Time, Death & Scar Tissue...

35. The Fulfillment of Need

Part of LaCroix's errand was simple necessity, part of it was to fulfill an obligation. Even though the spread of his kind to the Americas had changed some of the most stringent protocols of territory, some did still exist. He disliked when they were violated in his little sector of the world, he wouldn't flout them in someone else's. He continued this litany of reasons to convince himself that the meeting he was heading to would be a simple exchange of courtesies. Deep down he knew that nothing was ever simple where Elsbeth was concerned.

Elsbeth was about a century older than Nicholas. He had known her for about six of those centuries, and while she dearly wanted to be one his closest allies LaCroix wouldn't go so far as to call her a peripheral associate. She was now what she had always been, a pretty whore who would attach herself to anyone who could benefit her in whatever way was important to her at the time. He freely admitted that she had turned his head for a few moments It was entirely possible that a pretty whore always would. His passion for her had cooled almost before the act was complete though.

Since she had never really given up her former profession he had allowed her to provide him with the use of a few select members of her stable in exchange for favors through the years. It had been a relatively satisfying arrangement at times, but with the small amount of physical gratification came levels of drama that surprised even him.

Judging by the historic brownstone he found himself in front of it seemed like one of world's oldest professions still paid well. Inside he was surprised to find it unusually tasteful, and he wondered if she had hired a decorator. Fundamental good taste could be refined, but he found that it was something that couldn't be taught. A very young vampire nervously led him to her private rooms and he found those as garish and obvious as he expected.

“Hello Elsbeth.” He said simply, when she appeared wearing some sort of semi-transparent robe. She was maybe two inches taller than Kathryn and heavier around the hips and thighs. Her breasts were larger too, though they lacked the firm shape he had become so fond of. Her waist length hair was a deep brown that looked black in the right light. It swayed as she walked, but just about every part of her did. He waved the young one away when she tried to take his coat.

“Is that the way you greet an old friend and lover?” She sauntered over to him and reached up to stroke his cheek. LaCroix caught her wrist before she could contact his skin.

“That's how I greet you.” He replied simply.

“Always so tense.” She smiled slightly before disappearing though a door. She returned pushing a boy and girl ahead of her. Both were mortal and he could tell that neither had seen their twentieth year. It wasn't unusual for Elsbeth to offer him mortals and since they tended to be her clients she usually employed a number of them at any given time. The girl was attractive enough, even though her looks were marred by her obvious terror. The boy was afraid too, but he had learned to cover it better. For some reason it seemed to add to his exceptional beauty.

“I never know what kind of mood you're in.” Elsbeth said, smiling her calculating little half-smile. “So you can choose, or you can have them both. A little holiday gift from me to you.”

“Your gifts come with strings, Elsbeth.” He walked closer to the trembling pair. They made an interesting package. The girl wore a short black dress that left very little to the imagination. She was a bit more voluptuous than he tended to choose, but her face made up for the shortcomings of her body, even if she did her best not to look at him as he circled. The boy was more to his taste. His wiry muscles were accentuated by the tight jeans and white t-shirt and when he lifted his hazel eyes there was a bit of challenge there. He stopped in front of them again, slightly surprised that he was feeling no particular stirring of need for either of them.

“What's wrong with that?” She said with a little shrug. “You get something you want, I get something I want. That's the way the world has worked since before even you walked in the sunlight.”

“I'm not here to make deals.” His voice was cold. Elsbeth walked over to him and laid a hand on his arm and he resisted pulling away.

“Both virgins.” Elsbeth said in an exaggerated stage whisper as she looked at the pair. The girl trembled slightly, the boy lowered his face to hide his deep blush. “Do you know how difficult they are to find in this age?”

“Elsbeth-” His dark tone would have stopped most who had sense. Elsbeth just pushed further.

