Dawn's Second Chance

Alex's heart melted in the heat from his gaze. Chance offered himself to her. He loved her as much as she loved him. He wanted her with the same insane passion that she wanted him. Opening her mouth and filling it with the heat of his flesh, she bit down releasing a torrent of crimson life. Eagerly she drank, shuddering under the force of the link as it formed, binding him to her.

Chance moaned a long cry of pleasure as Alex drank her fill. He felt his blood fusing with hers, binding him to her as she swallowed him down. He expected it to hurt, like it had when he was transformed, but it didn't. Quite the opposite really. He had never experienced such intense pleasure. He floated on the waves of passion, the powerful crash and ebb of joy towed him under, pulling him further from the shore until he was lost in a sea of desire. He was weak and powerless, defenseless in her arms, totally enamored and spellbound by her. "I love you Alex," he groaned.

Alex drew one last sip and lapped the wounds with her tongue sealing them. The power of his blood surged through her, driving her need to a place where it was beyond any hopes of control. She shivered beneath the force of her passion. Surrendering to it. She pulled Chance's head forward resting his cheek on her shoulder, gently stroking his hair as he trembled with desire in her arms. He hurt. He ached for her. And through her connection to his mind she could feel the pain in him. The heady need only she could ease.

"Drink Chance," she commanded. She might not be as ready for this as he, but wanted this between them. The link. The absence of secrets. Once done, it could not be undone without incredible pain and suffering. She'd almost died with Lucien that night. Felt his death and the agony of his sudden withdrawal from her mind as he bled out on the battlefield. She suffered from the emptiness left in the wake of his passing. Denied her body and her heart long enough. She wanted to be filled once again. Complete. Lost to love and escape from the empty chasm of death.

Chance filled his nostrils with her scent, allowing the heady essence of her desire to push him past the brink. He wanted this, needed to fill himself with her, allow her love to fill him to the point of no return. Gently, he cupped her face with his palms. Did she really understand what it was she was asking of him and of herself? He brought her lips to his and brushed a soft kiss over their velvet surface. "Alex please, be sure," he whispered. "Please."

Alex rested her forehead against Chance's. "I am. Chance, I love you. I want this. Please, ease my suffering and yours. Drink. Claim me. Take my life and give me yours in its place." She lifted her chin, extending her neck for him. Offering her flesh and her blood, her body, and her heart. Chance tightened his grip in her hair, crushing his lips to her neck in desperation. Trembling against the force it took him to hold back.

Chance lifted Alex in his arms and somehow found the strength to carry her to the bed. Slowly, he lowered her to the edge and held her in his arms. He took his time easing Alex's t-shirt over her head, dropping it to the floor. Standing her, he worked her yoga pants down her hips and over her calves, tossing them, after freeing first one foot and then the other, into the pile with the abandoned t-shirt and her bra.

Naked and exposed, Alex stood over him. Staring down at him, trembling with the knowledge of what they were about to do. He eased her out of her panties and worshiped her on his knees, with his lips over the softness of her belly, and his fingers stroking the sleekness of her thighs. With muttered words of love, promises, not of forever, he wouldn't make that mistake for forever wasn't his to promise. But, with words, promises of the only thing that was his to freely offer, his heart. Cradling her body to his chest, pinning her with his arms, he tilted her head to the side and struck, hard and sure, with possession and claiming. Taking her deep within him.

Alex moaned in sheer ecstasy, yielding to the surges of pleasure rolling through her body. "I love you Chance," she cried out as he drank from her. Her body succumbed to passion, lost to the heady thrill of desire. Her blood was in his body, working its way through each fiber of his being, binding to her to him, fusing them together as a singular unit.

Chance withdrew from her neck, closing the wound with a sweet kiss. He could feel her in his mind. There were no secrets between them. Each thought shared in great detail, almost as if they were carrying out a conversation without words. "Alex, please stop me. There's still time. We don't have to do this." They were bound by blood. But, not by body. His control hung by a thin, fragile thread, pulled taut, ready to snap. He longed to bury himself deep within her. Once they did though, the final act of claiming her body, there'd be no going back for either of them.

