Chapter Three He really hoped it was Sabryn stroking his hair, or he was going to feel really sick for getting turned on by her niece. Opening his eye a crack, he saw Bryn smiling down at him. "Morning, sunshine!" He grunted, lifting his hand to wipe the remaining sleep from his eyes. She laughed softly, playfully tugging at his hair. "You look so cute when you just wake up." "What time is it?" he croaked. "Almost five. I've been going crazy all day, knowing that you're in here all alone...but I managed to keep myself busy enough that I didn't bug you any earlier." She held up the plate in her lap, a heavenly scent wafting towards him. "I made cookies. I thought you might want some." He silently reached for one of them, when she added, "I also made a cake, a couple of paintings, and dinner...in case you're interested." Smiling sleepily, he tried to sit up. Not an easy task with the couch pillows swarming all over him. "I have to leave in a couple of minutes for class, but I wanted to see you before I went." She barely hesitated before setting the plate down on the coffee table and moving herself over to his lap instead. She kissed his chocolate-tainted mouth, whispering, "Mmm." "I could get used to waking up like this," he murmured. He stroked the side of her face, tangling his fingers in her hair. "I can't persuade you to skip class tonight?" "Well..." she straddled his thighs, making herself comfortable. "I think you probably could, but I'm not sure it's a good idea. See, then I'd miss sitting next to this really cute guy named Mike, and I like flirting with him. He's got a really nice ass." He let out a mock growl. "Far be it from me to let our engagement interfere with your dating life." His hands slid down to her waist, holding her in place against his groin. "When will you be back?" She stretched leisurely, purposefully teasing him with each roll of her hips. "About 7:30. Caroline said she'd leave some dinner warming in the oven for you, whenever you're hungry. And she's the other blond woman in the house, by the way, in case I don't get a chance to introduce you." He kissed her lips lightly. "Speaking of blond women, have you seen Lindy recently?" "No. She left shortly after you went to sleep. Said not to expect her back until sunset." He nodded. Lindy was probably out getting familiar with the territory, assessing the lay of the land. Whenever they entered a new area, she took a day or two just roaming around. He privately thought she was marking her territory. "I guess I should let you go to class, since you'll be back soon." She groaned. "Yeah, two more hours of the day wishing I was with you instead." She gave him a quick kiss and stood up, heading for the door. "You'll be here when I get back...right?" "If you come right home, instead of staying to flirt with Mike." She grinned, pausing at the door. "Good, 'cause I thought we might go out later. If you're up to it." "I'll be waiting." With a last lingering look, she headed out the door and was on her way. With a slightly frustrated groan, he sat back on the couch. The need to Feed was stronger, and he would need to give in to it shortly. He had hoped that he'd be able to go out while she was at school and be back before her, but the sun was still over the horizon. Well, he'd have to figure out something. Sabryn sat down behind the black table, setting her books in front of her, and hung her jacket on the back of her chair. As she was turning around to face the front, she could feel someone's gaze on her and looked up to meet a pair of pale green eyes. Good God, he was gorgeous. Her breath caught, heart tripping a beat. She blushed slightly. It was silly...he'd been the one staring at her, and yet it was she who was feeling embarrassed. She shouldn't have been phased by such a good looking man, considering the one she had at home. Then again, it didn't hurt to look. He held her gaze for a moment, his eyes smiling, before a corner of his mouth turned up devilishly. He was leaning with his arms on the table, kneeling on his chair, like he was about to crawl right over the desk and attack her. She laughed at herself in her mind. [Yeah, I'm sure he's going to attack me. Anton's compliments are going to my head.] His gaze moving slowly up and down her body, he stood up and crossed the room, casually taking a seat next to her at the last minute before the instructor entered the room. He had sensed her from halfway across the campus. There was something about a human who had been fed upon that let him spot them in a crowd. Curious, because he was only aware of two other vampires in the area (and he damn well knew *she* hadn't fed on her), he had followed into whatever the bloody hell class this was. She was an attractive woman, that was for certain, but at the moment all he was really interested in looking at was her neck. She glanced his way, smiling slightly. Sure enough, when she moved her chair forward and pushed her long black hair over her shoulder, he could clearly see the twin fang marks marring her otherwise pristine flesh. Curious, he sat back to watch her, his eyes adjusting as the room went dark. Seconds later, the instructor turned on the projector and began his lecture. Wholly bored by the art images flashing on the roll-down screen, he studied the girl as she took her notes. After a moment, after glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she turned her full attention to him and whispered, "Do I have something hanging out of my nose, or what?" "No, I'm just find it a little difficult to concentrate with so many things of beauty surrounding me." It would be wise to keep an eye on this woman until he found out exactly who she knew. He fluttered his lashes over light green eyes. She frowned slightly, a little crease forming between her eyebrows. "I think I've heard that one before. Don't you have any better lines?" His eyebrows almost ascended his hairline. Most women gave into his charm almost immediately. He decided to change tactics slightly. "Actually, no I don't." "I'm not surprised, really." She glanced back at what was on the screen, jotting down a few more notes before saying, "You probably just rely on your good looks to get you through. The less attractive people have to work at it, figuring out just the right words to win you over. It's kind of like jacket print on a book cover. They have to have a somewhat attractive cover and great copy to get your attention, or you won't be walking home with that novel. Simple economics." He leaned forward slightly, daring to invade her space. "And what about you...do you need the jacket print, or is a pretty cover enough to get your attention?" She smirked slightly. "A pretty cover always gets my attention, but it's the read itself that really counts...besides, I've already found my favorite book. I'm not looking for others." "I see." He smiled charmingly. He'd back off a bit, but he'd still keep an eye on her until he knew who she was with. "But do remember that there's a whole library out there, if you get the urge to browse." He wish he could get a closer look at those puncture scars so he could at least determine if they were a male or female bite. She laughed slightly, looking embarrassed as the instructor looked at her over the projector. She waited until the man looked away before turning in her chair. