[R] New Years Eve, -Cont.

[Jayme Tisdale]

At first Claude had seemed delicate, fragile and so naïve it almost hurt to break such purity. But, he had done it, and with a fleeting glance to where his body met hers, Jayme smelled the blood rather than saw it on the black sheets. The vampire felt her writhe beneath him, but not in pain this time, no, this was lust kicking in, his ardeur had swept away her fears and inhibition only to replace them with a fierceness he had never seen before. Her eyes glowed like a blue diamond, dazzling. She too was swept away by the aura hanging around them like a smoldering flame, igniting and fueling the pleasure.

Jayme soon found a rhythm, and kept to it as he glided his body in and out of hers carefully, as if he were to shatter her very being like fine china. It took all his will power not to submit to his dark desire to thrust his member deep within her passage in rapid motions, but he did keep his cool. This would be Claude’s night, not his. Sadly he thought to himself, at this rate he would get her to orgasm, but his wouldn’t have had enough stimulation to bring forth true climax for himself.

But just as he felt the slightest regret, Claude shoved her hips into his, tearing a throaty cry from his lips as his eyes unfocused and bled to a wild emerald. At that exact moment he realized that no girl had ever, ever given him a thrust that powerful since his turning… if she could do that… what could he do to her? Then he remembered, Shit… she’s not human! Well, she is in a way.. but she has powers beyond the average human… it would make sense that she be stronger. A wicked smile painted his lips as he picked her up by her legs and thrust her against the head board, pillows cushioning the blow as he drove into her as if he were trying to pierce through her, to make a new hole.

Fingers clung tight to her ass as he worked in and out with such a fervor that a sharp slap was made as their bodies connected. With each thrust the pressure built in his core, the pace increased in tempo, sweat glistened his body and sparkled as the light was cast from the bedside flames. In one last thrust he felt Claude’s muscles clamp tight around his rigid phallus as her climax washed over her. At the intense grasp, Jayme’s control fled as he thrust into one last time sharply changing angle so that he came with her. At Claude’s high-pitched scream, Jayme’s deep baritone groan melded together in harmony. His pleasure was only intensified as Claude clawed at his chest, back and arms tearing deep lacerations in his flesh, but unlike most, Jayme was like Nathaniel, he loved pain during sex. Not as much as Nathaniel, but pretty damn close. If Jayme hadn’t fed from Claude earlier, he would have sank fangs deep into her tender neck and kept the orgasms rolling in fits of ecstasy, but he didn’t trust himself with her already large blood donation so he allowed himself to be spent.

As the orgasm waned, Jayme collapsed on top of Claude’s body, pressing his weight against her he kissed her collarbone tenderly as he waited for his heartbeat to slow from its frantic pace. Once he had caught his breath figuratively, the vampire disengaged himself from Claude’s body. Flopping to the right of her, he laid on his back, enjoying the afterglow. Looking over towards the gorgeous, red-haired angel to his left, Jayme whispered in the still husky tones.

“Did I hurt you?”

[Claude Lorette]

He let out a strangled, throaty cry and his eyes bled into a wild emerald, the likes of which no one could ever have imagined. It was such a perfect green that Claude nearly lost herself in his gaze. His hands gripped her ass as he lifted her legs and drove into her so hard that it felt as though he was trying to create another hole inside of her. Stars scattered her vision only temporarily as he pushed into her hard. She moaned louder as he fucked her. In his last thrust, she felt the hot feeling that had been building in her for so long rush out of her. She moaned, her nails digging into his chest and clawing at the flesh there, tearing into the skin and letting blood drip down his chest and onto hers too. She screamed as he thrust into her one last time, spilling himself inside of the petite witch. She moaned, collapsing beneath him, her hands stalling their frenzied attack on his chest and arms. She was unable to apologize, all breath taken from her as he finished and their orgasms slipped away.