"You don't want me to stop you. And I don't want to stop you. We love each other. And for us, this is the only way." She rested her head on a pillow and opened her thighs for him. Closing her eyes, she forced the bitter sting of betrayal from her mind, hiding it in the deep shadows where Chance wouldn't see the truth in her heart. She wasn't betraying Lucien. He had betrayed her when he promised her a forever he couldn't hope to deliver. She was done with the hurting, betraying herself and her feelings for Chance, using Lucien as an excuse to hide from them. She loved Chance. And she belonged to him.

It was his turn to be in control and he planned to take his time, delay fulfilling of his own needs until she melted beneath his fingertips. Slowly, he pressed his lips to her mouth, running his tongue along the inside, tasting the hint of his blood that lingered on her tongue. Taking his time, he palmed her breast, teasing her nipple to a ripe hard bud. He wanted to touch, taste, and feel every inch of her. And he was going to.

Alex had spent too much time, wasted too much time loving a ghost, clinging to the past and using it as an excuse to avoid the pain of living. Not any more. He understood that she felt as if she were betraying Lucien's memory by being with him, loving him. It wasn't so. And he was going to do everything in his power to convince her of the truth. There was nothing wrong with loving Lucien. |With loving him. He was alive, the here and now, and her future. Lucien was her past. If she hadn't loved Lucien, had been eager to rid her heart of him, Chance wouldn't be here now offering her his heart, his blood, and his body. Kissing a trail down, he wrapped his lips around the pebbly piece of flesh, suckling it gently between his teeth.

Alex ran her fingers through Chance's soft hair. He made a compelling argument, coaxing her to the point of insanity with his in depth, slow, thorough examination of her body. He took his time stroking and touching her, tasting every inch of her flesh. Pushing her to the edge and then slowly pulling her back, forbidding her to crash over the precipice.

Chance gently continued his assault, pressing into her most secret places, relishing her wet need, slicking her desire between his fingertips. He was struggling to maintain control. His body ached for her. But, he wouldn't give in to his desires. She was too important to rush. He had plenty of time. Reading her response, he sped up, diving in deep and stroking her depths with long teasing strokes.

Sliding lower, he wedged his shoulders between her legs, gently opening her soft folds with the tip of his tongue. Her cries echoed in his ears as he searched out her most private of places, lapping and nipping at the nub, blossoming to ripeness beneath his kiss. Her hips bucked and her back arched, lifting her sweetness, offering it to his mouth with eager thrusts. She was almost there, teetering on the breaking point. He slowed his pace, prolonging the moment, dizzied and heady with anticipation for her release.

"Now," Alex demanded. She couldn't take anymore of Chance's teasing and torture. She needed resolution. Penetration. Wanted him thrusting deep inside of her. Wildly and desperately pumping into her with his hot length. Impatiently, she tugged on the short strands of his hair, dragging him up the line of her body.

"I'm just getting started," Chance grumbled, determined to finish what he started with his mouth on her sex. She grappled with his hair, pulling harshly on the strands until he winced under the pressure of her grip on him. He gave the sleek nub a last flick of his tongue and let her work his body in line with hers. Grabbing onto the sheets and holding his body high of hers to give her time to explore him, he grinned as she ripped through the fabric of his workout pants, releasing his erection and gripping onto his length with her fingers.

She guided him to where she wanted him, coaxing the ripe head of his erection between her soft folds. Her hips impatiently bucked with eagerness to join them as one. Chance hissed with desire as his length came in contact with her warm, soft flesh. When she ran her fingers along his shaft, working him against her sleek, swollen core, he lost all resolve. Feeling her heat and moisture, how wet she was for him, slick along his length, he pushed inside of her, groaning at the tightness and the ripples of her muscles wrapping around him in a warm, wet, soft cocoon of pleasure.

Alex cried out in pleasure as his hard shaft glided into her depths, melding with her soft flesh. Stretching her, remaking her to fit his size. She moaned his name in a frenzied, hurried whisper as he rocked and pushed into her, thrusting hard and fast one minute, then slowing down, unbearably slow with shallow, controlled, thrusts, torturing her, the next. She bucked against him, lifting her hips to meet each push of his body with eager enthusiasm. When she finally broke apart, when he finally let her tumble over the edge of pleasure, he was right beside her. Filling her with his release, his body rigid and tense, trembling with dizzying waves of fulfillment, her name, a promise on his lips.

