Henry
I laid, panting, dazed and weak. Raising my torn wrist, I licked it to close the wound. I shivered, tasting my Little Fawn, her saliva mixed with my blood, she was delectable.
Sighing, content and satisfied for the moment, I rolled onto my side, propping my head up and smiled at her. She had her eyes closed, her face was still flushed with exertion and pleasure. Her mouth was stained with my blood and she looked beautiful.
My eyes ran over her body, taking her in for the first time. Her breasts felt as delightful as they looked soft and firm, I yearned to suckle at them, bite her there and taste her. My eyes wandered over her belly and lower to her hidden mound. Unable to help myself, I noticed the well-healed scar and faded stretch marks from her pregnancy. Surprisingly I didn't feel the raging jealousy that I thought I would, not after what we had experienced together.
She shifted rolling her hips away from me. I looked at her, she had seen my gaze. I stilled her movements, pressing her hips back. "Don't be shy, Little Fawn. You're beautiful."
She scrunched her face up and moved to cover herself, no, just cover her scar. "You don't have to say that."
I gripped her hands and held them in one of mine over her head. I traced with a finger the scar she tried to hide, "You're worried about this little thing?" I asked. She turned her head away, embarrassment flooded her features. "Believe me when I say, it doesn't bother me." I kissed her scar, and said, "you could have ten more of these, and you would still be the most beautiful woman in the world."
"You're not jealous of Charlie. Or Alex?"
I thought about it, searched my feelings so I wasn't lying to her. "I was, very much so." Shaking my head in surprise at the honesty of my words I continued, "But at this moment, no, I'm not. Not even a little." I laid my head on her belly and sighed as her fingers slipped into my hair. I hummed as she stroked me, I felt like a cat under her caress, purring with delight at her touch.
I felt the sunset and my strength return and soon her petting stopped and her breath fell into a deep rhythm. Chuckling at her soft snores, somewhere deep inside, I was satisfied that I had worn her out.
Gently and quickly I got up and covered her with blankets and showered. She would be hungry when she woke, and I wanted to feed her. She was still human and my blood wouldn't be enough to satisfy her yet, but the urge was there. She was mine to take care of, to love, to protect and I would, even if I had no idea how to do it.
Humming to myself, I dressed and went downstairs. Opening the fridge I was puzzled by what to feed her. I hunted around and found some more steaks. Confident I could recreate the meal we had cooked together I started preparing the salad as she had shown me before putting the seasoned meat in the pan.
While they cooked I ran to the woodshed to get more firewood, I would stoke a fire for her tonight, and hoped she would let me read to her again. As I left the woodshed, a familiar smell tickled my nose. I couldn't place it but I knew it was a Vampire.
Baring my teeth I rushed to the door and throwing it open, I gasped in surprise as my uncle Felix stood in the kitchen, turning the steaks.
"You've burned these, nephew." He said as if this wasn't the first time I had seen him in 160 years.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my ears straining to hear my little Fawn upstairs. Relieved I heard her little snores. She was safe.
"I heard you had a mate and that you were planning a coup. I've come to offer my assistance," Felix said with a conspiratorial grin.
I didn't try to sway him of his assumptions, I wasn't planning anything yet, and I still wasn't mated. "What happened to you? Where have you been?" I asked.
"Your mate is lovely by the way, she reminds me of your..." He looked at me and smiled before he continued, "of my Angelica."
I growled then, "You better not have touched her."
"Of course I didn't. I smelled a human and went to see. I noticed the silver on her neck." He chuckled, "Is she giving you a hard time? My Angelica did too. I had to wait three days before she submitted to me."
"It's complicated."
"Yes, I had heard from Lawrence she has a child. I'm sorry, Henry. I am proud of you though. You seem to be treating her well, I'm glad you remembered some of my lessons."
"That's how you found me? Lawrence." Overstepping boundaries again, I really needed to talk to him.
He nodded, removing the food from the stove he plated up the steaks next to the salad I had laid out.
"Where have you been?" I asked again. "Why did you leave, I could have used your guidance and counsel."
"The antipodes mostly, outside of Alfred's reach." He smiled, "Alfred is not well liked amongst the four other monarchs."
"Why did you leave?" I asked again, frustrated by his avoidance.
"Alfred doesn't like competition. As I am sure you are discovering."
"You tried to overthrow Father?"
"No, our competition was over something else." His lips pulled back from his teeth in a sneer.
I was going to ask him what that was but I heard my Little Fawn wake and her footsteps lead her to the bathroom.
"I best go, and leave you two to get mated." He smirked, "I'm sure she won't hold back much longer, I could hear you two miles away."
Growling I said, "That's a little crass wouldn't you say?" But I was disappointed "I don't want you to leave, Uncle. I've missed you."
"I won't go far, you're very unprotected here. I'll stay around, guard you. Alfred is looking for you, well looking for both of you. Rumour is she's hiding with Alpha Alex and he isn't happy. I don't know how long you two will be safe here. If you can speed up the process, I suggest you do so."
"She has a child with Alpha Alex," I said. "She's worried and so am I."
