Runs in the Blood, Chapter Two

Chapter Two
The crowd in the gallery wasn't very large, but she already felt like she was suffocating. Patrons asked her questions she didn't have the answers to. Interesting composition. Who would you say you're most inspired by? Hell, she didn't know a damned thing about art. She just painted what she saw in her mind.
She was nervously nibbling on cheese and crackers when she saw a tall, handsome blond man walk through the door. She was overcome with sudden relief. He strolled casually across the room, looking dapper but slightly uncomfortable in his dark suit. He took one look at her standing there and broke into a wide grin.
"I feel like a fraud here," she murmured as he neared. "Any minute now someone's going to point at me and start shrieking like those pod people in Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
He chuckled softly, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Well, you certainly don't look like a fraud."
"You don't recognize it?" She rolled her eyes as she stared down at the crimson cocktail dress she was squeezed into. "It's my bridesmaid dress from your wedding, John. Carly had to take it out nearly an inch just so I could fit my fat butt into it without splitting a seam."
He snorted, sending them both into a fit of giggles. They only managed to calm down as the bell on the door announced even more visitors.
"Where is Carly, anyway?"
"She had to stay home with the kids. The other sitter canceled. It's just you and me, tonight, toots."

The woman walked in on his arm, the picture of studied elegance and grace. She didn't quite stand as tall as he did, but at five foot nine, she was one of the taller women in the room. Long blond hair swept up into a French braid and wearing a deceptively simple black dress, she was striking, yet projected an aloof air.
She felt her escort tense. Dark blue eyes followed his gaze to the featured artist, who was standing with a handsome man. [Oh dear, this could be trouble.] "Is that her, Anton?"
He nodded stiffly, stopping to stare at her. She looked different than she did nearly a year ago. Perhaps a bit thinner, but no less curvaceous. She projected a wide grin at the man next to her, leaning even further into his embrace. He couldn't quite read her lips but she looked much happier than she did the last time he saw her, and the realization is painful. Wrapped from her knees up in tight red silk, she looked like a Christmas present. The soft curls in her long hair spilt down her back like ribbon curls, only strengthening the image.
She was laughing, sparkling among a crowd of her fans, and when she met his gaze across the crowded gallery, her entire expression fell into despair. Especially when her eyes shifted to the statuesque blond at his side.
She returned the assessing stare with one of her own. [So this is the woman Anton has been putting himself through hell over.] She had seen him come back from Santa Cruz a changed man. Although quiet by nature, he usually had a ready smile and a wicked sense of humor. But after that trip, she saw that smile less and less often. He had all but withdrawn from the antiques importing business that she helped him run. And more worrisome, he had taken to hunting later and later at night, sometimes barely stepping into the shelter of his home mere seconds before sunrise.
Finally she cornered him. "Anton, I am not going to stand by and watch my best friend commit suicide. The business is going to hell, and you're following on its heels. Now tell me what happened."
Anton tried to brush off her questions, but she was insistent. Eventually, he told her of meeting a woman on the beach, of seducing and falling utterly in love with her. He showed her the painting. He had even kept the packaging it had come in, unwilling to part with anything his lover had touched.
With those few clues, she'd dug up enough information to figure out where his Bryn was located. Even armed with that information, he still hadn't acted. At least, not until one of the multitude art magazines he had suddenly developed an obsession with mentioned an upcoming exhibition of the works of one Sabryn Jaegar.
[Okay, Anton. We can't stare at each other all night. Do something.] She'd never developed patience, something her foster mother never understood. As she was about to nudge Anton into action, he walked towards Bryn.
He couldn't take his eyes off of her. [My dear Bryn,] his heart sang. [You're more beautiful than that night at the boardwalk. I have missed you, ached for you.] "Miss Jaegar," he said stiffly, formally. "It is a pleasure to see you again." He gestures to the woman on his arm. "May I present to you my escort, Alinda Leahs."
Those luminous blue suddenly turned daggers on him. "Anton, how could you?"
"Sabryn, who is this?" the man at her side asked, only to be literally silenced by the heated glare she shot in his direction.
"This is supposed to by my night. And you have to come here and flaunt your wh--your *date* in front of me?" She glanced at the woman. "No offense, I'm sure you're a very nice person." She didn't even wait for a response before she started attacking Anton once again. "I realize I walked away from you, but...Jesus, one hundred years, Anton? I guess you stepped up the time limit a little?"
"Bryn," the man at her side hissed. "You're making a scene."
She glanced at the crowd around them, all of them staring in rapt attention, and flushed brightly in shame.
Lindy looked from Sabryn to Anton, and almost choked with laughter. Anton had a shell-shocked expression on his face. Apparently this was *not* the greeting he had expected. Detaching herself from his arm, she stepped forward, intent on smoothing the waters. She was sure they'd become roiled enough soon without this misunderstanding. "Please forgive him. Anton's such a old school gentleman that he forgets how easily things can be misinterpreted." She offered Sabryn her hand. "My name is Lindy Leahs, and I'm his business associate."
She took the hand that was offered to her, but didn't meet the woman's gaze. Her handshake was quick and impersonal, and just as quickly as her anger had appeared it fled from the scene. Along with her. Sidestepping the other man, she muttered "I can't do this right now," and turned on her heel. Walking briskly towards the back of the gallery, she stumbled slightly as her tall stiletto heel folded beneath her, causing her to curse in a hushed voice, and she spent the rest of the walk limping visibly. Finally, she disappeared behind an unmarked wooden door, leaving the rest of them staring at each other in discomfort.
No, he wasn't going to let this happen again. Ignoring the other man's questions about who he was, he went to the door she disappeared behind. He knocked gently on it. "Bryn, please."
The door opened slightly, but she wasn't standing there to welcome him. Pacing the room back and forth, she ran her fingers through her hair, effectively pulling every single curl out of it. Across the room, her shoe laid on its side at the bottom of the wall, obviously where it fell when she threw it. She didn't look at him until he silently entered the room and closed the door behind him...and when he did, instead of arguing with him or worse, like he expected, she marched toward him and silently wrapped her arms around his waist. Pressing her face against his shirt, sniffling quietly. As if unable to get any closer.
His arms went around her tight, as if he was never planning on letting her go. He buried his nose in her clean smelling hair. He began to shake. A muffled sob escaped his chest as his eyes teared up. "I'm sorry, Bryn," he whispered. "I just had to see you again."
She lifted her face to look him in the eye, and she was surprised by what she saw there. Swallowing heavily, she shook her head. "What have you been doing to yourself? You look like hell." She brushed his hair away from his forehead, placing her hand there instead. "Have you been sick?"
"You could say that." He slid her hand from his forehead to his cheek, holding it there. "You, on the other hand, look more beautiful than when I last saw you..."
He shied away from that thought. What had he been thinking, coming here, turning her life upside down when it was obvious she had forgotten him. The man she had been standing with earlier was proof of that. He swallowed and gestured to the door. "I see a gallery finally decided show some good sense and to display your works."
"I'm not stupid, Anton. You're not getting off the hook that easily." She extricated herself from his grasp, and walked over to where her shoe lay on the floor. She winced as she pushed the heel back on her foot, testing the ankle by lightly leaning her weight on it. "Is that why you came hereóto tell me you're sick?"
She paused, looking down as she added, "Or did you come to tell me about her? Who is she, Anton? Do you love her?"