Chance wrapped Alex in his arms, holding her tightly, their bodies joined as one. He planted a series of soft kisses along her brow. "I love you," he whispered. The warmth of her sheath gripped his need, hardening him inside of her moist embrace. He was not a virgin, despite what his mother believed of him. But, he'd never felt anything remotely close to the pleasure, the completeness, the fulfillment and joy he felt with her under his body, his flesh buried so deeply inside of her, and his heart, beating in time with hers.

Love was too weak of a word to summarize the intensity of the emotion he felt for Alex. She was his life. His love. His one and only. He'd live for her. Through her. Because of her. And he'd die, for her. He was completely at her mercy. And he didn't care. He belonged to her. She had his body, his heart, his love, and his very soul.

Alex held on for the ride allowing the waves of passion to whisk her away. Chance was relentless, thrusting and rocking with a series of movements, taking her well past contentment. Filling her with joy. Only when her needs were fulfilled did he allow the completion of his. When they finished, lying in an exhausted heap of tangled limbs, he enveloped her in his arms, holding her close. Alex sighed a long sigh of what could only be defined as happiness.

She finally had her respite, her shelter from the storm. Her strength and her love, found in his arms, through the sharing of their bodies, their blood, and their hearts. She was safe. She was loved. She belonged to him every bit as much as he belonged to her. Before her lids fell closed and she succumbed to her need for sleep, a prayer to the goddess echoed in her mind. 'Please, don't take him from me' she whispered silently in her deepest thoughts, where only the goddess could hear.

Chance held Alex for a long time after she fell asleep. She loved him. He didn't know what he'd done to earn such a gift as her heart. But, he'd do his best to honor it, to keep her safe, protected, and above all else, happy. For the rest of his days, and damn it, he was going to have a very long life, if for no other reason than to fulfill the promise Lucien had been unable to fulfill. To give her the forever she deserved.





Chapter 41

John Mark shook his head, half in amusement and half in dismay. He was supposed to meet Chance in the gym at five this morning. Glancing at his watch, he guessed Chance wasn't going to make it anytime soon. That was ok with him, he loved to torture the kid and being late would earn Chance hours of punishment. No matter how good the excuse, there was no reason good enough to be late.

Chance and Alex had been very busy last night and into the wee hours of the morning. The whole compound had been kept awake, hearing them through the psychic link they shared. John Mark chuckled, knowing Chance wouldn't be worth a shit today, even if he did manage to pry his ass out of the bed before noon and show up.

Candace lounged back on her pillows casting her husband a knowing glance. She was going to have a daughter in law, very soon. It had been awkward to hear her son and Alex in her head, but thankfully, Will had taught her to block most of it out. There were some things a mother shouldn't know about and what went on in her son's bedroom was at the top of the list.

Patrick snuggled in closer to Janine. She'd slept like a baby all night, blessed with human limitations she hadn't had to endure the hours of hearing Chance and Alex romping in the hay. Someone needed to teach that boy not to broadcast his thoughts so loudly. He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Better start planning that bachelorette party," he whispered to her as she shifted in her sleep.

Dane was growing impatient. While Alex and Chance were sharing their love with the entire compound, he'd been pacing worriedly. He crumpled Alex's picture of Roark in his fist. After Alex's vision, he'd tried to get back into the groove and meditate on its meaning. But, shortly after he finally wound down enough to concentrate, the love fest started in, and all hopes of mental focus were shot.

"Dane, cut them some slack." Chris patted the edge of the bed. "You know while you're waiting for Alex to wake up, we could have our own little love in." She smiled shifting on to her knees and lifting her nightgown over her head to tempt her husband with the promise of her flesh. "All that mental projection kind of got me hot."

"You want to have everyone listen in? We could have a mental orgy or a contest of some kind," Dane grumbled. His features relaxed as he sank onto the bed, resting his head on Chris's thighs and relishing the feel of her fingers through his hair.

"I'd rather we kept the intimate details between us. It's bad enough they overhear us every now and then."

Dane grinned and nodded in full agreement. "We don't want to make anyone jealous. There's no need for a contest, we know who'd win."

"We sure do, hot stuff." Chris lowered her head, kissing him on the lips.