“Oh I forgot, perhaps you do. Maybe Katie the Cold Fish has locked your manhood away in a cupboard somewhere, since she obviously won't let you use it.” Elsbeth smiled coldly and led her gift back out. When she returned the back of his closed fist caught her hard enough to send her sprawling. She touched the trickle of blood coming the corner of her mouth and looked at him with an anger that surprised him slightly. LaCroix would have thought she knew enough to cover her true feelings.

“I suggest you remember who you're talking to.” He watched her struggle to her feet. Once she had righted herself she stayed out of easy reach. The question of how she knew Kathryn was on his lips, but he knew that asking would do little good. He wasn't about to let her think there was anything she had that he wanted. Not yet anyway. Knowing Elsbeth was not nearly as cunning as she thought she was, he knew that she would tell him in her own way without any prompting. All he had to do was be patient and listen carefully. “Who I bring into my life is none of your concern.”

“As you like, but if you think I'm the only one who calls her that you're in for a rude surprise.” The wound had healed and she swept away at the last of the blood with her tongue. He noted that she had regained some of her composure as well. “Her father is an occasional client of mine. That little fact would probably send her into heart palpitations, or hyperventilation or whatever it is mortals do when they're shocked. He's of the opinion that she doesn't like men, perhaps she would find me more to her liking.”

“I will be hunting in your city until after the New Year.” He said simply, needing every shred of his will to keep his voice even. “You will stay as far away from me and those who have my protection as geography will allow, or I will make you wish one of your clients had strangled you before you met the one who made you.”

“Such threats, LaCroix.” She was moving around him slowly in the overly-sensual way of a woman who is desperate to be noticed. “I'm making a very generous offer if you would just hear me out. I'll take your little innocent under my most motherly wing, and after a few months with me she will happily and skillfully fulfill even your most perverse desires, and we both know just how perverse your desires can be on occasion.” She stopped, an exaggerated thoughtful look on her face. “Though I suppose to make sure she was truly useful to you I would have to bring her across.”

LaCroix's resolve snapped. The thought of Elsbeth being anywhere near Kathryn was bad enough, but her 'offer' sickened him. The beating he delivered would have easily killed a mortal woman. He continued until the pretense of saving herself any more pain was out of her pleading cries and desperate apologies and he heard nothing but agony. He adjusted his coat and looked down at her struggling to get to her feet, he twined one hand in her hair and lifted her to his eye level.

“This is nothing compared to what I will do to you if I find you or anyone associated with you was so much in the same room with her.” He dropped her again and exited the house quickly. It was entirely possible that he had made her angry, but he was was certain that she would think twice before acting on that anger. He also found that he thought even less of Kathryn's father. The fact that the man visited a prostitute from time to time meant nothing. Sexual release was simply a natural need that had to be accommodated. If a man's mate couldn't or wouldn't provide him with that release seeking it elsewhere simply made practical sense. The fact that he discussed his daughter or anything else of importance with a whore he visited occasionally meant he was a fool. Though he supposed he had to leave the possibility open that Kathryn wasn't important to him.

The necessity of the evening was easy enough to fulfill. He found a half-frozen runaway who should have been grateful to him for putting her out of her misery. He returned to Minerva's quiet street with his hunger slaked and his desire as sharp as ever. The more he thought about it, the less surprised he was that Elsbeth's gifts hadn't excited him. He had the physical act whenever he wanted it with whomever he chose. The act alone wasn't all he wanted, it was the connection and he knew was only present with Kathryn.

LaCroix moved silently through the house, turning off the light Kathryn had left on for him. It was a sweet gesture that made him smile, but it was hardly necessary. One of the things he had been concerned about before their arrival was the thought that Minerva would give Kathryn separate quarters. He hadn't slept without her since her Thanksgiving trip, and he didn't want to start. On their tour he had been pleased to see that would not be an issue.

He listened at the door a moment and realized Kathryn was still awake. That surprised him a bit, but he was glad he wouldn't have to wake her. He opened the door quietly and found her sitting in bed with a white afghan covering her legs. She was listening to Tchaikovsky and reading a book. Her hair was down and the simple white cotton chemise she wore added to her air of perpetual innocence. As he looked at her he wondered if that would ever fade.