His weight slipped onto her as he waited for his breathing to regain normality. She was still breathing hard as he slipped to her right and looked at her, his voice still husky and deep. Her legs were aching, the first signs that she had finally done something completely new and different. She could now smell the blood from him, from her and the sweat that mingled with the scent of sex which was heavy in the room, despite the candles. Had she known what Jayme had thought of her as he looked, she would've denied it. Her cheeks were flushed with the exhilaration of what had just happened.

"No. Incredible. It was...incredible."

She whispered, her voice hoarse from the screams that had tore themselves out of her throat while they had made love on his bed. She made no move to shift her position, the ache in her legs was incredible and it had only just ended. She felt her heart in her throat and tried to calm her breathing, but adrenaline was rushing through her body. Albeit it slowed, Claude was still bright red and sweaty when the rush passed through. Her form was that of a woman who had just been fucked to the best of their lover's ability. Her eyes were half-glazed with lust, her red, silky locks were a mess around her face. Sweat glazed her throat and her lips were bruised. Her thighs held similar marks. There was blood on them, mixed with the juices of both sexes. The sheets beneath her held similar liquids. Her blood, his juices, hers too and sweat from both preternatural beings.

"It was incredible. Gods, Jayme. It was incredible."

She looked at him with azure orbs full of the lingering essence of sex and the solid look of set adoration. No, it was not adoration. It was admiration, it was respect. It was something you gained before you started any type of future relationship. It was trust that he would never hurt her on purpose. Trust that he would not harm her. The four words he spoke first told her all of that before she could see it in his crystalline green spheres. Her own orbs glittered like the stars that were showing outside. All this and it wasn't even midnight yet. What kind of 'party' were they in for? Somehow, Claude knew that no amount of magic would help her understand what was in store for her and Jayme, not now and not in the new year.

Only time would tell.

"You...are amazing."

[Jayme Tisdale]

A delicious look of relief and satisfaction flew over Jayme’s handsome features. So he hadn’t hurt her, and by the look in her eyes, it meant the world to her what he had just done the past hour or so, god, he didn’t even know how long they had been at it. When consumed with the throws of passion, one knows no bounds to time. Peering over at the clock lazily, he saw that it was only 8pm. Closing his eyes languidly, the vampire smiled contentedly as he let a breath fall out of his chest before reopening his lids to expose his normal gaze.

Peering over at Claude lazily he saw the admiration in her eyes and tasted the truth in her words. She meant everything she had said, and if he had wanted to, he could have delved more to get the general gist of her feelings, nothing like a master, but good enough. But, he kept his metaphysical hands to himself and let out a deep, laugh that was all masculine. A sharp stinging was felt as his muscles spasmed with the laughter and he took the first glimpse of the wreckage on his chest, abs, and arms. There were more on his back though he couldn’t see them, he knew they were there by the dried blood clinging to the black silk sheets.

With a sharp jerk he peeled himself off the sheets, and scooted off the bed to stand, covered in a thin film of his own blood, well, if you wanted to be technical, Claude’s blood. He was spent thoroughly, and needed a good shower to wash away the blood and other fluids.

“Well, I’m glad I could pleasure you, Claude. I know for sure I had a good time.” Winking at her mischieviously, Jayme started to walk towards the bathroom, flipped the lightswitch and called out behind him as he disappeared within its limits. His voice was clouded some by the roar of the showerhead. “I think we both need to get cleaned up, don’t you?”

As Jayme fumbled around in the bathroom, he slipped off the used condom and threw it in the trash, all the while thinking about what he had just done. Sex had never felt so wonderful in so many years… to have that full release.. to plunge so deeply with such abandon. And to know what name he was to scream out at his climax, to know the girl he was with personally was a treasure kept close to his heart. The affection he had felt for Claude before this evening had only intensified. He had been her first kiss, her first caress, her first lover. Who knew what lay ahead with so many firsts? But in the back of his head he thought of the one woman he had given his whole heart to only to have it snatched away…. A whisper in the back of his head soothed… Vanessa. Shoving it away harshly he spat foul words at it mentally. Standing nude in front of the mirror he looked at himself. Truly looked at himself and saw a body foreign. His eyes had sharpened, his hair darkened, skin paled, muscles chiseled, yet, he felt the same on the inside. How could one look so different but feel so different? Who knew, before he could contemplate any further he caught a sea of red hair in the corner of his eyes, and a slender nude body dotted with freckles stand at his side as he stared at himself blankly.