*****

The sun peeked over the horizon, casting cheerful, golden light over the bluffs. Sam smiled and lifted her head, opening her eyes, drinking in its beauty, memorizing every detail. This would be the last sunrise she'd ever be able to enjoy with her own eyes. "It's beautiful."

Marcus squinted against the blinding light and prisms of color assaulting his vision. "I can hardly remember what sunlight looks like anymore." He fished in his jacket pocket and found his glasses. With a sigh of relief, he slid the black lenses into place. "Strange, I didn't miss mornings until I couldn't see them through my own eyes. Remember today well. If I had known, that dawn was going to be my last. I would have paid more attention.'

"Marcus, thanks for staying with me last night," Sam said, leaning over to give him a gentle peck on the cheek. He was an amazing guy and hopefully soon, he'd find whatever it was he was looking for.

"No problem." Marcus gave Sam a light hug in return and inched into the shade of the surrounding trees.

"I'm going to spend the day pigging out at Happy's. My last cheeseburger," she said, casting her eyes down. "I'll miss them the most, I think." She didn't want to think of it in terms of firsts and lasts. This was a continuation of the life she'd been born to live, not a beginning or an ending. Just a part of the natural flow her life was meant to follow.

"You want me to go with you? I can't eat. But, I can sure enjoy watching the expressions on your face. I used to hate eating alone."

Sam thought about it and nodded. Some company would be nice. Maybe take her mind off of things. "Sure. After I eat, I think I'm going to come back out here and just sit and enjoy the day until it's time to get ready."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll stay with you until you tell me to get lost." Marcus extended an arm, smiling when she accepted, winding hers through his. No one should have to spend their last day as a human alone. He had, and looking back, it was one of the biggest regrets he had about his old life. The fact that he'd wasted his last day sleeping in and cursing about having to go to work. Watching TV alone on the couch. What a waste his last day had been.

*******

Chance yawned and stretched, waking up as Alex climbed out of the bed. "Come back to bed."

"I can't Dane's looking for me."

"So, make him wait. Come on, just a few more minutes." He made a random grab for her, missing her waist by a few inches. She was smart and anticipated his move. Easily sidestepping him.

"Come on Romeo, we've got things to do." She giggled at the pout on Chance's face. She'd rather spend the day in bed than face Dane and the brothers. They'd all know what Chance and she had been up to last night. Chance would probably get razzed and a few masculine claps on the back in congratulations. Assuming the brothers didn't try to string him up for compromising her virtue. She'd endure far worse. Once Janine found out.

"Ok, ok." Chance reluctantly slid out from under the covers. He was supposed to meet John Mark in the gym for more training at five anyway. Cursing, he glanced at the clock he'd overslept, way overslept. John Mark was going to hand his ass to him today. "Shit!" He scrambled for his clothes and held up the tattered remains of his workout pants. "Ah, Alex. I need to borrow a pair of sweats or something. I can't go streaking through the halls like this."

Alex snickered at the expression of pure panic on Chance's face. "I'd like to see that. I bet John Mark would be impressed by your speed." She shuffled through the closet and pulled a pair of sweats off a hanger. "Here you go." She landed a kiss on his cheek. "I'm off to the shower."

Chance pouted, "Are you sure I can't come?"

"Yes, now go. I'll catch up with you later."

Dejected, Chance pulled on the sweats and blew Alex a kiss. The sweats fit him like a second skin, tight, stopping mid calf, and, of course, they were pink. He peeked out into the hallway making sure the coast was clear. He wanted to be cleaned up and in his own clothes before the interrogations started and he had to face his mother, John Mark, or worse, he shuddered in dread, Janine.

*********

Toby had spent all night packing boxes and loading the SUV while Anna slept.

With the mission scrubbed, there wasn't any reason to leave the surveillance equipment set up and occupying space in her dining room.

Anna yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She was finally getting her dining room back. She sighed heavily. It also meant Toby was leaving. She was just getting used to having him around and growing accustomed to his quirky ways. Every morning, he greeted her with a kiss and a smile Every evening, after work, he had a hot bath waiting for her, and more kisses, slow seductive ones that would last until she drifted off to sleep in his arms, feeling safe and secure.