenderness and yet raised the most delicious welts. He was power tempered with gentleness, danger alongside security, and he was all hers. It was enough to make her squirm in delightful remembrance of their night together. The sting of the marks on her rear went far in encouraging her lustful thoughts.

"Dare I venture to guess as to what you're thinking, beautiful?" Blake's amused voice cut through her rather heated fantasies and sent all the blood rushing to her face in a painful blush.

"It's all your fault, Blake," Alicia muttered, trying to hide her own unbidden smile. "You shouldn't sit over there looking all...all...I don't know. Yummy?"