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to introduce myself." She held out her hand. "Sabryn Jaegar." He nodded. "Nathaniel Adrik." It was clear that he would be able to get no further at the moment, so he sat back in the chair and pretended to pay attention to the lecture for the rest of the class period. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Sabryn scratch notes. When the lights finally came on an hour and a half later, he was nearly asleep. Blinded by the sudden brightness, he winced, watching her stand up and collect her stuff. "See ya around," she said, softly. [Definitely] he thought to himself. He followed her from a distance, out into the well-lit parking lot. She carried her belongings close to her, her key protruding between two fingers, like a porcupine with its quills at the ready. He watched her walk to a beige sedan and unlock the door, peering around cautiously. If he'd been standing any further into the light, she would have seen him. Luckily, she got into her car and closed the door behind her without pause. No doubt locking it behind her, ever cautious. Following her in a car was another matter altogether. She shifted between bouts of speeding like a maniac, swerving wildly between traffic, and puttering along like an old grandma. By the time she stopped the car in front of a house and cut the engine, he felt like every nerve in his body was wired on alert. He sighed heavily, watching as she got out and ran up to the house. He stayed put, allowing his constricted muscles to relax, waiting. He was hoping to see some sign, movement in a window perhaps, but he got luckier than that. Less than fifteen minutes later, she was walking out the door in a short blue dress, holding the hand of someone very familiar. He bit down on his laughter. This was too rich. Here he was trailing Anton, trying to figure out what had led his step-brother here, and he had missed the obvious reason. The fool had fallen for a mortal yet again. It was endlessly amusing to Nathaniel to remind Anton that relationships with mortals were messy things. And when Natasha found out... He ducked down beneath the dash to avoid being seen as the sedan pulled out of the driveway. [What to do... what to do...] The club was too hot, too crowded, and if it weren't for the woman dancing in front of him, he might have gone mad. He could smell the blood pumping in the mortals around him, like a gigantic pulsing machine, surging with life, and he was so damned hungry he could have gone into a feeding frenzy. There were at least half a dozen people close enough to drain completely, and yet he held back. Keeping in rhythm with the music...pretending he didn't have a care in the world. One song drifted into another, this one a little faster, obviously one she liked. Bryn drew closer to him, her body rubbing up against his as she swayed. He could feel himself becoming aroused, but he wasn't quite sure if was the feel of her ass against his crotch, or the smell of the rich red fluid pumping through her veins. She turned in his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, singing along with U2's "Dancing Barefoot," her gaze feral in the darkness. He slid his hands down to her hips, moving with her, feeling her every swing and tilt down to his toes. She rubbed herself against him, teasing him with a subtle grind of her pelvis against his groin. He licked his lips, shivering despite the heat, his gaze narrowing in on the artery in her neck. And when he realized what he was about to do, he let go of her and abruptly walked away. She finally found him a few minutes later, outside the main doors, leaning against the wall and trying to catch his breath. He felt slightly nauseated, dizzy, and if he didn't feed soon he'd probably pass out. She quickly walked over to where he stood, and noticed the sweat crawling down his temple. "Are you all right?" "No," he growled. He started scanning the surrounding area, looking for prey and trying desperately to ignore Sabryn's proximity. "Give me about fifteen minutes, and wait here." He turned and walked into the darkness. Sabryn did wait there for a few minutes, until she heard a quiet cry and a muffled thump. She started in that direction thinking that Anton hadn't looked that well. Perhaps he had fallen and injured himself... A movement in the corner of the alley caught her eye. She took a few steps into it. "Anton?" She walked around tall pile of broken pallets that were blocking her view, towards where the quiet noises were coming from... Anton stood there, eyes flaming in the darkness. His fangs were sunk into the neck of a homeless person. The expression on his face was almost blissful as he fed... She didn't feel her purse fall from her hand to land at her feet. Covering her mouth, she abruptly turned on her heel and hurried back out of the alley. Her legs were shaking, barely managing to hold her upright as she ran towards the car. She felt like she was going to be sick. God, that smell. Blood always made her somewhat queasy. Clutching her stomach, she leaned heavily on the wall of the club, praying desperately that she wouldn't vomit. Tears crept to her eyes as her stomach clenched, but she managed to keep her food down. She'd known there was something wrong with him, and she should have suspected he was hungry, but she never...nothing could make her imagine something like that. Even with all she knew about him, she refused to think about it. In her mind, vampires feeding was something glamorous and sexy, something they did with their lovers, just as Anton had drank from her that first night. She never let her mind think anything other than that. She wouldn't acknowledge that he might kill someone... Sliding down the wall, heedless of the large scrape the bricks left on her bare shoulder, she slumped to the sidewalk, burying her face against bent knees. She felt sweaty, hot, cold, and somehow numb, all at once. Scalding tears burned in her eyes but she squeezed them back before they could fall. [What the hell are you crying for, you dumbass? You knew what he was...you just chose to ignore it.] Angry with herself, she fisted her fingers in her hair and wondered how the hell she'd keep from looking at him in horror when he came back. He lowered the body to the ground, respectfully arranging the limbs to what looked like a more comfortable position. Not that it mattered now. He always treated his prey with some respect, unlike others he could name. Anton felt better now. The fresh blood had invigorated him. He was ready to go back to Sabryn and suggest that they return to her room... He stumbled across something . Bending down, he frowned and picked up the purse. It looked vaguely familiar. [Oh damn!] The ID inside confirmed it was Sabryn's. [Damn! Damn! Damn!] She wasn't any where near ready to accept what he had to do