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Kathryn gasped sharply when she looked up and realized she wasn't alone. One day she would have to ask him how he managed to be so silent. She tossed the book aside before moving onto her knees, relaxing against him and shivering a little as he pulled her close.

“You're cold.” She felt goosebumps raise on her back when his hands touched her bare skin.

“That surprises you?” His eyebrow quivered a bit. His cool skin had become somewhat of a joke between them. Most of the time she felt it was just a part of him, but there were times when it still tugged at the edges of her consciousness. This was not one of those times though.

“I mean REALLY cold.” She laughed softly and sat back between heels, her hands holding the front of the chemise down to maintain her modesty, even though the garment was easily long enough to make that unnecessary. He started to undress, draping his clothes casually over the high footboard of the bed. As many times as she had seen him naked she still couldn't bring herself to watch him undress and she turned away, letting her hair fall over her face.

“Then you'll have to warm me.” He lifted her chin and kissed her firmly, moving onto the bed. He untied the ribbon at the neckline of the chemise. His fingers opened the buttons and then pushed the narrow straps off of her shoulders, leaving her naked in the middle of a pool of white cotton. One finger teased her nipple, making it harden. Kathryn moaned against his mouth. Her fingertips trailed down over his stomach to his already hard shaft.

“You're cold everywhere.” She breathed against his mouth. One finger moved down between her legs and pressed inside her. Kathryn's muscles clenched around it and she moaned softly and shivered.

“You're deliciously warm.” His mouth moved lightly over the side of her neck and Kathryn closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation. She let him draw her down next to him.

“Am I?” She asked, her tongue trailing lightly down the middle of his chest. “Is this helping?” She found one nipple and sucked gently before moving to the other one and scraping it with her teeth. His hand tightened in her hair for a moment and he pushed her head lower.

Kathryn hesitated and looked up at him uncertainly. The pressure on her head was gentle but insistent and she let him guide her. Her tongue circled and teased his navel and then trailed downward, licking his thick length before taking the wide head in her mouth. She was tentative at first, sucking softly. His fingers tightened in her hair and her mouth moved more firmly. He arched and groaned and Kathryn took more of him into her mouth, stroking his shaft with one hand as her mouth moved over him. She let his reactions guide her movements, stroking the underside more firmly with her tongue when he groaned deeply, swallowing around the tip when it sent pleasure chills through him.

“Stop.” He rasped finally, his fingers tightened in her hair and Kathryn moved slowly up his body again, surprised how ready for him she was. His mouth captured hers and he turned her onto her back, she whimpered sharply when he pushed his full length inside her with no warning. He held still for moment, letting her adjust before taking her roughly. One hand covered her mouth when she struggled to muffle the sounds of her pleasure. Her legs tightened around his waist and her back arched as her release took over. She knew that if it wasn't for his hand she would have wakened the whole house. His mouth found her shoulder and she held it there, trembling under him.

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Kathryn let him move her limp body to rest against his chest. She sighed softly and her eyes closed for a few moments. She often wondered if he thought she fell asleep immediately after. Sometimes she did. Most of the time though she was simply so physically and emotionally content that speaking seemed like unnecessary noise. Eventually she reached out for the afghan she had been wrapped in, he put it around her shoulders and Kathryn pressed closer for a moment. Something was intruding on the serenity of the moment though. There were sounds tickling the edges of her consciousness, disturbing her relaxation. When she realized that it was Bridey moving around below them she sat up, blushing deeply and holding the afghan over her breasts.

“What's the matter?” He pulled her close again, but her muscles were still tense.

“I'm not used to this room.” She started. “I didn't realize that Bridey's room is directly underneath it.”

“What does that matter?” She looked up at him and saw that he was being serious. She hid her face against him again.

“She might have heard us.” She whispered softly.