[Claude Lorette]

She felt his metaphysical aura staying to himself, but the truth lay heavy enough on her words that even without power, he could've tasted it. She had half shut her eyes, exhaustion beginning to take her over after such a thorough [and enjoyable] first time rolling around the sheets. Her sharp nose picked up the scent of fresher blood and she looked at his chest, seeing the carnage that were his arms and his chest. She looked at her fingers and saw blood beneath her fingernails, on her fingers, embedded in her fingerprint. When he peeled himself off the sheets, she smelt more fresh blood. On his back. She laughed lightly as he spoke and winked mischievously. She heard his voice, slightly drowned by the crashing of water onto a floor as the shower was turned on.

"I do agree!"

She called back, lying on the bed for a few more moments as he stood in the bathroom and did various things. Her mind was racing. Who would've thought that Claude Lorette's first time would be with a vampire? Who would've thought that Claude would even have a first time? Claude wasn't really a prude, simply inexperienced and never told about it. Her mother had died before they had ever gotten to have the 'talk' and her father had soon followed. Slowly, she swung her tanned legs around and slid off the soft bed, testing aforementioned legs gently against the floor before slowly standing. Her thighs ached and the marshmallows that were called legs shook slightly as she walked towards the bathroom. In that flash of red hair Jayme had seen, Claude moved faster than the average human would and was at his side in a moment, looking at the mirror as he examined himself. She had a hand resting on his arm gently, mainly for support for herself as her legs shook.

She may have been preternatural, but any former virgin after sex would be shaky. After such a thorough fucking [and first time], of course her legs felt like jello. She clasped her hand over his arm still gently, but more more support than before. She breathed slowly, looking at their reflections. She was tiny compared to him. Standing at 5'4", weighing perhaps 120 lbs, Claude was small and light. She had that [in her mind] annoyingly large bust and equally curvy hips. She had a so-called 'perfect hourglass' figure. People told her it was a blessing. To Claude, it was simply this; a curse. She looked into the reflections of his emerald eyes. But the mirror image could not hold the depth that Jayme Tisdale's eyes held in 'life'.

[Jayme Tisdale]

Jayme smiled somewhat sheepishly at the petite woman who stood beside him. As he gazed into the mirror at them both, a silence followed with only the steady beat of water falling in a hazy background. At first, Jayme had thought in death, he would never see his reflection ever again, but Jean-Claude had only laughed at his mentionings of garlic necklaces, bat shapeshifting and the dreaded loss of reflection. So, all the stuff he had learned to believe in life was completely inaccurate. Well, not all of it, he still could not bear the sight of a cross, it was a weird gut wrenching revulsion to be near one. He didn’t question it.

The ebon tressed vampire cast his gaze to Claude in the mirror, noting the femme fatale’s drastic differences from his. She was petite, almost as short as Anita Blake, Jean-Claude’s lost love; and definitely as fiery persona wise. Gentle curves graced her body, as the blue eyes stole from beneath waves of crimson. Then there he was, a good eight inches taller than she was, and at least forty pounds heavier just from bone and muscle mass alone.


Turning his attentions to the shower, Jayme tested it with his fingertips and pronounced it suitable. Casting his gaze upon Claude, he opened the glass door and let her walk in first, he followed. Picking up the shampoo bottle filled with a sweet non distinct floral scent, the vampire squeezed some in his hand, worked them together and ran in through his locks thoroughly soaping before pouring more into his palms and stepping towards the witch.

Tentatively, Jayme worked it into her soft, scarlet locks, careful not to pull her hair, but rubbed it into her scalp with deft fingers. Taking the liquid shower gel, he poured some in his hands, ignoring the crimson rivlets of blood being washed by clean water from his body, he walked around to Claude’s back. Gently, he lathered the suds onto her neck, shoulders, arms, waist and down around her rear. Stopping abruptly he made a pained face as a particularly deep laceration in his back tore open from being softened by the hot water. Fresh blood trailed down his back where he couldn’t reach it to even look. Feeling around with his hand he touched it gingerly then made a hissing sound as he sucked in air from the stinging sensation. Fuck.. its amazing how good it could feel during sex, but afterwards, it can really hurt like a bitch.