to survive. She probably still had those romantic notions about what vampires were running through her head. He had intended to educate her gradually, but it looked like that was out of his hands now. Realizing that he'd have to face her sooner or later, he started for where they had parked. As he entered the lot, he saw her curled on the ground by the car. He came to where he was just outside of arm's reach and crouched down to her level, placing her purse on the ground between them, a symbolic barrier. "Bryn? Bryn, look at me." He didn't think she was going to look up for a few heartbeats. And part of him wilted when he saw the terror and revulsion in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bryn. I didn't mean for you to see that." "I can't imagine you would have," she replied, her throat scratchy as if she had something caught in there. "I doubt you'd want anyone to see that." He hung his head slightly. "No, not really." She laughed slightly, almost drunkenly, leaning back against the wall. She winced suddenly, rebounding forward, and he noticed the huge gash on her shoulder. Reaching out with his hand, he said, "What did you do--" "Don't--" She shied away from his touch, breaking his heart. She held her hand up. "I'm just...not ready for that yet." "OK," he said, softly. He settled himself onto the concrete. [Might as well make yourself comfortable...looks like we might be here a while.] "Do you want to talk to me?" "What do you expect me to say, Anton? You want fries with that?" He didn't laugh. He recognized her sarcastic humor for what it was: a barrier between them. She wasn't about to let him in, so she put up walls. If he tried another tactic, there was no doubt she'd hurl another barb at him. "I don't know what to tell you. I'm sorry." She hiccuped, moving her hair aside to look at him, her face still pressed to her knees. She smirked a bit, an odd combination with the mascara-laden tear that coursed down her face. "Why are you apologizing? It's not as if you can help it." He shook his head slightly, wanting so much to reach out and touch her. Surprising him, she did it for him...grabbing his hand as she closed her eyes to squeeze out another set of tears. "I just don't understand how you can stand to do that. I think I'd almost rather die than...do *that* to someone innocent." "Bryn, I *have* already died," he reminded her gently. "It's a question of how badly I wish to continue existing as to how I can do that." He frowned. "Yes, I feel guilty when I take a life, but the guilt isn't greater than my desire to continue. How selfish I am. "That is why I said we should wait six months before we marry. You need to come to terms with what I am before you make that commitment. Need to be certain you can live with it." He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "I can't change what I am, Bryn." "I know," she said, softly. "I didn't want to admit it." She swallowed heavily, taking in a deep breath and wiping her eyes. "I just...hurt." "I'm sorry." "Stop apologizing, damn it!" Her eyes flashed at him with sudden anger...Jesus, it was like her grieving process was beginning already. "How can you be so damned nice all the time? How can you go from being so sweet to me, to sucking the life out of people?" She picked up her purse, flinging it against the side of her brother's beat-up car. "That just really pisses me off!" He wasn't expecting the arm that lashed out at him, striking him with a painful blow against his bicep. "Get angry, you son-of-a-bitch! Scream at me, fight me-- fucking act and feel like a human being once in a while!" He caught the second blow and held her. "Don't ask me to act like something I'm not," he hissed. "I wouldn't ask Lindy to act like a vampire. I won't ask you to act like one either. Accept me as I am, or this will never work." She fought his grip for a second more before falling silent, still, her eyes skittering over his face in manic passes. Finally her gaze dropped like dead weight, her arms hanging limply from his grasp, defeated. Her lower lip trembled a bit, before she bit down on it. It was several long seconds before she was able to speak. "I don't know what to do. How can I accept you when I don't know who you are?" She sucked in a shuddering breath. "I was looking at a stranger in that alley, Anton. That wasn't you...not the you I know." "In a way, it's the true me, Bryn. All the artifices and domestication stripped away. When it comes down to it, the ugly truth is that I must kill to survive. I've learned to deal with it. I only hope you can as well." She wrenched her arms out of his grip, pulling them back against her chest like she couldn't bear to have him touch her. "Take me home, please," she whispered. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. Climbing to his feet, he didn't bother to offer her a hand--he already knew she wouldn't take it. She stood up slowly, heading towards the passenger side door, waiting patiently while he unlocked it. When she was seated inside, he handed her her purse. The entire drive back to her house was silent, despite the glances he kept sending in her direction. She merely rested her head on the cold window, and stared straight forward. Returning to the quiet house was like slipping back into a tomb. She walked upstairs silently...and he wasn't sure if he should follow. Deciding that giving her some distance would be best, he went to the den, and didn't bother to lock the door. He had gone through this with his other lovers, and it killed him every time. But this crossroads had never been reached so early in a relationship. Part of him wanted to run upstairs, burst into her room and drop to his knees, begging her not to turn him away. Another, more prideful part insisted he stay put, make her come to him. A third part reminded him that it would have to be Bryn's decision as to whether they went on from here, or if he left. Sinking down on the couch, he rested his head on his hands and began a not so patient wait. She lay on the bed alone, her eyes gritty and swollen. She hadn't even bothered to remove her shoes, had merely dropped onto the bed and grabbed the nearest pillow. The only two images to keep up the swirling race in her head were that of Anton feeding...and the disappointed look on his face when she told him to take her home. It made her sick to think of the first time she'd hurt him, and yet she hadn't thought about it for a moment when she went ahead and did it all over again. Hurting him twice made her think about Natasha...and that was something she never wanted to think about again. She was freezing. For the first time since leaving the club, she could feel how incredibly cold it was. How much the gash on her shoulder stung. How much her feet hurt and her stomach ached. Worst of all, it seemed her eyes had taken to leaking non-stop. Rolling over onto her back, she tried to breath through a clogged nose. It didn't work. Instead, she steadily sat up and looked around the room. He hadn't even bothered to come upstairs...not that she could blame him. She wasn't quite too fond