“Again, I don't see what that matters.” He lifted her chin. “Minerva couldn't have thought that I would share the same bed with you and not touch you.”

“No, I'm sure Grandmother didn't think that. I shouldn't have said anything, I need a shower.” She moved to get up but he held her where she was. Kathryn struggled for a moment and then gave up. She had always known that she was no match for his physical strength. He was silent until she was still against him again.

“But you did.” He held her chin and studied her face. “If you don't fear Minerva's reproach you certainly can't fear a servant's. Did you feel forced when-”

“No.” Kathryn said firmly, and lowered her eyes for a moment. “I know I still don't know how to please you all the time. If you didn't tell me, or show me, some things I don't think I would be able to guess.” She lifted her eyes again. “Bridey isn't just a servant though. She's more like another member of the family. Sort of like the very religious aunt who likes to tell everyone how sinful they are.”

She settled against him again and he was silent for a moment.

“The coupling of lovers is one of the few completely natural acts left in this world, Kathryn. No matter what the church has tried to make out of it.” She relaxed against him.

“I know that, intellectually anyway.” His hand rubbed her lower back and she moaned softly, her body relaxing. “It's just that right now I can picture her telling me how she was saying her rosary or something and was interrupted and couldn't concentrate.”

Kathryn felt the familiar rumble of his chuckle.

“It's not funny.” She started to laugh a little herself. “She really says the rosary or novenas or something every morning. I'm sure the Virgin Mary or Saint Whoever would not be amused and she'll be only too willing to tell me how un-amused.”

He guided her to straddle his lap and Kathryn relaxed against him.

“I think I will miss your shyness if it ever disappears entirely.” He kissed her and Kathryn sighed against his mouth.

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LaCroix watched Kathryn sleeping and realized that he looked forward to drifting off that way each day. Before bathing they had teased each other for awhile and he had been surprised again by how her soft touches and warm mouth made him ready again so quickly. She backed away uncertainly when an especially loud and deliberate-sounding thump came from below. He had turned her eyes back to his, his hand holding her head still as her urged her hips forward. After, she collapsed trembling against his chest and he held her carefully, as if she were a creature of ether that would disappear if he tried to hold on too tightly. It amazed even him that he could feel no remorse for the pain he had caused Elsbeth, no sadness for the two who were to be his gift and would now be sold to the highest bidder. Then, as easily as drawing a breath, Kathryn stirred the dormant tenderness and warmth within him.

There was more to it than that though, he trusted her. The need to be pleasured by her mouth proved that. In those brief, blissful moments he was completely vulnerable to her, even if she didn't realize it. Actual trust in anyone but himself was something unfamiliar to him. There were those he trusted in a limited way, if he hadn't life in any community, mortal or vampire, would have been impossible. There were always conditions though and once his suspicions were roused there was no going back, even if those suspicions were proved to be unfounded.

Her hand gripped his and her brow knitted in her sleep and he wondered how she had inspired it so naturally. It might have been because she had never tried to prove herself to him. He had found that those who made grand gestures usually did so because they were trying to hide something. It might have been that she trusted him, without ever questioning his motives. He doubted he would ever be able to define the mechanism. At that moment he didn't want to. He kissed her shoulder softly and she relaxed and sighed contentedly in her sleep.

He closed his eyes and let his mind drift. The thought that her name was an omen flashed across his awareness for the second time that evening. Vespasian had elevated him to the rank of General after his decisive victory in Gaul. Still, he was probably one of the lesser known emperors today. History had lost the majority of his salacious scandals but people had not lost the love of a good story. Those who had no dirty laundry to peek at were rarely talked about. He had to admit though, this was a most unusual family.

His surprise had almost been disastrous though. Usually he was able to keep his desire to speak from memory under control. It had never been easy, and as time went on there were so many things he wanted to tell her. His slip wasn't lost on her either. He was lucky to have remembered the book. Kathryn moaned softly and arched against him. LaCroix tightened his arm around her possessively.