Time, Death & Scar Tissue...

18. Dominus*

Kathryn took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She was happy with what she had accomplished in the past few nights. She turned off the music and penciled a few notes into Paul's life, checking relevant dates against her historical notes. She leaned back in the chair and let her mind wander through the scenes she had written so far. They were still sketchy, but it was only a first draft. She drew herself into the scene in her imagination. What did she see? What did she smell? What were the sensations on her skin? How did the light play off the people and objects in the scene? How did she remember things from her own life? What details stood out and what nuances had faded into the background? These were Paul's memories and whatever else he might be he remembered things in the same way anyone else did. The myriad of ordinary nights made no impression, but the nights when something happened caught his attention.

Kathryn rubbed absently at the side of her neck. If she pressed it was still somewhat sore, but the aching pain was almost completely gone. Most of it had gone the night before when he was – when he was what? Kissing her? No, that wasn't quite it. Nibbling? Nuzzling? Nothing seemed to fit, not like it mattered all that much to her. Whatever it was it felt wonderful then. The memory itself warmed her now. Kathryn pressed her legs together, the sensation of mild discomfort that still made itself known sometimes was being eclipsed by the slowly growing sensation of excitement. She drew her knees up, sitting sideways in the chair, the feelings his mouth drew from her skin the current focus of her memories.

The touch on her cheek was light at first, and Kathryn thought that she was imagining it. Then the soft caress moved over her jaw and Kathryn opened her eyes, expecting to find herself alone. She jumped when she realized he was standing over her, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Pleasant dreams?” He asked.

Kathryn stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly, her tongue caressing his lips. His kiss was hungry, forceful almost. She pressed closer against him, her body trembled and responded. Her hands moving over his back as his hands moved up her sides, caressing her breasts with his thumbs. Kathryn felt herself moan and her nipples hardened, she pushed his jacket off of his shoulders. His hips pressed her back against the edge of the table firmly, effectively pinning her there. Kathryn could feel his hardness pressing against her and she let out a soft whimpering moan. He took his mouth away for a moment and looked down at her. Kathryn arched against his body, her fingers opening his shirt slowly, taking care not to touch his skin. She opened the fabric and let her tongue caress his sternum. He groaned and pressed her back again, his hands moving up under her shirt, cupping her breasts, massaging her already-hard nipples.

She leaned back and his lips feathered over hers at the same moment that he ripped the bra from her body as if it were made of tissue paper. Kathryn whimpered as one of the straps scratched painfully over her shoulder. He pinched her nipples firmly and she finished the last of the buttons, pushing the shirt off of his shoulders as well, her nails teasing his nipples, her tongue moved along his collarbone. His low growl made Kathryn both shiver and press up against him. One arm went around her body, lifting her. Her legs wrapped around his waist.

In the deep darkness of the bedroom Kathryn pulled her shirt over her head and leaned back, his hands tugging her leggings and panties off. He opened her legs wide, his tongue tickling her delicate inner lips and then pressing against her entrance. She whimpered and tensed as the discomfort returned for a moment, then pressed against him wanting him to explore her fully. He teased her just enough to make her whimper with need.

His mouth moved up her body, capturing one nipple roughly between his teeth. The sharp pain made her cry out and arch, her nails biting into his shoulders. His mouth softened and Kathryn felt herself getting completely lost in the sensation. His lips moved to her other nipple, his tongue barely teasing the sensitive little bud, his lips feathering over it. Kathryn arched her back pressing against his mouth. When her need was at its sharpest, he retreated from her completely.

Kathryn was confused and trying to catch her breath. She reached out into the darkness where he was last but her hands found nothing but empty air. She was about to call out to him when his familiar tight grip closed around her wrist. He guided her so that she was partially straddling him, partially sitting in front of him. She could feel the thick head of his hardness teasing her wet folds, he turned dim light on and Kathryn looked away, her face deep red. One of his hands twined in her hair, turning her eyes back to his. As much as she wanted him, she couldn't keep the apprehension out of her eyes.

His mouth found hers softly and Kathryn felt herself relax. Her legs tightened around him, his thickness pressing firmly against her entrance. She squirmed and pressed against him but couldn't press herself forward firmly enough.

“I can't. Help me.” Her voice quivered, so did her body.

His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her forward sharply. Kathryn gave a shocked, pained cry against his mouth as he pressed halfway inside her. His mouth possessed hers again and he pulled her forward again, sinking deeply into her. Kathryn's cry was muffled by his mouth. Tears slipped down her cheeks but she clung to him. Her legs tightened again and she whimpered as her depths were opened even more. His mouth softened and he let her rest her head on his shoulder as her body relaxed around him.