of herself right now, either. Her room smelled like him. His belongings were clearly visible. And if she looked in the mirror, she could definitely see how easily he'd invaded her life. She never wore dresses like this. She was surprised it still fit her. He made her feel sexy, and pretty. He made her feel worth something. He made her feel loved. Pulling off her shoes, she climbed unsteadily off the bed and padded her way across the room to the door. She walked carefully down the stairs, hoping not to wake anyone up...listening quietly for sounds of him moving...praying to God he hadn't already taken the initiative and left. Her heart pounded sickeningly in her chest, aching as she neared the door and quietly knocked. He was so lost in his own misery that he didn't hear her the first time she knocked. The second time, he rose and went to open the door, thinking that it was Lindy. His eyes widened when he found that it was Bryn standing there. She looked as miserable as he felt. Wordlessly, he held the door open wider for her. Once she was through, he closed the door. She sat down listlessly on the couch, glancing at him over her shoulder. "You didn't come up to bed." "I didn't think you wanted me there." "I always want you there." For once, she didn't mean that as a double entendre. "I don't care what we fight about, I always want you there with me." He sat down cautiously on the arm of the couch, searching her gaze. She had to look up quite a bit to meet his gaze. "I know we weren't really fighting...or at least you weren't. It was my fault--" She put her hand up to her throat, pushing away shameful tears once again. "I'm sorry, Anton. I was--I didn't know--" When he reached out and touched her hair, she finally lost it. Lowering her head to rest against his thigh, she choked slightly as she cried, wetting the fabric of his jeans. "I'm sorry," she said, again, her hands holding tight to him. "Shh," he said, closing his eyes as he silently stroked her hair. He wanted so much to touch her, but was afraid of doing something to frighten her away again. Yet, when she lifted her face to press it against his torso, wrapping her arms around his waist instead, he couldn't wait any longer. Picking her up under her arms, he lifted her up to face him, pulling her tightly into his arms instead. "Bryn, it was my fault," he said softly. "I needed to feed, but I thought I could wait until later, ignoring what my body was telling me. Then I didn't tell you what I needed to do, didn't prepare you for what you might see. I thought I could keep you in the dark, which was wrong of me." He brushed his cheek against her hair. "Forgive me." "It wasn't--" She shook her head, still gasping on broken sobs she couldn't control. "It wasn't you. I understand it...it was something you had to do. I should have known that." He quietly stroked her back, trying to calm her down, but it wasn't easy. She was truly upset with what had happened and couldn't seem to forgive herself. "I didn't--I never should have hurt you again. I'm so sorry!" He pulled back slightly to look at her, gazing into her sparkling, shattered eyes, and damned near started crying himself. Before he could give in to the impulse, he gently leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, effectively ending her sobs with his kiss. He gently stroked her hair and shoulders, being careful to avoid the scratch. Gently he pulled her onto his lap, peppering her face with feather light kisses. "It's okay, Bryn. As long as we both keep open about what is happening, we'll be fine." He kissed the spot behind her ear, and then licked it. "Besides, it will give us a great excuse to have make up sex..." She laughed a bit, sniffling. "As if we've ever needed an excuse." Grinning, he slid down onto the couch, leaning back, allowing her to rest full length on top of him. "True, but there's always room for more." "Like Jell-O?" "Something like that." Carefully sliding down the strap on her dress, he kissed and licked at her jaw, down her neck, and across her collarbone. She shifted impatiently as his hands moved to the zipper at the back. His tongue painted a lazy stripe up her neck as he lowered the zipper inch by inch. Grinning ferally, he pulled the dress down until it was bunched around her waist. He filled his hands with her breasts, sliding her nipples between two fingers as he lifted them, squeezing lightly. Biting her lip, she shimmied against him, feeling his erection rub against her through their clothing. She slipped a hand between them, caressing him through his jeans, before she started popping open buttons. "Trade me places," she said, breathlessly. "Whatever you say." He slid to the side, pulling her beneath him, instantly moving down her body to suck and lick at her breasts. "Your shoulder all right?" She nodded, not quite comprehending his words anyway. She reached down as far as she could, grabbing his shirt and tugging. He lifted his mouth from her briefly, long enough to pull the tee shirt over his head and drop it to the floor, before returning to feast upon her once more. She squirmed beneath him, moaning, especially as he slid his hand under the skirt of her dress. "You don't have anything on under here!" "Nope." "You mean, all that time we were dancing..." She bit her lip and nodded. "Not a damned thing on." "Good think I didn't know then," he growled. He pulled the dress the rest of the way off her. "Otherwise I would have taken you then and there on the dance floor." He spread her legs and nibbled at the inside of her thighs. "Tell me what you want, my dear." A little shudder went through her with his words and the image it conjured. Lifting her hips, she gave him a pleading look. "I-I want...you. Your hands, your mouth, on me, inside me. Everywhere." His thumbs slid side by side down the length of her sex, parting the dewy lips with deliberate slowness, blowing softly on the already aroused bud of her clit. She whimpered softly, lifting her hips again, watching with anticipation as he drew closer...touching the tip of his tongue to her. He slipped his tongue around in a slow circle, then again, until she couldn't keep still. She writhed against him, thighs flexing, shaking, the opening of her sex fluttering as he drew nearer. And when he pushed his tongue inside of her, lapping up viscous fluids, she clenched her fingers in his hair and pushed herself even harder against him. "Oh G--An-ton...mmm...I love you..." He glanced up at her words. Her eyes were luminous, and he almost couldn't bear the intense emotions he saw there. A shudder passed through him as he realized how deeply she meant it. He closed his eyes to better concentrate on her salty taste while his hand slid up her belly to cup her breasts. She lifted her legs up higher, scooting down slightly to allow him better access, sighing contentedly. The closer he brought her to a peak, the more she tightened her legs around him...causing him to slow down and push back the inevitable climax. By the time he finally did make her come, she was so far into deep tremors and helpless cries that she