He blinked at her, not quite understanding. "Her? Lindy?" He shook his head. "She's my partner in the antique importing business I own. She's the one who handles the daylight operations, goes places I can't. She's a good friend, who knows what I am, but nothing more than a friend.
"And yes, I have been sick, Bryn. Heartsick. Every time I look at that painting, or smell the ocean, a part of me dies. I have missed you, Bryn. Ached for you. Dreamt that you were sleeping besides me." He closed his eyes. [I shouldn't be burdening her with this.] "But I see you've moved on."
She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again she quickly wiped the moisture away from below. "I guess you could call it that, although it's nothing too impressive. I went back to school and got my GED. Now I'm taking night classes. I never would have gotten the courage to do it, if not for you. And yes, I did get a gallery to help me, but it's only one night. It's not as if I'm now famous or anything."
She carefully stepped forward, leaning her hip against the desk before him. Her fingers played with the metal edge. "You're not the only one who ached, Anton. I can't tell you how many times I've looked up your address on a map. How many times I hung up the phone before the airline receptionist answered. But I made a promise to myself and I tried to keep it."
"I'm glad that I was able to help you. It's impressive that you've done all this in a year." He was afraid of the answer to his next question, although he thought he knew what it was. "And is he part of that promise as well?"
Her brow furrowed in confusion for a moment. Finally her eyes widened and a little smirk crossed her face. "Yes, he is." She watched the disappointment grow even darker on his face, before she stood up and pressed her hands against his chest. She could feel his heart pound as she answered. "I promised myself that I'd make enough money to move out of his house soon. He's my brother, Anton. I've been living with him and his family since I was seventeen."
"Brother?" he echoed, disbelieving. That possibility hadn't even crossed his mind. When she nodded, he couldn't hold back any longer. He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs tracing along the fragile cheekbones. Watching closely for her reaction, slowly he lowered his lips to hers.
She closed her eyes, standing up on tip-toes to meet his kiss. She didn't allow him to be chaste by any means, purposefully drawing his lower lip into her mouth before thrusting her tongue into his. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling herself up taller against him as he bent towards her. Her hand on the back of his neck tangled in his hair, drawing an audible growl out of his throat. And when she leaned her body even tighter against his, the bulge in his pants was unmistakable. With a slight giggle, she pulled back to meet his gaze.
"Guess you're not the only one who remembers me."
"Like there's any way in hell I'd forget you," he growled. He herded her back against the wall, pinning her into place. His breathing had become heavier, harsher as he leaned against her. His hips began a shallow thrusting into her stomach, a rhythm independent of his mind and designed to drive them both crazy with desire. "Have you any idea how many days I laid awake, touching myself, wishing it were your hands, your lips, your sex, on me?" He nuzzled the hair away from her ear. "Have you done the same?" He swiped at the lobe with his tongue.
"Are you--ah, God--kidding me? Anton, I practically had to pay the water bill after taking so damned many showers." She dragged her hands over his chest, scraping at him with her fingernails, before reaching down to hastily begin unzipping his slacks. She didn't waste time playing around, seizing his erection firmly in her hand, sliding her hand slowly up and down the silk-encased flesh. "I know a detachable shower head is a poor substitute, but sometimes you have to make due with what you have."
His breath hissed through clenched teeth as she used her free hand to start yanking up the hem of her skirt.
He closed his eyes to concentrate on the feel of her hand on his cock. The teasing touches were wonderful, but he wanted more. So much more. He could smell her arousal now, and it was driving him mad. He glanced around the room and his eyes rested on the desk in the center of it. Pulling her over to it, he cleared it with a sweep of one arm before settling her on it.
"We have to hurry. This room doesn't have a lock on it." Hooking her thumbs in both her pantyhose and underwear, she pulled them off in one long carelessly sweep, dropping both on the floor. Pulling him closer, she caught his gaze as she pulled his cock free from its constraints. With a light kiss to the head, making him groan, she leaned back and slowly used her hand to pull him forward. With his hands on either side of her, he was poised to enter her when she said, "Don't go slow. I want to feel you."
After a second's hesitation, he slammed himself into her. "Oh God, I've missed you," he whispered as he thrusted. Teasingly, he added a side to side motion, trying to make it last as long as he could. His hands found her pebbly nipples through all the fabric and rolled his thumbs against them. He couldn't hold out much longer. "Come for me, Bryn, my dear. Come with me..."
Her head arched back, her neck bared, as little cries dragged out of her throat. She lifted her hips, pushing hard against each thrust, hooking her heels behind his thighs. And when she finally felt the orgasm rolling in, she pulled his head down to hers and desperately met his mouth in a kiss. Her left hand squeezed his ass, shoving him hard against her, driving him towards his own powerful completion. It was several long seconds before she pulled away from his mouth, framing his face with both hands.
"You better start taking care of yourself, Anton Rudenko, or I swear I'll kick your ass."

He shook with a soundless, satisfied chuckle. "And I believe you would do it, too." He stroked along her lips. "I'm certain Lindy'd welcome the help. She claims my ass needs kicking on a regular basis. No one would be strong enough to withstand the two of you. The job's yours, if you want it." His finger sided down her cheek and along her neck. He frowned when they caught on a scar, one he didn't remember being there. He angled his head for a better look, and his frown deepened as he ran his fingers across the healed over puncture marks.
"It's a better souvenir than a lousy tee shirt." She smiled softly, placing her fingers over his. "But I did have a hell of a time explaining why I wore turtleneck sweaters for nearly two weeks in mid-summer."
He shook his head slightly, leaning in to kiss the spot. She giggled a little as he lightly nibbled at her. She was about to respond when the nearby door swung open and she heard a gasp.
Her eyes widened and she sat up abruptly, nearly knocking her head against Anton's in her haste to get them both covered to some sort of decency.
Standing in the doorway, the tall mustached man averted his eyes and cleared his throat, before saying in a shaky voice, "Your guests were asking for you, Miss Jaegar."
"Oh my G--Larry, um, Mr. Trask, I'll be right there. I'm so sorry."
"You will be."
Anton made sure that Bryn's skirt had been smoothed back into place before righting his own clothing. "Is there a problem?" he inquired icily.
"Aside from customers leaving, a missing featured artist, and people having sex on the office furniture? What sort of problem are you referring to?"
"Larry, I can explain--"
"That's not necessary. After your little performance earlier, a great deal of the patrons have already gone home. Care to take the show a little further?" Without giving her a chance to reply, he added. "This showing is over. You can go home, Miss Jaegar. I'll have your stock sent back first thing tomorrow morning. I'd appreciate it if you took the courtesy to clean up before you leave."
He could understand why Mr. Trask was angry. However, all that anger was directed unfairly at Bryn. "My apologies, Mr. Trask. Bryn and I parted under emotional circumstances a year ago. If our reunion was equally emotional, I assure you, the blame rests on me."
"Anton," Sabryn said, softly. "You don't need to defend me." She turned her attention back to the gallery manager. "I understand. I'll make sure everything is put back the way it was. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
The manager turned to leave, nodding stiffly, and Anton opened his mouth to say more before Sabryn put her finger over his lips. She shook her head, waiting for the door to close before she spoke.
"It's OK. He was an asshole anyway." She grinned, wiping lipstick off his lower lip. "Honey, if he hadn't told me to go home, I would have told him I was leaving anyway. Do you really think I could have withstood two more hours of boring small talk, knowing you're standing across the room?"