[Claude Lorette]

His appearance in the mirror soothed her as she realized that he actually did have a reflection. He stood at least eight inches above her as they continued to stare into the mirror. She saw the rosy cheeks that were her own and resisted the temptation to pull some glamour over her appearance to hide the flush. Her power would not function well when she was this tired. Not tired, exhausted. Not sleepy, simply out of energy. As vanished from her side, leaving her fingers grasping air. She stumbled slightly as she lost her support, but conceded to entering the shower first when he opened the glass door. She slipped into the shower of warm water and was quickly joined by the vampire who was holding shampoo. His own locks were quickly filled with the soapy mixture before he stepped towards her. His fingers worked through her curls gently, rubbing in the shampoo into the thick, damp locks.

She felt him then lathering the shower gel onto her neck, shoulders, waist, arms and the lower extremities. She felt his hands stop abruptly and smelt the fresh blood. She moved quickly, slipping behind him and pulling out whatever power she could muster, pressing her fingers gently over the wound in his aura which mimicked his physical pain. She sealed it to the best of her ability, a new layer of skin covering the deep cut she had put in his back. She looked at him with slight pain in her eyes. She hadn't meant to hurt him so. Gently, she took the shower gel from him and pouring some onto her hands, rubbing it across his chest and leaving bubbles in her wake. She lathered up his shoulders, being able to reach no further than that. She moved down his arms, down his sides to his arse and then down his legs. She returned to his back, moving her thin fingers gently over the cut up areas on his body, rubbing away the blood gently. She left a gently kiss on his back before lathering it up and peaking around to look up at him.

"Soapy...boy."

She laughed.

"I don't think either of us expected to celebrate December 31st like this."

She wasn't complaining though. There was glee, pure enjoyment and excitement in her eyes.

[Jayme Tisdale]

A look of pure shock and awe crossed the young vampire’s façade, who knew she had such powers? Surely not Jayme. It was amazing how her mere touch had sent such shivers to crawl over his back and through the very core of his being, drawing at his own powers, as well as hers to heal the love wounds that had been inflicted during the heat of passion. Jayme had known that Claude was a dark witch, but with her petite frame and almost shy behavior belied what power lied within her just below the freckles.

The smarting pain had just up and vanished, tentative fingers trailed along his own back, testing, searching for the infliction that had been there only moments ago. Turning to face her with a deep, look of pure admiration sparkling in his luminescent viridian orbs; Jayme placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. But before he could speak any further he felt her gentle hands glide over his body in sure strokes, lubed with the slickness of soap scented of roses just as he had done for her. Even with such a feather light touch, her hands worked like a masseuse over his aching body. Whether the scratches were there or not, he still felt the underlying recuperative pains deep in his tissues.

A soft sigh released from his parted lips as he moved into the showerhead, at her comment he couldn’t help but grin at her and laugh. It was true, who would have thought that this evening would turn to such passion and not so G-rated? Well, for one, Jayme was enthralled that he had A, fed his blood lust, and B, fed the ardeur all in one swoop. Hell, he had even fed off of a witch! Dark at that, definitely potent stuff. Really, he felt quite giddy with the power rush, sort of like being drunk, but better. At least he wouldn’t be hurling in a few hours or waking with a nasty hangover that induced spending the day curled in a ball under the covers cringing at the slightest pin drop.

“To be honest, I was thinking more along the lines of spending the night alone, but, here you are, and here I am. In a shower. Naked. What are the odds of that?”