had to bite the couch pillow just to keep from waking her family. Using his fingers to coax her through the vibrant aftershocks, he quickly shoved down his jeans and shorts with his other hand and positioned himself above her. She was panting heavily, her inner muscles still flexing when he drove his cock deep inside of her. He clenched his teeth for a moment, freezing in place. She felt incredible. When he'd finally relaxed enough to move, he braced himself above her and started thrusting in short, deep strokes. It wasn't long before she was digging her fingernails into his ass, meeting each lunge with a rotating thrust of her own. He leaned forward, resting his weight on his elbows. He palmed her nipples, relishing her soft moans. And when her muscles began clenching around his cock a second time, he gave up on holding back. It felt like he was pouring himself completely out in that sweet burst. Anton sagged against her, listening to her heart beat. "Ah, Bryn, I love you so much." When her breathing finally slowed down a bit, she relaxed beneath him, becoming as pliant as the couch around them, her only movement the hand that was stroking his hair. "Why do you?" "Hmm?" "Why do you love me so much?" She seemed to drain away his post-coital bliss with that question. "I'm nothing but cruel to you. I don't understand why you tolerate me." "Cruel to me? Tolerate you?" He nudged her over a little so he could lay on his side wedged between her and the back of the couch. "Bryn, why do you say that?" She closed her eyes, not willing to see his expression. "Because twice I've hurt you like Natasha did." "Is that what you think?" He tilted her face towards him. "Bryn, look at me." He gently ran a finger along her cheek until she did. "What Natasha did and what you did is something completely different. Worlds apart. All Natasha wanted from me was immortality. She used the fact that I loved her to her advantage. She never loved me. "You, on the other hand do love me. Otherwise you wouldn't be beating yourself up for the mistakes *we've*," he emphasized the word, "made. This is nothing I haven't gone through before, Bryn. Normally not this early in the relationship, but it wasn't completely unexpected either." He kissed her forehead, stroking her hair. "Don't try to push me away. You'll find I'm hard to get rid of." She wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling closer, pressing her lips to his chest. "I don't mean to. This just scares me. I'm constantly afraid I'll do something awful, something so horrible you won't want to look at me." "We've already talked about this. I'm not going to ever stop loving you, no matter what *awful* thing you do." He tilted her head up once more, making certain he had her full attention. "Would you like to tell me who it was that stopped loving you?" [So I can kill them...] he added, mentally. Her eyes grew very sad, but somehow she managed not to look away. "My parents." "For God's sake, why?" "Because I shamed them. I embarrassed them." She finally had to look away, pressing her face against his neck. "I told everyone that I was abducted by aliens when I was seven, and they were so angry with me that they never held me again. Never loved me again." He didn't want to ask, but he had to. "Was it true, what you told them?" She nodded, her forehead bumping against his chin. He closed his eyes and gave a deep breath. He and Lindy had discussed this a few times, Lindy hinting that not only did aliens exist, but they were working hand in glove with certain government factions. He didn't know exactly what to think of this alien business that had invaded pop culture in the last century. He hadn't seen any in his 1012 years on the planet. But then he wasn't particularly looking, and reminded himself that some people said the same thing about vampires... He just held her closer. "I believe you, Bryn." "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't," she said, with a slight unfeeling laugh. "No one else does. I'm not even sure John truly believes it, and he was there." "He saw it happen?" "Yes. And he won't talk about it, either." She rolled over to her back once more, staring at the ceiling. "I'm not really fond of talking about it, myself. Every time I think about my parents, I cringe." "Certainly can't blame you for that, my dear." He paused, thinking about something she'd told him before. "That's why you dropped out of school, and moved in with your brother at seventeen?" She nodded. "Ten years was as much crap as I could take. I left as soon as I had the opportunity, and John getting married was the perfect way out. I was just lucky he didn't mind me tagging along. Then again, he knew he had a built-in babysitter." He leaned over her, nuzzling her jaw before softly kissing her neck. "Your parents didn't know what they were missing, Bryn. So much more for me to love." She turned her head, meeting his gaze, and gave him another one of those hundred-watt smiles. He could feel his heart doing flip-flops in his chest as he gently covered her lips with his. It was mere seconds before the simple kiss started turning more serious. He stroked his hand up and down her side. It amazed him how quickly Bryn became so important to him. He nuzzled at her neck, nipping lightly at her shoulder. He could feel his cock stirring against her thigh as he lazily flexed his hips. "Mmm...maybe we should lock the door this time?" "You think so?" She leisurely slid out from beneath him, heading towards the door. "Probably a good idea...besides, I had another idea." He sat up a bit, watching her over the back of the couch. She seemed to throw an extra bit of sway into her hips as she walked, giving him a grin over her shoulder. "What's your idea?" She turned the lock on the door, before heading to the nearby closet. He let out a small groan as she stretched up to the top shelf, standing on her tip-toes, reaching towards the back. She felt around for a moment before finding what she wanted, and seized the box with a smile...before nearly dropping it on her head. He was starting to get up to help her when she quickly recovered the box full of cassettes. She glanced over the titles as she walked back towards the couch. "Care to watch a video? Looks like we have quite a collection to choose from." He raised an eyebrow. He was far from being a prude, but hadn't expected Sabryn to be so uninhibited. He ran a finger over the various videos, considering each title. "How about this one?" Sabryn giggled when she saw the title. "Romancing the Bone?" He gave her a wicked grin. "Would you rather see the one loosely based on the Broadway show Annie? 