"Who said I'd be across the room?" he stooped to pick up the scattered items from the desk. Frowning at the assortment of pens, paperclips, notepads and knicknacks, he placed them at random on the desk. "So now that I've ruined your exhibition, what next?"
Kneeling at his side, she bundled up her pantyhose before picking up the blotter and replacing it on the desktop. "Well, you could tell me a few things...such as, where you're staying, what you're doing here, and when you'll be leaving?"
He looked over at her, wanting so badly to start nibbling on her neck again. "I have a suite at the Hilton downtown. I came here to see you, Bryn. And when I leave depends on what you say." The rest was spoken in a quiet voice. "I have been absolutely miserable without you. I couldn't stay away any longer..."
She gave him a sideways glance, her smile growing by the second. "I was kind of hoping you'd say that...because if you don't mind sleeping upstairs with me, there's plenty of room for you and Lindy to stay back at John's house. It's not quite as ritzy as a hotel. No room service...in its traditional sense, anyway." She giggled a bit. "But there is a nice guest room on the main floor...and I have a queen sized bed."
She raised an eyebrow at him, in question.
"I was hoping you'd say that Bryn. There's only one problem. What do we tell your family when I spend most of the day asleep and don't appear until after darkness falls? One thing the lore has right is that sunlight is deadly to me."
She smiled at him. "Anton, have you ever heard of a disease called porphyria? One of its symptoms..."
Anton grinned as he finished her sentence. "...is a severe allergy to sunlight. I should have thought of that myself. Brains as well as beauty. I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you."
"Yeah, well," she stood up, placing the rest of the floor's contents on the desk, "I had some time to do some internet research over the past year or so. It wasn't only maps I was looking up."
He climbed to his feet silently. "All right. What about your brother? What is he going to say about me sleeping in your bedroom?"
She leaned casually against the desk, the spagetti-strap of her dress sliding down her arm. "Who cares? If he objects, I can always get Caroline on my side. My brother has always been putty in his wife's hands." She playfully ran her foot up the inside of his right calf. "Besides, I wasn't planning on telling him until tomorrow morning...when it's already too late for him to argue."
"In that case," he grabbed her around her waist and pulled her to him. "Who am I to argue as well." He kissed her forehead. He'd talk to Lindy about having their things transferred... oh yeah, Lindy. He did a quick, mental calculation. Well, she'd have to find out sooner or later. "Ah, Bryn, my dear, there is something you need to know about Lindy."
"Let me guess, she's a vegetarian? No, no, that can't be it." She scratched her head, mocking confusion. "She's a devil worshiper? No...she couldn't be a blood-sucking vampire, by any chance?"
"NoÖ she's not a vampire." Anton looked Bryn directly in the eyes. "She's a werewolf."
She gave him a soundless laugh, waiting for the punchline. When it never came, she opened and closed her mouth like a beached fish. Finally, she shook her head.
"Well, aren't you two quite a pair. I'm sure the business must be fun. I can't wait to meet your district manager, Frankenstein, and the receptionist, Morticia."
He shook his head, smiling benevolently. She'd learn soon enough. "Just whatever you do, don't make any 'An American Werewolf in Paris' jokes. She hated that movie." He looked over at the door. "Are you ready to face what is out there, my dear?"
"You don't need to worry about me making any jokes. I've never seen that movie, and I'm completely used to weird. My whole family is." She swallowed heavily. "As for 'out there,' I'd rather not. But I guess I don't really have a choice. That's the only exit."
Reaching down, she pulled on her shoes, and paused to pull aside his suit jacket. Stuffing her bundled up panties and nylons in his pockets, she murmured sweetly, "You don't mind, do you?"
"Never." The thought of walking around with her panties in his pocket was getting him stiff again. [Down, boy!] he reminded himself. He took a deep breath, trying to rein in his reactions before he cleared the desk again. Instead he offered his arm to Bryn. "Ready, my dear?"
With a deep breath, she nodded. "Now or never."
The room was nearly empty by the time they reemerged into the gallery. Those who did remain turned to glance their way...and even if only momentarily, it felt like everyone was staring. Surely they all had to know what they'd been doing in there. She felt herself turn as red as a tomato.
She gritted her teeth when she saw her brother talking to Lindy Leahs on the other side of the room. She instantly recognized the painting they were discussing and felt a pang of dread course through her. Turning to Anton, she murmured, "Just let me talk to John for a minute, and then we can go."
He nodded silently, and she walked to where John and Lindy stood. "Will you excuse us for a minute, Ms. Leahs? I need to speak to my brother."
"Of course, Miss Jaeger. If you'll excuse me?" Lindy walked back to Anton. She couldn't help but smirk when she saw how relaxed he now was. "So, I take it things went well, Anton?"
He fixed her with an amused glare. "I'm sure you're well aware of how it went. And you could have saved me some grief by telling me that he was her brother."
Lindy arched an eyebrow. "After you put her through the same thing with me? I think not. Besides, I couldn't tell until I got closer to him after you left."
Anton shook his head. "Misunderstandings aside, we've been invited to stay at Bryn's brother's home. Will that be a problem?"
Lindy thought for a moment. "If you're okay with it, no. There should be no problem. I'll see about getting our stuff moved." She noticed that Anton was only half listening, his gaze locked on Sabryn. Lindy mentally shook her head. [He has got it bad.]
Across the room, Sabryn leaned in close to John. "Trask is ending the exhibition. Some sort of emergency." She felt foolish lying, but it was better than the truth.
"Emergency...that wouldn't happen to be Anton, would it?" Her eyes widened and he smirked, knowing he had her caught. "I've been talking to his associate. Nice lady. Not a bad ass, either."
"John, please tell me you didn't flirt with her." She could only imagine his reaction if he found out just what the woman was. "You have a wife at home, remember?"
"I remember, fully. In fact, I suppose it's time we head home."
"Uh, about that..."
He sighed heavily. "What time is he bringing you home?"
"I have my car here. I'll be home soon. And don't wait up for me, I can take care of myself."
"Who is he, Sabryn? Aside from an antiques dealer?"
"He's..." She got a little lost in thought as she met Anton's gaze, a smile coming to her face. "He's someone very special to me. And, for now, I think that's all you need to know."
Crossing his arms over his chest, he assessed the other man from across the room. "If you're not home in two hours, I'm calling the cops."
"John!"
"All right, all right. I'm leaving." He started heading for the door, digging in his pocket for his keys. "Two hours, Bryn."
Anton waited until her brother had left to walk towards her. Time enough for introductions later on. Lindy stayed where she was, studying another Sabryn's paintings.
Anton placed a hand on her shoulder as he reached her. He had to touch her, reassure himself that she was real, that this all wasn't a dream. "Is everything arranged?"
"Almost," she said, softly. Without another word, she walked over to where Ms. Leahs stood and interrupted her reverie by pulling the taller woman into an embrace. Obviously stunned, Anton's companion stiffened slightly before awkwardly returning the hug. After a moment, Sabryn pulled back and smiled, still holding Lindy by her arms. "Thank you, for taking care of him. I know it was your doing. Whatever it was he was trying to do to himself, he didn't succeed, and I'm so grateful for that." She cast a mock glare back at Anton. "If he even dares something so foolish again, he's in for an ass kicking. No doubt from both of us."
Lindy also fixed Anton with a mock glare. "No doubt about that. He can be an arrogant bastard at times, but he's nice to have around on occasion."