Flashing fang, Jayme grinned broadly as he turned off the shower, and stepped out of the spa-like glass box to tip-toe onto the cool tile. Grabbing a towel, he handed it to Claude before snatching one for himself and proceeded to dry himself off thoroughly. Casting it off to the side, he walked nude into the bedroom to grab the jeans piled on he floor alongside most of Claude’s clothing except her sweater that remained in the kitchen. Slipping them on, he ran his fingers through the already waving hair, and plopped on the bed, allowing the scent of their love-making to drift into his nostrils like an exotic perfume. He couldn’t think of a better way to spend New Year’s Eve, here, with Claude.

[Claude Lorette]

His lips has pressed against her forehead before her small hands ran across his body. As he let the air leave his mouth and form a soft sigh, her thoughts mimicked his. She had never thought that her first time would be with a vampire, let alone Jayme Tisdale. She bit her lip, running her fingers over her throat when he had turned off the shower. The marks from his feeding were not healing as fast as most of her injuries did. She took the towel he handed her and remained in the shower, drying herself slowly and finally stepping out of the shower. She slid into the bedroom, feeling her skin flush slightly as she saw him lying there on the bed. Her nude form moved quickly towards her clothing, and her fingers fumbled the fabric as she grasped it.

She kept her back to him the entire time, overcome by a sudden shyness. It was odd. He had seen her more fully than anyone in her life. He had electrified her with his touch, made her feel waves of indescribable pleasure and now she could barely face him for blushing. Her fingers trembled as she attempted to clip on her bra, but the loose fabric and the blasted clip would not cooperate with the redhead. She worked furiously, her cheeks still flushed as she attempted to hook the clasps.

"Blasted thing..."

She whispered. She gave up and slipped off the offending fabric, tossing it gently aside and reached for her Hells Kitchen shirt instead. She slipped it over her body and smoothed it out, reaching for her slacks and pulling them on slowly. Her cheeks were still flushed red and she couldn't bring herself to turn around. The cotton undies lay beside her bra. She had been unable to put them on without hitting her bruised thighs. Her fingers ran through the damp crimson locks and still she could not turn around.

[Jayme Tisdale]

Jayme lounged languidly upon the comfortable bed, still warm and cozy from their previous endeavors. The smell clung to the sheets, the air, and tantalized his nares deliciously. As he watched Claude appear from the bedroom, he couldn’t help but feel the urge to reach out to her, hold her in his arms, caress every inch of her freckled flesh with finger, tongue and fang. Smiling to himself indulgently, he watched her ever so carefully as she bent over to reach her clothes, admiring her body’s smooth curves.

It was sort of cute watching her so bashful and shy, Jayme had never been like that before, then again, Jayme had lost his virginity when he was fourteen, all he had felt was inexperienced, the lady-friend he had been with had just smiled to herself and given him Sex 101. But here, he had been the one doing all the ‘work’. If Claude had liked the taste she’d gotten, the vampire could show her oh so much more. Though, her body had kicked into instinctual gear, definitely got the job done for him. But, it could be so much better beyond this breaking ground. But who said that she wanted him again? Would she just remember him as her first and move on? Who knew, but Jayme wasn’t one to dwell in the ‘what ifs’ in life. If he did that, well, lets just say Jayme would be one worried little vampire.

As the scarlet-haired femme fumbled with her bra’s clasp the ebon tressed vamp almost got up to help her, but she had tossed it aside before he had made the move. Viridian eyes followed the garment curiously, but as soon as he looked up again, there she was dressed, her delicate fingers running through her damp hair gingerly. Even after dressing, she had yet to turn around, and Jayme could taste her fear and embarrassment on the back of his tongue. Was it him? Did she feel awkward around him shirtless? Jayme thought it best to perhaps clothe himself more modestly, he just wasn’t used to girls being shy around him. Learn something new every day, eh?