'It's a Hard Cock Life?'" "I'd hate to see what they named Daddy Warbucks." She licked her lips, considering the other titles. When Harry Wet Sally. Wet Dreams May Come. Forrest Hump. "I can't believe how many of these he has. I never knew my brother was such a perv." "Well, you *are* the one who knows his secret hiding place." She turned a brilliant red, lowering her gaze. "Hey, it's research. I didn't hear you complaining last night." "I'm not complaining now, either. Pick one." "The Boner Collector. I've never seen this one before." She set down the rest of the videos on the coffee table, before heading over to the VCR. She could already feel herself tingling with anticipation. Hell, more than that. She'd never watched a porn movie with a man before, let alone considered the possibility. With any luck, she hoped to last more than five minutes before she passed out from sensory overload. Grabbing the remote control, she sat down on the couch next to him and fast-forwarded through what little credits the movie had. From the naked sweaty bodies suddenly popping up on the screen, it didn't seem to have much of a plot either. Pushing Play, she set down the remote and placed her hand on Anton's thigh. The next scene on the tape made her gasp out loud. "Oh wow...I've never seen anyone do that before." Anton leaned over to nibble at her ear, one eye on the screen. "You wouldn't believe how much strain that puts on your knees, my dear." His tongue traced around the outer shell of her ear before he blew in it. A particularly heartfelt moan drew his attention back to the screen. "Although that position can be a lot of fun." One hand slid across her stomach before sliding up to cup a full breast. She swallowed heavily, trying to form a reply, but couldn't form any noise in her throat. The most she could manage at the moment was to slide her hand towards his groin and take hold of his cock, rubbing her thumb across the broad head with slow deliberate sweeps. His hips jerked slightly, his erection growing in her hand. On the screen, the small blond and her impressive lover bent over the end of the bed. He pummeled her from behind, shaking the entire bed, sending the girl into convulsive fits. Just as she seemed about ready to orgasm, he pulled out of her and pushed his cock into her anus instead, making the girl squeal. Sabryn's mouth dropped open slightly and she gave Anton's penis a small squeeze. "Oh my..." He slowly rocked into her hand. His hand slid down from her breast to tug lightly at her pubic hair before tracing over her folds. "See something you'd like to try?" he whispered in her ear, before sliding his tongue into the canal. He couldn't help but grin when she whimpered and squirmed. She held his hand between her legs, coaxing him to continue his fingering. Turning her head slightly, she breathlessly said, "Have you ever done that before?" "Yes," he said, before pulling her earlobe into his mouth. "Does it hurt?" "Sometimes. Helps if you're completely relaxed--" His sentence cut off abruptly as she began stroking the length of him, pausing every once in a while to lightly rub his balls. "Oh, keep doing that." She gave him a slight smirk, cupping him in her hand. "I think I would...like to try it some time." On the screen, the scene changed, and another man entered the picture. He yelled at the couple angrily, telling the first man to stay away from his girlfriend...before casually dropping his clothes and joining in. Bryn giggled, watching avidly as the second man slid his penis into the girl's mouth, thrusting slowly. The poor girl was being attacked at both ends. "She's busy," she murmured. Glancing at Anton, she said, "Have you ever done *that* before?" "No..." It was more a moan than a statement as she began stroking his cock again. "I am a jealous lover, and don't share well." He shifted his hand lower, sliding a finger inside of her. She cried out, rocking quickly to orgasm against his hand, puffing and panting, pulling even harder on his cock. He was nearly at the brink of climax himself. Barely having a chance to recover, she let go of his erection and straddled his lap, balancing her hands on the couch behind him and staying upright on her knees. He desperately wanted to thrust upwards and bury himself inside her, but she thwarted every movement he made. "What else haven't you done? I want to be your first at something." She licked her lips, before giving him a slow kiss. "Please?" He had to think for a few minutes. "I've, um, never, ah... been in a threesome." The pauses and stutters were accompanied by him squirming, trying to get inside of her. "Never?" she murmured, licking the bridge of his nose. "No...." he moaned, leaning his head back on the couch. She slid her legs apart slightly, teasing him with the slippery folds of her sex. She gasped as he grabbed her hips and lunged himself into her, unable to wait any longer. Biting her lip, she let him begin guiding her up and down the length of his cock as she imagined the scenario he'd mentioned. Every man fantasized about making love to two women at once. It would be a dream come true to most of them. But would he agree? And who-- "Would you like to make love to me and Lindy?" "What?" He stopped all movement, staring at her in shock...but she could feel him twitching inside of her. "She's very pretty." "Yes, she is...but she's also my business partner." "You've never even thought about--being with her?" "I--" He shook his head, trying to clear the erotic images bombarding his mind. "Yes, I've thought about it, but that's all. She's my friend." "I know," she said, shyly. "A very sexy friend." The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Are you serious?" "Maybe." She sat down more firmly on his cock, causing him to grunt and shift his hips. She had to admit to herself the idea was intriguing. Some of the scenes in the previous videos she'd watched had made her more than a little aroused. "If I ever did do something like that, she...I think she would be the one I might say yes to." "Oh God..." he whispered. He was able to hang on at the thought of having sex with Lindy. But the thought of both Sabryn and Lindy at the same time... He grabbed her hips and jerked her down firmly on his cock, arching up to meet her. His orgasm exploded over him, drowning him in sensation. He sagged back against the couch. "I think I strained something," he said with a half smile. Squeezing him gently as he started to soften inside her, she gave him a lingering kiss before laying her head on his shoulder...smiling to herself. [I think he likes the idea.] They'd made love twice more during the night, and watched another video before putting them away. She couldn't help but notice his steady concentration on the screen as the hero of the second film was swarmed by two horny cheerleaders. And although the idea of him touching Lindy sexually made her jealous, she also had to admit it turned her on. After getting dressed the next morning, she promised him he'd meet the rest of her family that night when they gathered together for their regular Saturday night pizza fest. Making sure the curtains were securely closed, she headed up to her own room to sleep for a while, leaving him undisturbed. Around noon, she made her way downstairs, her heart pounding in her chest, wondering just when she'd get the courage to ask. She found Lindy in the kitchen and smiled shyly at her...but as Caroline and the kids came in from their trip to the park, she knew it wasn't a good time. The more the day progressed, the