"You'll be fine. Mate and it will all sort itself out." He looked at me seriously and said, "Truly, you are not like your father."
"Henry?" My mate called out to me.
"I'm here little Fawn," I replied, keeping my voice light.
Switching to internal dialogue Felix said, "Aw, you're so soft hearted. I don't see how you could be Alfred's son, you're so much like me."
"Where is Angelica?" I sent to his mind, ignoring his tease.
"With Lawrence and David," he pressed their image in my mind. "She is ok to wait there for a few weeks, she loved you too. Do you remember?"
I heard my Little Fawn come down the stairs, and Felix left. "I'll be around, I'll stay a few miles away, but I should hear you if you need. I'll keep a lookout. I'm happy for you nephew," Felix sent as he was leaving.
"Thank you, Uncle," I sent back in farewell. "Be safe."
"Henry, why is there all this firewood on the floor?"
Drawing my attention away from Felix, I looked at my Little Fawn, who was pointing at the wood I had dropped in front of the stairs. Quick as a flash, I picked the wood up and put it in the fireplace.
I went to her as she stood on the bottom stair, we were the same height. "Sorry Fawn, I tried to do too many things at once and got distracted." I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Good," she said smiling with a hint of embarrassment.
I smiled back at her, "I am too. You hungry?"
She nodded, "What do you want for dinner?"
I picked her up and carried her to the table. She squealed as I lifted her, obviously unused to it. She had better get used to it, I wanted to hold onto her all day. "I cooked for you," I said proudly.
She pursed her lips and said with amusement, "I can see that."
"Ok, I burned the meat, don't judge me too harshly, it was my first time."
Wrapping her hand around my neck, she pulled me down for a kiss. "Thank you, I appreciate the effort. I bet it will taste fine."
It didn't, the meat was far too cooked but she ate every bite. As always her eating had me fascinated, especially after having her mouth attached to my wrist. I would have liked to have her at my neck, but her teeth would not have penetrated my skin.
After we ate, she insisted on cleaning up because I had cooked so I concentrated on making a fire for us. This time I gathered pillows and blankets and laid them on the rug in front of the fire.
"Do you mind if I shower before we settle in?" she asked, her voice was a little shaky.
"Not at all," I said.
I laid back in the pillows with the book and I flicked through the pages to the part where Gareth bites Elizabeth marking her as his mate
"Gareth's fangs caressed her graceful neck, and his tongue searched for the place of sweet delights. She shivered as he found it, and vocalised her desire to her mate with impassioned pleas. Gareth paused, savouring the moment, the moment when they could be joined in the fulfilment of Lilith's covenant, the promise given to each Vampire since the dawn of time. With careful restraint his fangs punctured her vein, her generous claret flowed effortlessly into his awaiting mouth. Her sweet nectar was the true Ambrosia, the mythical fruit of the Gods, and Gareth knew he had found immortality in her vital gore."
"Henry," My little fawn startled me with her quiet, hesitant voice. I looked at her and saw why she was nervous, she didn't have to be. She took my breath away. Wearing the short ivory lacey baby doll with the creamy silk kimono I had bought her, she looked like a Goddess, like Venus walking on earth.
"Come here, my beautiful Fawn," I said, beckoning her to me. She walked slowly, and I admired her shapely legs as she did. I pulled her down onto my lap, her legs on either side of mine. I smiled as I took her in. "I knew you would look lovely in this."
She blushed, "I feel like it's something a bride would wear on her wedding night." She asked shyly, "Do Vampires get married?"
I shook my head, "No, Our mating ritual is our marriage."
"Tell me what happens, I want to make sure I understand."
I hummed, "I will bite you, marking you as my mate."
"Where?" she asked.
"On your neck," I pointed on her right side under her ear, I couldn't show her the exact spot as it was under the silver she wore.
"Then I drink from you until I drain almost your last drop," I continued. I stroked her cheek with the back of my fingers, her soft warm skin felt heavenly.
"Has anyone died from that?" she asked.
"It's very rare, usually it happens with very young Vampires or uncaring ones like my father." I felt the bitterness of my words as I mentioned him.
"You're nothing like him." She said.
"You can't know that," I said. But I was touched by her confidence in me. Once again, I was glad she couldn't see into my heart, she couldn't know the darkest thoughts I had.
"I can," She said. "I have some idea of how hard this has been for you. I imagine it was hell on earth some days. You have no idea how grateful I am to you. That you haven't hurt me or Charlie." Hesitantly she added, "Even with the Pull you didn't take me against my will. I love you for that."
My stomach flipped in my chest and I found it hard to breathe. "You love me, Little Fawn?" I asked, not sure if I believed what I had heard.
She nodded and gave me a gentle kiss.
I blew a breath out, stunned. Why am I always surprised by her courage, as I doubted anyone could love a monster like me if they didn't possess bravery. "I didn't dare to think that was possible," I confessed.
"Why not, Henry? You have sacrificed so much for me, been so patient and kind." She reached behind her neck to unclasp her necklace, "I want to be your mate."