Pulling himself off the four-poster, the slender bodice moved to the dressers and snatched a faded band-tee he had, it was one of the few remaining ‘human’ clothes in his possession, other than the faded denim jeans he had on. Slipping it over his head in a smooth movement, he walked cautiously over to Claude from behind. Tentatively he placed his hands on her shoulders and ran them down her arms in a comforting motion, pulling her to his body at the same time to have her rest against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her middle he rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered into her ear with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

[Claude Lorette]

She felt the air shift before she heard him move. His fingers came to rest on her shoulders tentatively and his hands ran down her unclad arms comfortingly. Her body was pulled against his and she rested her head on his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist and she felt his chin on her shoulder, his hot breath on her ear, the concern in his voice. She had heard rumors from the girls at the clubs that Jayme liked to sleep around. That he had been quite the 'manwhore' back where ever he used to live. She was just now realizing she might just be another quick fuck. Nothing special. She didn't want to be just another notch in his bedpost. She tried to speak, but words failed her at first.

"Jayme..."

Her voice was soft, scared. She was afraid that if she asked what she was to him, if she was just another notch in his bedpost or if they were maybe going to be something more, he might just laugh and tell her she was a good fuck, that was it. Her fragile heart might shatter if she heard that. She had already lost the people she loved most in the world, her parents, at such a young age that her heart had been unable to recover from the pain it took. She avoided love, friends, everything for fear of the pain. But of course, then today happened and this happened.

"Jayme...am I just an-a-another notch in your bedpost? I...I heard r-r-rumors from girls at clubs w-w-where I sing..."

She whispered. Her voice cracked and it sounded deeply pained. She was terrified of being just another notch. She didn't want to be cast aside like an old shirt. She shuddered slightly at the thought, her aura quivering in slight fear. It knew better than Claude did that the petite witch could not stand another heartbreak. She stood there, quivering as she put out her final statement.

"R-r-rumors about you...sleeping...around...I...I just don't w-w-want to be a quick shag..."

She whispered.

"At least t-t-tell me if I am..."

[Jayme Tisdale]

Cold. Completely and utterly cold. That was the reaction Jayme had to the small femme’s shaky words, the doubt in them, the fear that exuded from her body like a fog. The sad part, it turned him on. The fear was like spice for the meal, but he pushed down that urge, and faced what was at hand. The vampire went stiff as a board, showing the otherworldly side of him that Claude hadn’t felt, not intentionally, but none the less it was there. The tone in which she said them struck home like an ash stake into his heart, she believed them. Or else she wouldn’t have been this upset.. then a pang of anger filled him as his power crept out from its tightly sealed chest within him; a cold wind.

So he was now the center of gossip amongst the preternatural? Nice to know he was so damned popular. A frown lined his face, his eyes glowing a light jade hue with the thought of it all. Yes, he knew his followers from the strip club were a bit overzealous about him, but he didn’t think he would be gossiped about like a fucking celebrity! Was his personal life not private any longer? Then again, he did have to think back. Even before the ardeur Jayme had been a bit of a playboy, regardless. That had happened shortly after the… divorce. The bare thought of it was heart-wrenchingly painful, no he wouldn’t think about her. She didn’t want him any more, and he’d be damned if he would let her plague him years after. Shoving the thought away he roamed back to the pressing predicament. Oh yes, Claude thought he was a manwhore. Nice. Not many knew of Jayme’s past from St. Louis, but they did know of his promiscuity since his turning. Most of it was due to the ardeur, he wasn’t much into casual one night stands, but he had to get used to them since he had no significant other that understood his needs.

If he had his choice, the young vampire would prefer to be a one woman man, or one man man for that matter. It was the ardeur that chose his ways, not himself. Most of his followers were women, so he went with them, it was easier. But recently, being around Jean-Claude had influenced his sexuality greatly, opened new doors that were previously closed. When he and Jean had been alone the many nights since Anita’s disappearance, he had learned a lot about men. All of it very interesting and pleasant. Jason as well had helped him, though they were just friends, sometimes friends with benefits if Jayme hadn’t felt up to a one night stand with some raving fan. Very generous of his friend, and the burdened vampire never forgot.

Gritting his teeth, he realized he was clutching Claude rather tight to his tense body, relaxing some he let go and walked past her into the kitchen to collect his thoughts before he let them out of his mouth. Peering out of the window into the starry sky, he heard Claude walk in cautiously. Jayme spoke softly without look at Claude, eyes trapped onto the crescent moon.