more nervous she became. Until, finally, she blurted out, "Lindy, can I talk to you in your room?" The other woman nodded, getting up from her seat on the couch to follow Sabryn into the guest room. "Was there something on your mind?" Closing the door, Sabryn turned around and took a deep breath. She could already feel herself turning bright red. If she didn't say it fast, she probably wouldn't say it at all. "I wanted to know if you might want to...oh God, this is going to sound crazy..." Lindy's eyebrows furrowed and she smiled. "Might want to what?" She couldn't look at her. "If you might be willing to make love with Anton and me?" Lindy laughed a bit nervously. "Did you just ask what I think you did?" "Yes." Bryn still couldn't look at her, and flushed brighter red. [She's serious.] Lindy's blue eyes went wider. "I... um... I mean... I didn't see you as someone willing to... uh, share? Does Anton know you're... offering?" Sabryn shook her head, and Lindy swallowed. "I have to think about it, Bryn. But there's two things you need to know. "Anton knows this part. I was Changed into a werewolf when I was five years old by a pedophile who kept me as his personal toy. Although I've dated on and off, I haven't been intimate with anyone." "Secondly, I have had a crush on Anton ever since I met him. He doesn't know, and I've been content to admire from a distance. I'm bisexual, Bryn, and find you attractive as well, so I'd be lying if I didn't say the idea didn't intrigue me... "But I've got to think about this a bit. But I want you to know that no matter what happens if we... do this, it's you he loves." Bryn swallowed heavily, trying to digest the information she'd just gathered. She laughed slightly, still not quite able to meet Lindy's gaze. Her lips were about as far up as she could look. "I know he loves me...although sometimes I do question his sanity where that's concerned. "And, I have to admit that this isn't easy for me either. I mean, it certainly does appeal to me on some levels, but like you said, I would have to share him--and that scares me. We talked about the idea last night, merely theoretically, and I could tell he was excited by the possibility. I originally asked because I wanted to be his first at something," she said, finally meeting her gaze full on. "He's done so many things in his lifetime. I once thought that I would fall in love with a man, and be his *only* love. But I am Anton's ninth lover, and will be his seventh wife. I guess I just wanted a part of him that no one else had already had. And if that means sharing him, then I'm willing." "But it sounds like you don't really want to--" She shook her head quickly. "No, I do...I do and I don't, if that makes any sense. I guess I'd just be a little jealous. But it's not as if he's having an affair--and I think it would be much different if I were there with him. Besides," she added, a bit more hesitantly, "I may not have ever considered being with a woman before, but if I did, I think I would want it to be with you. You're...a friend, something I don't have very many of. And you're so pretty." She blushed again, especially when Lindy smiled at her. "And I can't say that I know what you feel like, with your childhood trauma--which was not intimacy at all, as far as I'm concerned--but I think I can relate on some level. I was a virgin when Anton and I first met. I've never been with anyone else." She licked her lips, pausing for a moment before saying, "At least you can be sure he would be gentle with you...and loving, which is a lot more than you could expect from most men. And I think it would please me to know that you were being treated right for a change." Lindy blushed. "Thanks, I appreciate that." She stopped to think a moment. "Um, when and where would we be doing this?" "You're saying yes?" Bryn asked. "Yeah," Lindy said with a small laugh. "I guess I am." Sabryn felt a sudden giddy nervousness...somewhere between delight and nausea, like a rollercoaster ride. "I was...thinking maybe you and I could spend some time together tomorrow, maybe trying on wedding dresses or something? Or just plain shopping if you'd rather. The point is, we haven't had much time to get to know each other. And then, I suppose, I could somehow coax Anton into spending the night at a hotel. It is a special occasion, after all. Only, he has no idea how special." "All right." They both sighed heavily, making each other laugh. "You're sure?" "Yes. As long as you promise me one thing?" "What's that?" She smirked slightly. "Enjoy yourself. I know that's a lot to say, considering how nerve-wracking it will be...but this is only going to happen once. So we might as well have fun, right?" Lindy giggled. "I thought having fun was the whole point. And shopping tomorrow sounds good, wedding or otherwise." An impish glint appeared in her eyes. "I'll set up the hotel room, you just worry about getting him there. Deal?" "Deal," Sabryn agreed. "Can I ask a question? Why didn't you tell Anton about your crush on him?" Lindy shrugged. "He's the first unattached man, well he was unattached then, that I felt safe around. I was scared to let it go any further." She laughed. "Guess I'm over that now." "Hopefully not completely," Sabryn said softly, heading for the door. "I still want him back at the end of the night." She gave Lindy a conspiratorial smile before leaving her with her thoughts. "You must be a giant," the little girl said, staring up at him. "Jolie, that's not nice!" Anton laughed, sitting down on the couch, leaning forward to whisper in her ear, "No, I'm a vampire." Jolie's eyes widened and she nodded. "Cool," she whispered back, drawing the word out. Smacking him on the arm, Sabryn shook her head. "You shouldn't be telling her stuff like that." "Why not?" he sat back, murmuring softly. "She doesn't know it's true." Sabryn rolled her eyes. "Pizza's here," Caroline called from the door, carrying two large boxes into the entertainment room. As she set them down on the coffee table, along with paper plates and napkins, John set up the VCR with the movie they'd rented. Jolie climbed on the couch next to Anton, staring at him curiously. On the other partition of the couch, Lindy gave Sabryn a nervous smile. Neither one of them seemed to be behaving normally. Blaming it on the stress of meeting the rest of her family for the first time, Anton didn't say anything. Helping Caroline with the plates, he handed Sabryn a piece of pizza. "I think you can relax now." "Hmm?" "You're about as high strung as a cat in a rocking chair factory." She gave him a weak smile. "Sorry." "You don't have to worry...I don't think your brother particularly likes me, but I'm not going to feed on him." "Very funny." He chuckled softly. "And it looks like your sister-in-law can't take her eyes off of me. You might just have some competition." Caroline gasped, overhearing their conversation. She slapped Anton playfully on the thigh. "Don't tell her that. I was working on a sneak approach." "Over my dead body, " John called, getting up from the floor. He hit play on the remote control