Anton gave a put upon sigh. "Lindy, I wish you would quit being such a bitch."
"Yeah?" Lindy snorted. "Well you suck!" As Anton grinned at their old joke, Lindy turned back to Sabryn. "And please, feel free to call me Lindy. Every time I hear 'Miss Leahs,' I start looking for my mother. So tell me, what's the plan now?"
"Well, I can't say I have the same experience with my last name, but you may call me Bryn as well." She smiled. "As for the plan, I guess that depends on you two. We could go out somewhere, or if you'd rather, we can always get you settled back at the house. Either way, we need to decide what to do about travel arrangements. I have my car here. It might be best if we go to the hotel first and then swing back here to get it on the way home."
Lindy shrugged. "Sounds good to me. There's not much to pack back up. Or if you two would like some time alone, I can leave you here."
"And have us risk being arrested for public indecency? I think not." Anton snorted. "Besides, I think that Mr. Trask would be a lot happier if we were long gone from here. And I, for one, am eager to give him his wish."
"All right, then. Let's go." Taking Anton's arm, Bryn led them out the door. No sooner had the door closed than all of the interior lights went out.

They arrived at the hotel shortly thereafter, making their way through the lobby silently. Waiting for the elevator, Sabryn glanced at the nearby newstand. "Vicious Double Murder Haunts Baltimore Homicide" read the closest paper. It wasn't the only one of its kind. She leaned a bit closer, trying to see the images below the headlines, when the bell announced the elevator carriage. Trying to shake the sudden chill, she allowed Anton to lead her inside.
Once they'd reached the room, thanks to Anton and Lindy's banter, she'd nearly forgotten the moment altogether.
Anton produced a cardkey and unlocked one of the doors. Lindy did the same for an adjoining suite. She gave Anton and Sabryn a wink as she stepped into her room. "Try to keep your hands off each other for five minutes, okay?"
Anton made a face as he gestured Sabryn inside. "Sometimes I wonder why I put up with her," he mused.
She walked inside, murmuring, "Yeah, what could she possibly be talking about?"
When he shut the door behind him, she turned around immediately and grabbed him. He nearly dropped his cardkey as he pulled her tighter against him, returning her kiss fiercely. She smiled against his mouth, teasing his tongue with her own, purposefully pressing her breasts hard against his chest. A light mewling cry escaped her lips as he pulled away, breathing heavily. His eyes were nearly black as he stared at her.
"We're never going to get out of here--"
"I know." She forced herself to let go of him. "Get your stuff together, before I change my mind and ravish you on the bed."
"Hmmm. Is that a threat or a promise?" Forcing himself not to touch her, he went into the bathroom and started packing his toiletries. Sabryn followed, looking at the mirror with a puzzled expression. He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
She gestured at their reflections. "I thought vampires couldn't be seen in a mirror."
He chuckled. "My dear, that is a convenient fiction kept alive by popular culture. I can see myself in a mirror, I don't have to be invited someplace before I can enter. Religious objects hold no terror for me. I dislike garlic breath more than garlic itself. And I obviously can have sex." Walking back to the main room, he kissed her cheek as he passed by, resisting the urge to take her up on her earlier offer. "About the only things I do fear are sunlight, fire, being staked through the heart, or being decapitated. Those would kill me. But then they'd kill just about anyone..." he trailed off as he placed his clothes in his suitcase.
She casually sat down on the bed, crossing her legs, reminding him she didn't have a damned thing on under that dress. Her feral grin gave him a momentary pause, his fingers tightening around one of his shirts, before he managed to put his mind on other things and focus on the task at hand. Pouting slightly, she stood up, lightly brushing against him as she did so, and walked over to the window, staring at the glittering city below. For some reason it suddenly gave her the chills.
"Maybe we should wait to get my car until tomorrow. I don't really feel comfortable about either Lindy or me driving alone tonight."
He snorted with laughter. Recovered. Started laughing again. Bryn turned around, puzzled and annoyed. "What's so funny?"
"Just the thought that... well, I've seen Lindy when she's mad. God save the criminal who tries anything with her. Ask her sometime how we met." He closed the suitcase and walked over to Bryn. "And you'll never be alone as long as I'm here, my dear." He put his arms around her shoulders, resting his cheek on her head. "As long as you'll have me," he whispered.
"Oh, I'll have you...several times, if you're up to it." She felt him smile against her hair, and pulled back to meet his gaze. "But, I'm serious. I read something on the papers downstairs and it creeped me out. I'd just feel better if we went straight home and stayed there. It's going to be hard enough when I have to go back to class tomorrow night."
"So soon?"
She nodded. "Four days a week. I guess you and Lindy will have to entertain yourselves on those nights. Pity you're not much of a night person."
"Oh yes, you know how I detest late nights." He stroked her hair. "You are sure this isn't too much of an imposition on your family?" He had intended to ask her to come back to San Francisco with him. But she sounded so excited about taking night classes that he didn't think it was right.
"If Caroline's cousin can visit for weeks at a time, without too much complaining, I'm sure this won't be a problem. What about you? Don't you have to work to do?" She slid her hands around his back, finally squeezing his ass before settling her palms on the back of his thighs. "Not that I'm trying to get rid of you, or anything. But what's saying you won't get tired of my annoying family and staying in a drafty room with me?
"There isn't exactly a lot for you to do here, is there?"
"Most of the work I do can be done by phone or email. It's not unheard of for me to go off for a few months, looking for rare pieces. Lindy had been talking about making a side trip to see her parents in Washington DC before heading back." His hands slid down her back to rest on her ass. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had a family to annoy me? I can promise you I can be annoying right back. A drafty room may be a problem." He gave her a wickedly promising grin. "We'll just have to find a way to keep warm."
"Then let's go find out if Lindy is ready."
When they left the room, Lindy was waiting patiently in the hallway and she flashed them a knowing smile before rolling her eyes. "I was just about ready to start looking for somewhere to sit down. I figured it would be a long wait."
Anton started moving menacingly towards her, until she twirled out of the way and pushed the elevator button, still laughing. As they reached the garage and stored their luggage in the car, Bryn climbed wearily into the backseat, leaning her head against the wall, until Anton sat down next to her...then she leaned her head on him instead. Opening her eyes only once in a while, she gave directions as Lindy drove towards Westminster. Bryn was contented instead to scrape little circles with her fingernails on the inside of Anton's thigh.
"You smell so good," she said, softly, nuzzling her nose against his neck. "I swear I could wear you."
"Hmmm." He leaned into her caress. He had been dreaming of this for almost a year, and had a hard time believing that she was back in his arms. His left arm wrapped around her waist, hand resting on her stomach. He couldn't remember being this content in a long time. The circular motions on his thigh were starting to turn him on. Deciding turn about was fair play, he started moving his thumb in a back and forth motion on the underside of her breast.
"Take the next exit, and then a right," she said, her voice completely normal...not in the least betraying her movements as she reached for his other hand. She didn't even look at him as she placed her fingers over his and guided his hand between her legs.
He sucked in a shuddering breath. Forcing his shoulders to relax, he slowly began coming his fingers through her soft hair before exploring further down. He was surprised how wet she was. Keeping a look of nonchalance on his face, he deliberately slid a long finger into her while shifting his thumb.