“No… you aren’t just another ‘notch’ in my bedpost, Claude.” He turned now to give her his full gaze of jaded eyes, “You are the first woman I have taken to bed willingly in a very long time.” Jayme doubted that Claude would grasp the concept of the ardeur’s impact on his social life, what it did to him. It forced him to meet the lustful need one way or another, regardless to his personal feelings. “Those women, the fans, they mean nothing to me other than business.” The cold, icy tone fell out of his mouth, metal-like in consistency. Why should he bother to try and explain something that was so inexplicable? He was being to understand what pain Jean-Claude must have, and still, puts up with on a nightly basis.

Sighing defeated, Jayme turned away from Claude and grasped the pack of cigs, removing one, and the lighter. He almost lit it, but then thought about Claude’s previous comment about second hand smoke, so he opened the deck’s door and stepped out into the chill air of night to stand on the small apartment deck. Lighting the slender stick, he took the first drag and wondered sincerely for the first time if he would ever get rid of the pain buried deep within his heart.

[Claude Lorette]

She felt him stiffen, like a corpse in rigor, and his vampire showed. His anger slipped out through his power and her aura froze as a cold wind swept through the room. His angry power. She did not want to believe what she had heard. She did not want to be another notch either. She just wanted something. As he stayed silent, clutching her tightly to his body, she felt her own body stiffen. A moment later, he had released her and walked out of the room. She stumbled backwards, falling into a sitting position on the bed. Her eyes burned. But a moment later, she stood slowly and crept into the kitchen. Jayme didn't look at her at first. She felt her heart stitching together as he spoke, but when his eyes fell on her, they were cold and empty.

His voice was the same. It was empty, icy, like snow. Her eyes burned again. He was so unwilling to explain what he meant. He didn't explain what the ardeur did to him. She heard his sigh and saw him turn away from her, grabbing the cigarettes and the lighter. He seemed abut to light one and she didn't object. He stopped. And walked outside. She slipped to her knees, unable to support herself any longer. She let out a silent sob, breathing hard as tears rolled down her tanned cheeks. She didn't want him to walk away. She didn't want him to be so cold. And she couldn't feel anything except 'oh gods, it's my fault'. She felt her eyes burning still as she watched him on the small apartment deck.

"Jayme..."

She whispered softly, looking at the vampire who stood out of reach. She stood slowly, shuffling towards the doors with her head down. She looked up briefly, blinking back tears. Her eyes still glittered with the unshed, salty water. And with something else. Pain? Longing? It was hard to tell.

"I'm...I'm s-s-sorry J-j-jayme..."

She mumbled. Her apology was heartfelt, it was sincere. It was the only thing she had left to offer to him. She wanted to hug him again, kiss his cheek gently. He was amazing to her. He was her first of everything. She wanted him to keep being her first. First date. First...anything else. She looked at him with nothing but pleading in her eyes. She was pleading for forgiveness.

"I'll...I'll leave..."

She murmured. Turning slowly, she started to head towards the door to the apartment, pausing briefly to grab her sweater. She was still standing there, sweater in hand, unable to move another step, tears trickling down her cheeks.

[Jayme Tisdale]

Taking a few harsh drags on the full-flavored cigarette, the vampire felt his body relax some, he could think more clearly. All was silent, to many, the night would have been too cold to have stood outside barefoot, and in a tee shirt, but Jayme didn’t notice the cold one bit. A breeze toyed with his waved, onyx hair, splaying it in his face ever so lightly as he hugged himself childishly. As if clinging to what shred of dignity he had left would do him any good, Jean-Claude would have admonished him for such behavior. Just as he finished off the cigarette, he heard his name coming feebly inside the apartment, but he ignored it. He couldn’t face her right now, not with what had been said. Shit, he should have never gotten involved… look at what happened to Jean? Heart broken. And so would Jayme be, following in the footsteps of his maker.