and started "Meet Joe Black." Walking over to sit next to Lindy, he leaned back and crossed his arm on the couch behind her. "Two can always play at that game, you know." Caroline snickered. "Not after that underwear dance you made her witness." Blushing, Lindy cast John a sideways glance. "I hate to say it, but she's right." "Unbelievable," he muttered, feigning hurt feelings. "My sister brings home a man, and I'm cast out on the street." "Like so much garbage," Sabryn said, before biting into her pizza slice. Leaning back against the couch, Caroline sighed. "Mom and Dad called today. They wanted to know what we're doing for Easter." Sabryn grimaced. "You didn't tell them I'm getting married soon, did you?" "No, I thought that would be better off coming from you." "They didn't even mention me, did they?" "Not exactly," she said. "They asked how Mandy was doing." "Oh brother. When will they ever learn?" At Anton and Lindy's confused looks, she explained, "Amanda was the name I was born with. I changed it when I moved out of their house." "At least they asked," Caroline said. "It's more than usual." Lindy said, "I take it you don't have a very good relationship with them." "That's an understatement. I haven't talked to them in months. But I suppose they'll find out sooner or later." She put her hand on Anton's thigh. "It's not as if I can keep you a secret." "I'm sure you could if you tried," he murmured, not particularly pleased with the subject. He'd been kidding when he mentioned feeding on Sabryn's brother...her parents, however, were another matter entirely. "Who says they have to know at all?" Leaning her head back on his shoulder, she groaned. "Amen to that." She put her piece of pizza down, after having taken only two or three bites. Pushing it to the side, she wiped her mouth with her napkin. "You aren't hungry?" Anton asked, softly. She glanced at Lindy, who hadn't eaten much more than she had. "My stomach's feeling kind of funny." He frowned a bit at that, but returned his attention to the movie, wrapping his arm around her to rest his hand on her stomach, rubbing lightly with his fingers. Caroline looked up at Sabryn, holding her sleeping son. "If you're done eating, would you mind holding Chris while I eat?" "No, of course not." Reaching forward, Sabryn took her nephew and pulled him onto her lap. He opened his eyes sleepily, looking from Sabryn to Anton and then back again. "Hi sweetie." Rubbing his eyes, he leaned into Sabryn's chest, yawning. Meeting Anton's gaze, he smiled slightly, waving his little fingers. Something in Sabryn's heart squeezed painfully, and she couldn't look at him. It hurt too much to know Anton could never have children of his own. After so long, she couldn't even imagine how much it hurt him. Fortunately, he seemed to realize what she was thinking and pressed a comforting kiss to her temple. It was amazing how much a simple touch of his lips could make her feel better. She sighed contentedly, smiling as Brad Pitt came on the screen. He was so handsome, she thought...but he didn't compare in least to Anton. Snuggling closer to him, she tried to control her nerves. Tomorrow night was a long way away. "Bryn, no! I'm not coming out!" "Come on, Lindy. I wanna see it." "No way! I know that bridesmaid's dresses are supposed to be ugly, but this... this is *hideous*!" "It can't be that bad, Lindy. Come on out, please?" Sabryn coaxed. Lindy slowly opened the door to the dressing room, a look of utter mortification on her face. She was right. The chartreuse green dress, while cute on the hanger, just did not work on Lindy. The bodice was too long, the skirt too short, the color too neon for her skin, and the large bow at the back did nothing to help. "Eww..." Tilting her head to the side didn't help either. Pulling another dress from behind her back, Bryn held it up. "Maybe you'd like this one better?" Lindy's face lit up with such gratitude that it made her giggle. "Oh, that's much better!" Quickly grabbing the long crimson chiffon sheath, she disappeared into the dressing room again. While she was changing, Sabryn looked through a few dresses of her own. Although she wasn't all that sure about wearing white, one of the gowns, similar to the one she'd given Lindy, caught her eye. Clingy all around, except for the flowing chiffon train, it was a pure white satin sheath, with a white crushed-velvet bodice. Sleeveless, with thin spagetti straps, it looked perfect. Gorgeous. But it also cost a fortune. She didn't dare try it on, because she knew she'd fall in love with it. And there was no way she could afford it. Hearing Lindy clear her throat behind her, she turned around. She sucked in a sharp breath, covering her mouth. "Oh wow. You look stunning." "You like it?" She nodded, silently. "Wedding or not, you have to buy that dress. Anton would faint if he saw you." Blushing, Lindy looked away, and Sabryn felt a slight pang of regret. All day they'd avoided mentioning him. Now she remembered why. It was easy to pretend all of this wedding shopping was just for fun. Two friends trying on outrageous dresses. Mentioning the groom by name, however, sucked the bravado out of both of them. And thinking about the night ahead was enough to make them queasy with anticipation. Trying to hide her uneasiness, Lindy looked at the white gowns. "Oh Bryn, you have *got* to try this one on!" She pulled out the same dress Sabryn had been admiring earlier. "No way. Have you seen the price?" "That was your first mistake. You never look at the price tags. C'mon, please?" Lindy wheedled. "I tried on that green monstrosity..." She made a helpless sound, before easily relenting. Taking the dress into Lindy's dressing room, she quickly changed. Refusing to look at herself in the mirror. It slid over her hips like a glove...not an easy task for any dress. Kicking off her shoes, she took a deep breath and opened the door. The following silence made her look up in alarm. "Is it that bad?" "It is absolutely gorgeous. Turn around!" The dress fit her perfectly. It could have been custom made for her. "This is it, Bryn. Don't bother looking at anything else." "Lindy, I can't afford this!" "Seems a shame to pass it by, though. Uh, would it be okay if I offered to buy it for you?" "Lindy! I can't ask you to do that!" "Hey, I'm offering. You can pay me back a bit at a time." Lindy winked at her. "Besides, I won't charge you too much interest." Looking in the mirror, Bryn bit her lip, her eyes growing moist. It was a beautiful dress. Of course, she'd need to get something to suck in her stomach a bit, but it would be worth it. "Oh what the hell...I can always dip into my college fund a little bit. That way I won't feel too guilty about accepting." She grinned at Lindy in the mirror. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Unable to hide her giddiness, Lindy hurried to change back into her own clothes. "Let's get these paid for so we can go look at some lingerie." "Lingerie?" Sabryn made a face at herself in the mirror, murmuring, "Oh joy." 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