She bit her lip, barely stifling a moan, pushing her knees apart to give him better access. She nearly missed a direction, but quickly covered her mistake. She leaned forward slightly to point out a turn and nearly shrieked as his finger shifted inside her. As they rounded the corner, she leaned back once more and cast him a sideways glance. He was having a hard time hiding his smile. He knew he was driving her nuts. Well, she could do the same just as easily. Keeping her face forward, she reached over with her free hand and began firmly tracing the zipper on his slacks.
He shifted under her caress, wanting her to go further. However, he'd also wanted to be presentable when meeting her family for the first time. He leaned over to whisper in Bryn's ear. "Are you sure you want me to meet your brother with a large stain in my pants?" Unable to resist how close she was, he licked along the edge of her ear.
She squirmed against him, unable to hide her snort of laughter. Pulling her hand away, she murmured in return, "He won't be awake anyway. But I suppose we should wait."
She made a small sound at the loss of sensation when he pulled his finger from inside her and squeezed her thigh. Totally bewildering him, she casually leaned forward and placed his fingers into her mouth. Sucking lightly, trying to be as noiseless as possible, she met his gaze and gave him a quick wink. She could taste him still, from the gallery office, and flavor nearly made her want to go back on her word.
She subtly placed her hand on a safer place, his knee this time, before directing Lindy to turn down her street. They were almost home; they could wait, at least a little while.
The feeling of her lips on his fingers instantly made him regret his decision. He couldn't believe that she was able to strip his self-control away so completely. He glanced up and caught Lindy's amused and slightly glassy-eyed stare in the rear view mirror. She discretely glanced back to the road.
"It's the third house on the left," Sabryn said, pointing at the mid-sized colonial- style house. It was obvious this was a newer neighborhood, so the houses weren't authentic, but still nicely built to blend in with the community. The second floor was slightly smaller, only spanning a portion of the lower level. When they got out of the car, all of the lights in the house were out, save the living room. While Anton and Lindy grabbed their luggage, Sabryn said, "I'll go unlock the door."
She was glad to see that John had followed her advice and not waited up for her. Although his bedroom door was open a crack. She shook her head, showing her guests into the house. Locking the door behind them, she nodded towards the stairs and said to Anton, "Up there is all mine. Make yourself at home. I'll show Lindy to her room."
He didn't say a word as he silently climbed the stairs, but he gave each of them a silent look that said enough to both. Taking one of Lindy's bags, she led her through the living room towards the guest room on the other side.

Flipping on the light, she said, "It's plenty private, since the rest of the rooms are on the other side of the house. You even have your own bathroom and a porch area outside." While Lindy was placing her things on the bed, Sabryn made sure she had fresh towels in the bathroom. She was heading for the door when she paused and said, "You don't hate me, do you? I mean, after this past year, I certainly wouldn't blame you."
"Hate you? Why would I hate you?" Lindy sat down on the bed and reached behind to undo the clips holding her braid in place. "He told me about the night you met. I can't blame you for running away." She shook her hair loose. "I don't know what he's told you about me, but I live a, um, nontraditional lifestyle, and I still have problems accepting what he is at times." She reached out and patted Sabryn's arm. "If you need to talk to someone about it, I'm here. Okay?"
"Thank you." She swallowed. "He's told me a little about you. Enough, I'd say, for me to at least understand what you're talking about. The thing is, I'm not exactly what he thinks I am, either. And I may just take you up on that offer. I know I certainly have a lot of things to consider."
Turning the doorknob, she added, "If you get hungry or anything, please feel free to raid the kitchen. We've got plenty to eat...well, at least along the line of groceries, anyway." She smiled a little self-consciously. "Good night."
"Good night."
She closed the door quietly behind her, pulling her shoes off as she headed towards the stairs. She could feel her heartbeat picking up the closer she got to her room. God, she hoped she didn't screw this up. It would kill her to hurt him a second time. Taking a calming breath, she started climbing the stairs and knocked quietly before entering the room at the top.
"Come in, my dear." He really hoped that it was Sabryn about to come through that door. Otherwise, a stranger was about to get an eyeful.
He had placed his luggage in the corner and then stripped. Splayed nude on the bed, he now intended to pick up where he and Sabryn left off on the ride over.
She placed her hand over her chest, taking a deep breath as she pushed the door closed behind her. "I wish I could tell you how many times I've dreamed of walking in my room to find a gorgeous naked man on my bed."
He grinned, reaching his hand out, and she dropped her shoes to join him. Crawling onto the bed spread at his feet, she nibbled her way up his legs before planting herself firmly on the bed and pulling his cock into her mouth. He sucked in a sudden breath as the head of his cock hit her throat. She wasn't pulling him in any further, but it didn't really matter. It felt like she was sucking him all the way down to his toes. Swirling her tongue around the shaft, she glanced up to see the look on his face. Her heavy-lidded stare had him clenching the pillow beneath his head.
"God, you weren't kidding about ravishing me, where you my dear?" His head dropped back to the pillow and he took a deep breath, trying to regain some control. Unable to reach her with his hands, he rubbed his leg against her side.
She lifted her head for a moment. "No, I wasn't kidding. Now let go and come for me. We've got plenty of time for more later."
When she saw him close his eyes, she satisfyingly returned to the task at hand. Making a firm circle with her lips, she closed her mouth around his glans and started slowly moving up and down, pulling hard on him with each backstroke. Judging by the way he squirmed beneath her, it wouldn't be long before he lost control completely.
He groaned, pumping his hips. "God, Bryn! Keep doing that..." He hissed and arched into her mouth, trying to gain that last fraction of an inch. A light touch on his balls pushed him over the edge. Hands fisted into the sheets, he thrust one last time and came so hard he saw black spots.
It was a few minutes before he caught his breath enough to talk. "That was incredible. But tell me, Bryn. Exactly *what* have you been studying on the Internet, my dear?"
She blushed a bit, licking her lips. "I can't give away all my secrets, can I?" She sat back on her heels, grabbing the hem of her dress and pulling the garment over her head. She sat still for a moment, enjoying the way his eyes drank her in before she was forced to move so he could touch her. For both their sakes. Climbing leisurely up his body, she settled down next to him and kissed his face as his hands swept up the inside of her thigh. "I can't believe you're really here."
"You aren't the only one," he said softly, leaning forward to attach his mouth to her nipple.
She moaned softly, wrapping her hand around his head, burying her face in his hair. Between her thighs, his fingers tickled the opening of her sex before pushing apart the moist folds to push inside. She seems to remember a moment like this, not so long ago but on an entirely different coast, when things were much simpler. She wouldn't have thought anything, at the time, could make her worry about him leaving. But this time she did. Maybe not at the moment; but there was a part of her that was terrified she wake up in the morning all alone.
He smiled as he nibbled on her nipple. Thumb firmly on her clit, he began rubbing his fingers in circles. He heard and felt her gasp and sped up the motion. Soon she was arching into his touch. He found himself wishing that they could stay like this forever.
[You could always Transform her.]
His movements faltered. The thought shocked him. He hadn't even considered that since Natasha had begged him...
"Anton?" He looked up into Sabryn's worried eyes. "Is there something wrong."
"No," he said. "Nothing's wrong." He returned to pleasuring her with his fingers and tongue.
But she knew there was. She found it hard to concentrate on what he was doing to her. The pleasurable sensations were still there, but her mind was somewhere else. She felt a step away from her own body. When her orgasm finally came, it was stunted, almost forced, and barely satisfying. She moved her hips against his hand, trying hard to get that elusive high, but with her eyes scrunched up and her teeth biting into her lip, it never came. She was breathing hard and fast, nearly angry with herself, as she let her limbs flop back to the bed. She whimpered softly, wanting to hit something. Instead, she buried her face against the side of his neck and tried to figure out what the hell she'd done wrong.