Keeping his back to the apartment, he heard her near him, her aura pressing unknowingly upon her, the sorrow was overwhelming, and the pain sharp. She was sorry. But if she was sorry why did he still neglect to feel the urge to rush up to her and say its alright, it would be okay. Because she believed the others, what they had said about him. Sure, it was the truth, but she didn’t know the whole story. She didn’t know what his life was like in the least. Before this, he had just seen her in passing, conversed politely.. nothing more. Nothing less. And now he had made love to her in such depth that he felt attached to her in a way he hadn’t felt since Vex. The dreaded word.

He heard her apology loud and clear, though such soft, simple words, meant the world to Jayme. It wasn’t so much the words themselves, it was the feeling behind them, the insecurity, the feeling that she had done something terribly wrong. That he would reject her, cast her aside like the others. No, she was more to him than just that. When she turned to leave he tossed the cig into the darkness, and with his ethereal speed, stopped dead in front of her as she had just picked up her sweater.

Jayme stared empathetically into her misty, tear-filled eyes, which only brought on the ones brimming at the surface of his striking orbs. But unlike her tears, his were tinged with red, blood. The crimson lines trailed down his cheeks, in a hushed voice he spoke.

“No, I should be the one apologizing. You reacted knowing what you knew… and it is the truth. What they say is true about me, but that is only one side of the story, Claude. Before I was turned… I was celibate after my….divorce.” The word was almost a whisper, it pained him to speak it, but he continued. “Before that, I loved her with all of my heart and soul, I poured it to her, and with one slip up, she crushed it and slapped the papers in front of my nose. After that, I vowed not to fall in love again, it was too painful. And I remained that way until I was turned. Once turned I was soon to find out Jean-Claude had given me more that just eternal life, but the ardeur.” Again he fell silent, looking down at his feet, before taking a breath and continuing, “Its hard to explain to someone about something they cant feel or taste. Its like trying to tell the blind man what blue looks like. How would you describe it? The ardeur… is a need, that has to be fed. It is like blood lust… but more. I do not choose whom I sleep with really, it chooses. Hell, if I hadn’t fed it in a few days I think I would jump a one legged prostitute with no teeth, and have no control over it what so ever.” The last line was bitter, because it was the truth. “Sure, the ardeur gives me more power, I am the equal to a fifty year old vampire, and I am but 2 years turned. I will be a master fairly soon, but at what cost?” A grim smile plagued his face as he reached out to touch the tears as they trailed down her cheeks. Brushing them away he came forward and hugged Claude in a tight embrace, his face buried in her scarlet locks he whispered, “I’m sorry I’ve hurt you, I was being selfish. I’m honored to be your first.” And he meant every word that he said.

[Claude Lorette]

Had her heart not already been broken, she might've sobbed when he appeared in front of her. His ethereal speed had brought him to her and her heart was shattered, falling apart slowly. She did not 'love' him. Or...did she? A line from a musical she adored ran through her head, Can people really fall in love so fast? This was not love. This was heartbreak, the end of what could have been. Or was it? As she continued to let tears drip down her face, she smelt blood and looked at the vampire in front of her. And the bloody tears that ran down his cheeks. He cried. He was crying and now, now he was speaking. Telling her things that people usually didn't tell others. She looked at the vampire, the man who was telling her he had been celibate after his divorce,. He tried to explain the ardeur to her and, vaguely, she began to imagine it. A fiery monster that lurked beneath the skin of the man who had made such sweet love to her.

His fingers brushed against her cheeks and brushed away the crystalline tears and slowly, his form moved towards her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She buried her face in the nook of his shoulder, as his breath filled her damp locks. She felt tears again, joyful tears though. She smiled and nuzzled his chest gently, her arms slipping around his waist, hugging him gently. She continued to nuzzle his chest as she stood in his arms. She mumbled nothingness into his chest, just enjoying being there with him. Being with him just made everything else in her world better. Her magic relaxed and it let Jayme's own power wash over it. The acceptance was a cool reminder, a small surrender. She trusted him. Her magic trusted him. Her body trusted him.

He was the only person who had opened her magic like this. No one else had ever gotten it to back down and calm. Incredible, what he had done. That was all it was.


-ewewew! crap!-