His lips moved softly over her neck and shoulder. His hand starting to guide her hips slowly, letting her pick up his rhythm, groaning as she did. His hips moved against hers and she met his movements, her nails dug into his back. Her release so close, the hand in her hair turned her head, holding her neck stretched and exposed. Kathryn moved firmly against him, crying out as the powerful release took her. His mouth closed over the side of her neck and the pain and pleasure became thoroughly mixed. She was moaning, trembling softly as she held his head there. She whimpered when he took his mouth away.

“No, please don't stop.” She moaned, trembling as secondary waves of pleasure coursed through her. His tongue moved as gently as it before and Kathryn felt the deep relaxation taking over her body. He withdrew from her slowly and she whimpered softly, the sharp ache returning. Her arms tightening around him, her eyes closed. Kathryn barely noticed as he leaned back, she still straddled his hips, her body resting on his chest. His tongue swept over her shoulder and she shivered, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

Her eyes closed and she felt herself go limp as his hands swept over her back and hips softly. It wasn't until one hand moved up the inside of her thigh that she realized how open and exposed she was. Kathryn shifted to move off of him but his arm tightened around her waist, holding her still. Kathryn couldn't help but shiver as one fingertip teased and tickled her close to the edge again, eventually drawing a second orgasm from her body. She felt herself drifting off into a satisfied half-doze.

“Dominus.” She murmured just before unconsciousness took her completely.

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LaCroix was stunned. From anyone else he would have thought it contrived, but she was too close to deep sleep. Her breathing was deep and regular and he wondered if she would even remember saying it when she woke. He moved her body carefully and let her rest against his shoulder as he studied her face. She reminded him of Fleur in so many ways, the tilt of her chin when she looked up at him, the utter lack of fear, the hungry curiosity as well as her innocence. There was something else there too, something much older. She squirmed against him and readjusted her position, her arm tightening around him for a moment. He stroked her back softly and she settled again.

Perhaps she had said it because he was more forceful with her this time. He had wanted her as soon as he got back from his little errand and smelled the sweet scent of her desire it was all he could do not to take her where she stood. Her apprehension had stopped him. Her desire was clear, but her body was adjusting. Leaving her completely alone in the dark had frightened her, but he had needed a moment to remind himself how fragile she was.

The bright red, raised scratch on her shoulder was clear evidence of that. He moved her hair to get a better look at it. The plastic fastener on the strap of her bra hadn't drawn blood but it had come very close. She definitely affected him, though he wondered if that was necessarily a good thing for her. She would adjust to him, he would simply have to adjust to one who didn't heal almost immediately. There would be time after her conversion to explore more fully.

The more he thought about that the more he felt his own apprehension. The thought that she wouldn't adjust to immortality bothered him. She was much stronger than he first credited her with, but even if it was desired the change could be traumatic. He had destroyed several of his own fledglings because they couldn't manage it. She reached up to brush at a trickle of blood on her shoulder. He stopped her hand and licked at the droplet. Kathryn moaned softly, the contentment evident. He felt certain that she would eventually figure it out, and she wondered if she would fear him. Much as he loved to make her heart race the thought of her pulling away from him was not what he had in mind. Something in the way that she touched him told him that she wouldn't, but the thought of losing her was never far from his mind.

“Why are you staring at me?” She asked, looking up at him uncertainly. He stroked her cheek softly.

“Just deep in thought.” He brushed a few strands of hair from her face and she kissed the inside of his wrist softly. LaCroix suppressed a pleasant little shiver as her tongue darted over the sensitive flesh. Despite Corrina's comment about mediocrity, Kathryn's instincts about where and how to touch him were remarkably accurate.

“You're worried about something though.” Her dark eyes were fixed on him. He knew his mind was shielded, even though their link was stronger she wasn't able to read him that way. Still, the look in her eyes said that this was no idle guess.

“What would make you say that?” One finger traced her spine lightly.

“Psychic, remember?” Kathryn laughed softly. “Seriously, you were staring at me, and even though you're subtle you still have these little cues. I'm not sure how to explain it, but something about you kind of shifted. I don't know how to say it.” She lowered her eyes, and he lifted her chin again.

“It's nothing that you need to concern yourself with.” He kissed her softly. He noticed she was shivering. “Cold?”

“Yes. Can you hand me my shirt please?” He felt her blush as much as saw it. He would miss that afterward.

“No. Get under the covers. I'll be right back.” She stayed where she was. “Not cold anymore?” One eyebrow rose slightly.

“It's not that, I just feel a little strange still, moving around naked in front of someone. In front of you.” She blushed deeply and he bent down to kiss her softly. He couldn't say he fully understood her feelings, but this prudish modesty about the body had never made any sense to him. He left her there to make herself comfortable in private. She would get used to the fact that he enjoyed looking at her.

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*Lord or Master