He gently stroked her hair. "Ah, Bryn, I'm sorry." When she didn't say anything, he tried again. "That was my fault, Bryn. Not yours." He nuzzled at the top of her head. "I'll make it up to you in a short while, I promise."
She nodded slightly, slipping from the bed to pull back the covers. Seeing her intent, he slid back and joined her between the soft flannel sheets. She settled at his side with her head on his shoulder, her eyes downcast. Her hand rested on his stomach, fingers lightly playing over his skin. "Do you want to tell me what you where thinking about? Or whom?"
"Not really." He thought about lying to her, but decided that would not be wise. He'd be caught out eventually. He took a deep breath. "Her name is Natasha Falconieri, and she was my first love."
He felt her gaze darken. "No, I wasn't fantasying about her." He closed his eyes and gave another sigh. This was still painful for him to talk about. "She was the most beautiful woman at the keep. I loved her with all my heart and soul. I was already Transformed then, and she begged me to do the same to her, so we could be together for all time. I kept telling her no, that I wanted to wait for a while. Vampirism was too new to me, and I wasn't confident that I could Transform her."
"It turned out that it was not my choice to make after all. She was Transformed by another vampire. She then told me that she was leaving me. It devastated me."
Bryn looked up at him. "What does this have to do to us?"
He took a deep breath. "Because out of nowhere, I thought about Transforming you. And that terrified me." He gently stroked her cheek. "I don't know what I'd do if you asked me. I don't know what I'd do, and I'm afraid that no matter what choice I made, I'd lose you."
"But I haven't asked you. I think we've had this conversation before. I haven't asked you and you haven't offered." She narrowed her gaze. "I don't understand. Even if you did Transform me, why would you lose me? It's not as if I'm the most beautiful woman anywhere...and I certainly don't see a line waiting outside for my favors. Even if there was one, why would you ever think I'd choose someone else over you?"
"Because I'm an old fool who's afraid that every time I find happiness, it will be snatched away. And I don't think I could survive it again. Please, forgive me." He kissed her forehead and down the bridge of her nose. "And you're wrong. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I can't figure out why you've been left alone so long. Their loss, however, is my gain."
She wrinkled her nose. "You're insane...but I'm not complaining."
He kissed her mouth, first with small lingering pecks, then with slower deepening explorations. She slid her legs against his, her thigh lifting to tease his awakening cock. Her fingernails dragged across his stomach, slipping lower with each pass back and forth. By the time she pulled away from his mouth and licked her lips, he was already starting to pull her body on top of his.
She stared down at him, her expression completely serious despite the desire with which she wiggled against him. "Are you sure you're done thinking of her? I can...wait."
"No need for you to wait. I only have one woman on my mind now." He ran his hands up her back, tangling them in her hair before sliding them down her front. "So are you going to ravish me again, my dear?" he asked with a wide grin.
She held his hands to her breasts, nearly cooing with satisfaction as his thumbs teased her. Sliding a little further down his body, her legs sliding apart on the sheets, she softly said, "I was thinking about it."
"I certainly won't object."
He opened his mouth slightly as she rolled her hips against him, grinding against his stiffening cock. His hands slid down her sides, lifting her up a bit as she teased him, determined to get her just where he wanted her. As he felt her heated flesh starting to melt around him, he thrust himself upwards, surrounding himself with her grasping muscles. His head slipped back to the pillow, a low moan slipping out of his mouth. Despite their encounter in the gallery, it felt like it had been far too long since he'd been inside of her. Years, centuries even.
She splayed her fingers on his chest, balancing herself as she started moving slowly upon him. Torturously. Her eyes closed, her face a study of ecstasy. She pulled at him with her inner muscles with each upward stroke, as if loathe to release him.
He grabbed her hips and pulled her down, arching up to meet her. "Bryn," he moaned. His hands traced back up to her breasts. He rubbed the pink nipples between thumbs and forefingers, taking delight in her whimpers.
Deciding she needed to show him a little more that she'd learned, she leaned back on her hands and used her hips to churn him back and forth inside of her. He gasped, arching into her, barely able to keep quiet any longer. She flashed him a vicious grin, before flipping her hips harder than before, making him hit the spot inside her that seemed to radiate for his touch.
This was too intense, too sweet. He tried to hold back for her sake, wanting her to come first. One final arch and his orgasm rolled over him. "Ah God! Bryn!" He moved one hand to where they were joined, searching with his fingers.
It took little more than the brush of his finger and feeling of him surging inside her to make her cry out loud. She shook, her entire body convulsing on top of him as she leaned forward to rest against his chest, her hips still moving in little rolls against him as she calmed down. He could feel the convulsive squeeze and release as she seemed to milk him from the inside. Breathing raggedly, she draped herself over him like a wet towel.
He felt around for the sheets and pulled them up over their bodies. He gave a deep, contented sigh as he wrapped his arms around her. Lazily, he opened one eye to look at her. "Much better this time?"
She nodded contentedly, snuggling closer to him, his breathing lulling her into sleep.

She woke up with a start, several hours later, to find the light beside her bed still on. The arm wrapped around her waist reassured her of his presence, but her heart was still pounding in her chest. He was curled around her body, as they lay on their sides, but even his sheltering embrace took a moment to calm her. For nearly five full minutes, she was still a little girl, and this was the scariest night of her entire life.
Pulling in a deep breath, she scooted back against him, pulling the covers even tighter about their shoulders. A sarcastic part of her brain laughs. It would figure that she'd fall in love with a vampire...one who just happened to work with a werewolf. Adding herself to the mix was only natural. She just hoped Anton would take things equally as well if he found out she was once abducted by aliens.
Chances were, even if he could give her children, her body most likely wouldn't accept them.
Anton had been lost in thought for most of the night. He wouldn't allow himself to fall into a deep sleep until dawn, remaining safely unconscious during the daylight hours. He could feel a stirring of the need to feed, but he wouldn't until the next night. He'd prefer to feed on human blood, but he could make do with animal.
But there were other problems as well they'd have to face. All of the points she had raised their first night together were still true. She'd age. He wouldn't. He'd never be able to give her children. And there were other problems and dangers she'd have to be told about eventually...
When he felt Bryn snuggle back against him, he tightened his grip around her. She was shivering, and her heart was pumping rapidly. "Bad dream, my dear?"
She tried to smile at him over her shoulder, but wasn't quite successful. "Yes. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't. Do you want to talk about it?"
"It's over," she said, shaking her head. Drawing in a deep breath, she turned over to face him. "I forgot you can't sleep now. If you want to go out, you don't have to stay here just because of me. I'm sure you're...hungry."
He could tell she wasn't quite comfortable mentioning his feeding, but her concern was no less genuine.
"I don't have to feed every night," he said. "Dawn's coming soon, and I'm not familiar with the area, so I'll wait. And more importantly, I'd rather stay right here in your arms." He nuzzled her hair. "I'll go out while you're at school. And I never did ask you. What are you taking?"
"Well, it's only been a few weeks, but I'm taking some art history classes, sculpting, and Modern Mythology: Fact vs. Fiction."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"I think you should come in and give a guest lecture some time. I'm sure you'd be shocked to find out all of the inaccuracies they've been teaching."
"Such as?"
"Well, according to last week's lecture, there's no such thing as vampires. It can all be explained away by rare biological diseases."
"Nooooo," Anton drawled. "Does this mean I'll disappear in a puff of smoke when confronted with their logic?"
She smirked at him. "Oh, I don't know...you felt pretty real to me."
He leaned forward, about to kiss her when she asked, "Have you ever been married? I know you've had lovers, but did you ever marry one of them?"
"Yes." He settled on his side to talk to her. "I've been married six times. The five women who died of old age, and one of the ones who left me."
Bryn became quiet. "Was Natasha one of them?"
"No. She wasn't." He placed a light peck on her forehead. "I commit for the long term, Bryn. That's why I was so miserable when you left, even if I understood why."
She wasn't quite sure why that bothered her, but it did. She felt a little like she was dining on someone else's leftovers. "It's just a little hard for me to imagine. I would be so heartbroken each time, I wouldn't want to even look at anyone else. But I guess you had plenty of time to grieve."
"Yes, I did."
"But you did go on...wasn't there anyone you just couldn't get over? Someone you would gladly be with forever?"
"I've loved each of them in slightly different ways, Bryn. In some ways, I've never 'gotten over' any of them." He looked in her eyes. "I thought I would be with Natasha forever, until she betrayed me. I swore to myself never again." This may scare her off, but he had to be honest. "But now I'm rethinking that promise."
She shook her head, felt like laughing. "I can't quite understand why. I certainly don't know this Natasha," she said, almost sneering the name, "but I know I'm probably not anything compared to her. I have a little bit of talent, but certainly nothing to make me rich any time soon. And despite what you claim, I'm not going to win any beauty pageants either. Let's face it, I'm just ordinary. I am so surprised you haven't yet found someone better. Surely you could if you tried."
"But I don't want to try." He nuzzled her cheek. "I love you, Sabryn Jaegar. I don't know why you seem to think you don't deserve to be loved. But you do." He stroked her hair and pulled back to look at her. "I'm sure you could find a... better suited lover." He didn't say what he first thought. A human lover.
"Uh-uh," she said, shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "He doesn't exist. There's no one better for me than you."
This time she let him kiss her. She didn't feel like asking anymore questions. All of this talk of Transformations, wives, and forever was making her heart ache desperately. He wasn't the only who feared losing happiness. She was used to people who took back their affections after a while. The only ones who hadn't done so, so far, were the people she was living with...and Anton. But there was no telling what would lie in the days ahead. Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, she concentrated on kissing the man she loved. Hoping he misinterpreted her trembling for desire.
He chuckled a bit, breathing heavier when the kiss broke. "Again? My dear, we don't have to make up for lost time in one night. I may be a vampire, but I do have limits." He rolled over to pin her to the bed. His smile faded when he looked at her face. "What's wrong, Bryn?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, purposefully trying to keep from meeting his gaze. "You said you understood why I left that night...but you don't. Not really. I left...I made sure to walk away before you did. Because I couldn't bear to have someone else look at me...that way. The way you look at a person when you've stopped loving them. When they become more of a burden to you than a blessing. I know what it feels like to be on the other side of that, and rather than allowing myself to go through that pain again, I hurt you instead."
She sucked in a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry. But I'm so scared it might happen again. Stupidly, I didn't realize it had happened to you, too."
He gently stroked her side. "Ah my dear, what happened to you?" He held her close, but gentle, as if he were afraid she would break in his arms. "And I will never stop loving you, Bryn." He tilted her chin up so she'd look at him. "I will love you until the day I cease to exist." He watched as her eyes widened, realizing that it could be well beyond the span of her life. He nodded, reassuring her, and lightly pressed his lips to hers.
Pressing her forehead against his, she ran her fingers over his lower lip. "I'm so sorry I hurt you. I can't believe I did the same thing that Nóthat she did to you. It won't happen again. I promise."
He met her gaze, wondering if she meant what he thought she did. Before he could ask, she nodded slightly. "I want whatever you can give me, Anton. I don't think I could stand being without you again."
He swallowed the lump in his throat as he took one of her hands in his. "Are you sure, Bryn? I have to be honest with you. It's not going to be an easy life, for either of us." His eyes welled up with tears, still afraid, despite what she had just said.
She nodded. "Absolutely." She giggled slightly at the desperate kiss he gave her, returning it quickly with one of her own. "But you have to do me a favor."
"What's that?"
She swallowed heavily, feeling like she'd just ripped her chest open. "Marry me?"
It was a surprise to find that after 1000 years, he could still be shocked. "Marry you. Now? So soon?" She nodded. And again he surprised himself with his answer. "Yes, but on one condition. We wait six months, so you know for certain what you're getting yourself into."
Her anxious expression quickly turned into a full-blown grin, right before she almost knocked him off the bed in her rush to hug him. She nearly squeezed the breath out of him, giggling excitedly, before pulling back to frame his face with her hands. "I'm--we're engaged! Do you believe that?"
He barely had a moment to smile in return before she was pulling him down for another kiss. And then another. And then she wouldn't stop. Tangling her legs with his, she held on so tight it felt as if she'd never let him go.

6:30 in the morning was too damned early for a singing, bopping, nude-with-the- exception-of-tighty-whitey-briefs, man of the house. He danced in place, raiding the refrigerator, a cold chicken leg in his hand, singing the most annoying of songs. He had a fairly nice body for a father of two. No love handles as of yet. No hair on his back. And if it weren't for the hair sticking up at odd ends all over his head, he might actually have been cute. But this early in the morning, it was just too much.
"You stick your left cheek in, you stick your left cheek out," he sang, slightly too loudly as he swayed his butt back and forth. "You stick your left cheek in, and you shake it all about."
Lindy was about to clear her throat and alert him to her presence when he shimmied in place, wiggling his ass at her. It was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud.
"You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself a--Ahhhhhhh!"
He'd spun around, facing her, and launched his chicken leg in the air as he spotted her. Finally, she broke into giggles, not only at the look on his face but at the girly scream that still seemed to echo in the air.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." She smiled, trying to get control of herself. She was glad she had dressed in jeans and a T-shirt before coming out of her room. "I'm Lindy Leahs. Anton Rudenko's partner. We met last night, remember? Didn't Bryn tell you she had invited us to stay?"
He looked around desperately for something to hide himself, finally deciding on the nearby dishtowel. Trying to hold it casually in front of his groin, he babbled slightly as he figured out what to say.
"H-How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough, I'd say."
He laughed self-consciously, scratching his head. "Uh, it's one of my kids' songs. Gets stuck in my head all the time." When she nodded, he remembered what she'd said a moment ago. "No, Bryn certainly did not mention that...I don't normally walk around in my underwear when company is present."
Lindy decided to ease John's embarrassment. "In that case, I'll leave you to get dressed." She turned around and half walked out of the kitchen before thinking of something. "Oh, about Anton. There's something you need to know because he's probably lurking around here somewhere."
John didn't look pleased by that statement. "What about him?"
"Anton has a rare medical condition called porphyria. Basically he's allergic to sunlight. Severely allergic," she emphasized. It was a cover story they had used before successfully. "Because of it, he tends to sleep through the day and only come out at nights."
"Fabulous," he replied, through gritted teeth. "And I suppose he just happened to spend last night in my sister's room?"
She shrugged her shoulders slightly, looking away, and he swore under his breath. Suddenly not quite so self-conscious, he threw down the towel and stalked past her, muttering, "Excuse me."
She watched him hurriedly climb the stairs, feeling an urgent sense of dread. This couldn't be good at all.

Sabryn had just finished pulling her shirt down and buttoning her jeans when the loud pounding on the door startled her. She glanced over at Anton, instantly panicked, and didn't even have time to open the door before John barged right in.
He took one look at her, and then Anton. His voice was deceptively calm as he said, "I don't usually wake up in the morning to get told some strange man is sleeping in my sister's bed."
Anton was sitting on the bed, shirtless, but wearing the slacks from last night. His sense of humor got the better of him. "I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that." The smile fell off his face as he realized that John was not joking. Anton raised an eyebrow in Sabryn's direction. "I thought you told him that you invited me and Lindy to stay for a while?"
"Well...I was getting around to it." She gave them both a weak smile. "Um, John, by the way...I invited Anton and Lindy to stay with us. For a while."
"Very funny," John grumbled. "How long is a while?"
"As long as they need to?" It was obviously a question, but she tried to sound positive. John only glared at her. "Well, there is a consolation...they're family. Anton's my fiancÈ."
"He's your *what*?"
"You heard me."
"You're pregnant, aren't you?"
"If she is, I want a word with the father," Anton mock grumbled. He swung his legs off the bed, ready to come to Sabryn's aid if needed.
Crossing her arms, she stared down her brother. "No, I'm not, and I resent that, John." She was about to say something about never being so stupid, but quickly caught herself when she remembered that was just how John and Caroline had gotten married. "I would appreciate it if you'd stop being an ass...and stop showing your ass! Don't you have the good sense to put pants on?"
He looked down at himself, coloring slightly. But his indignance was more pressing. "Why wasn't I told about any of this? This is my house, damn it!"
"I was going to tell you, this morning over breakfast, if you hadn't stomped in here like a spoiled little boy."
John grunted, staring at Anton. "Who the hell are you, anyway? One day ago, you didn't even seem to exist."
"I am someone who loves her," Anton answered. "And it is my fault for the fact that I haven't been around. I know I'm a stranger to you, and you have no good reason to trust me. If this is too much trouble, I am more than willing to find another place to stay. However, since the same woman is very important to the both of us," he paused to glance at Bryn warmly, "it might be wise for us get to know each other."
"No, you're not going to find somewhere else to stay," Sabryn said, sitting down on the bed and putting her hand on his thigh. "We've got plenty of room, and John doesn't mind you staying up here with me, because we're engaged...right, John?"
Clearly annoyed by her last statement, but willing to overlook it, John extended his hand. "Yes, she's right. I guess it's time for me to welcome you to the family."
Anton stood up and shook his hand. "Bryn is very special to me, and I will do all in my power to make her happy." He at the sunlight filtering in beneath the pulled shade of the window and looked back at Sabryn. "It's becoming a bit uncomfortably bright in here.
"Um...you might want to stay in the entertainment room downstairs. There's only one window, and the curtains keep it pretty dark in there. I think the couch should be plenty comfortable--it's huge." She stood up, heading for the door. "I'll get some blankets out for you."
John grabbed her by the wrist as she walked past, holding her still for a moment. He glanced back at Anton, saying, "Ms. Leahs has told me about your...condition. We'll try to make you as comfortable as we can." Turning his attention back to Sabryn, he pulled her into his arms for a quick hug, whispering, "Congratulations."
"Thank you," she said, glancing up at him. She could tell he was still a little confused, but true to form he was being as supportive as he could. "Now, do you think you could possibly put some pants on?"
John flushed bright red, nodding. He hastily made an exit, leaving her shaking her head behind him. She looked back at Anton as she neared the door. "Come on. I'll show you where to go."
He grabbed a dark t-shirt and pulled it on as he followed her out the door. Lindy was in the hall, eyes asking questions. "It's okay. Bryn's showing me to a different room. Do me a favor and bring the laptop. And Bryn and I need to speak to you when you have a moment."
Lindy quirked an eyebrow, as she followed them down the stairs. "Really. Good news or bad?"
"Good. I'll give you the details in a few minutes." He hurried to catch up with Sabryn as Lindy disappeared into her room.
She took him past the living room, into a shadowy hall, towards the very last room. He could see already that it was fairly dark without the light on. The curtains were already pulled, presumably for watching movies. At one end of the room, a large screen TV was surrounded by tons of equipment. Wrapped around a coffee table in the center, the couch was a big puffy monstrosity. It took up half the room. Opening a nearby closet, Sabryn pulled down a couple of pillows, sheets, and some blankets.
"Is this going to be OK?"
He nodded. "I think so."
"There's a lock on the door. You don't even want to know what it is John watches in here when he locks the door, but at least you should be able to keep any unwanted visitors from barging in. And trust me, you'll probably want to use it. Jolie isn't bashful in the slightest."
"Your niece?" he asked, sitting down on the couch. He pulled a nodding Sabryn onto his lap. "I'll keep that in mind. The only one I want not to be bashful is you." Sliding his hand up her neck, he brought her head to his for a kiss.
Just as the kiss was about to become more serious, Lindy opened the door. "Are you two still at it? Get a room-- oh, I guess you already did." Placing the laptop case down, she closed the door and sat down on the couch a little distance away from them. "So what's the news?"
Anton swatted affectionately at Lindy. "Bryn and I are going to be married."
Lindy grinned approvingly. "Congratulations. I didn't expect him to ask you so quickly, Bryn."
"Well, he didn't." Anton looked a little chagrined at Lindy's raised eyebrow. "I didn't give him a chance to, actually. I pretty much pounced on him the minute I got the nerve."
"I'll bet," Lindy said, making Bryn giggle.
"I guess it's kind of early, considering this is really only the third day I've known him--"
"Oh, I think the previous year counts for something."
She winced a bit. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, it won't be for at least six months, but we thought you should know."
"Well, I'm happy for the both of you." Lindy crossed her legs. "Anton, I hate to bring up business, but as long as we're out here, I thought about looking around some second hand stores on the off chance of finding anything."
"You could go to the Lexington Market," Bryn said. "There's also a great antiques district on Howard Street. I'll give you directions."
"Great. I'd also like to take a few days off and go visit my family."
Anton made a dismissive gesture. "That's not a problem, Lindy. I'll leave it to your discretion. Just let me know when you'll be back." He stifled a yawn.
"Thanks." Lindy stood up. "I'm going to go see about getting breakfast. Hopefully I won't encounter any more men dancing in their underwear." She held up a hand as Anton opened his mouth. "Don't ask."
Sabryn rolled her eyes. "On that note, I guess I'd better go get Jo out of bed. I have to get her on the bus by 7. I'll be watching Chris for most of the day while Caroline is at work. We'll probably be upstairs until around noon, so is there anything you need right now?"
He reached for the laptop and she answered his question before he even opened his mouth. "There's a plug in over at the other end of the couch, both for electricity and the phone jack."
"I think that's about everything, except--"
When he started kissing her again, Lindy made a mock sound of disgust and left the room. After a few moments, Sabryn pulled away and said, "Get some rest. Yell if you need anything."
She shut the door quietly behind her.
Anton looked at the computer, debating on checking his email. But he was really too tired at the moment. Instead he grabbed the pillows and blankets and made himself comfortable on the couch. Closing his eyes, he was asleep in five minutes.

End Chapter Two

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