On the Team pt 2 (Larson, Devin)

[Lovely]

June 26, 2006
after midnight
Continued from: On The Team pt1

Once they arrived at the Keep, they were escorted inside as though they were VIPs and Gabe himself led them quietly to a room that had been cleaned up for them -a little. They would have to arrange and fix things how they wanted them, but it was a very nice suite large enough for rest and play, with a private bath. They would likely find it generous and comfortable once they'd made it 'home'. Now that he'd turned Larson, had Dev, and both were 'safely' brought home, Gabe was more relaxed and almost nice. He took his leave at the door, letting them go in to rest, play, or whatever they would do to occupy the next few hours or days. "Yeah..so blah blah here's your room.. rest I'll send milk and cookies." He spoke with a dry humor and even smiled a bit. "I'll send some food for Dev and clothes for you both.." He assured quietly that they would be treated well and not neglected. His ways were strange and often cruel, but Gabe did take care of his own, in his own way. With a nod he left Larson at the door with Devin.

Once in the room that Gabriel graciously offered, Chris bolted the door, waiting only for the knock that would come when the food and clothing that were sent for arrived. The room still had its accommodations of bed and other furniture however in slight disrepair from neglect. He offered to let Devin sit or sleep, scream and pour out her worries in tears if it would in any way help her face the inevitable.

Devin did a slow circle, standing in one spot, finally coming around to face Chris. "Can.. I shower..?" She had blood dried over her skin and clothes, she tugged at his shirt where he was caking as well. "Unless you'd rather.." Her voice was very soft, overwhelmed with everything.

"I wouldn't do anything anywhere here unless I'm right there beside you. It was a fair warning he gave you, not a threat. Despite his best efforts, he's not pure evil, though he does keep trying. If you want to wait until the clothes are brought up, you can, but I think you'd be more comfortable if you...," he motioned that maybe she'd want to just be bare, out of the sticky clothes. "Use the sheet if you want."

"I.. you're probably right.. about me and you being around." She bit her lip and gently pulled the sheet off the bed. "Will you come with me then.. even if you just stand in the door and keep me talking or talk to me.. so I don't go crazy in there by myself.. this is all a little.. way too much for me to absorb." Her blue-blue eyes lifted to meet his.

"Just keep breathing... that sets you apart from the rest of us," he murmured coldly, not meaning to scare her more. "Standing at the door won't be good enough, not close enough... but maybe you won't really mind. You're a beautiful girl, Devin and this should never have happened to you. Any of it, including Robbie."

Her gaze turned to the floor and she couldn't help the tear that trickled down her cheek. She felt bad -almost guilty for breathing.. she'd watched the 'other' kill Larson.. and bring him back as this and she was unable to do a damn thing to help or to make it in any way better now. "Do you think it should have happened to you?" She shook her head looking back up at him, she didn't think he deserved this either.

[Lovely]

"Devin, look at me. You know nothing about me, but you trust me. Why do you think that is? I tried to fight it, not believe it, hoping that it wasn't real, that this wasn't happening. I thought... hoped... it was a dream. This was the path I was meant to take. I've been here before," he stood close enough to run his hand over her hair softly. "Just like the girl I once loved..."

It was a dream remembered through a mist and her eyes closed at his touch and words. "It's you.. the face in my dreams that I couldn't see.. it was you?" She felt it, sure as his voice drew her to him, and his touch soothed her. "What happened to the girl?"

"She stayed," he said quietly, running a soft kiss over her neck, sweeping some of the dried gore away.

"For always.." She whispered, feeling herself curl towards him, and her head tilt to offer more tender neck for his kiss. She couldn't remember ever feeling the kind of chill he was giving her, yet she could remember it.. what the hell was happening? ".. candy kisses.." She whispered, freezing and pulling back to stare at him, she started to back away, shaking her head. "This.. this.. it can't be."

"How do you know... what you know?" He softly turned his words back for her to use and think about, however long she needed to. It wouldn't be forced, he wouldn't do it out of control or induced fear like Gabriel wanted. If he needed to, he would even release her completely from ever knowing that endless night again, however sharply it would tear him apart to do it. "How did I know his name? How do I know who Robbie is, or what he's done to you, where, how long... and how much I want to show him what real love means... and real hate?"

She shook her head, she didn't know how she knew, a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. "Dreams.. but it's so real.. I don't know, but I know.. and I feel it.. your voice.. when I look in your eyes.. every time you've touched me since we were in the office.. I don't know how any of this can be.. but I can remember you calling me your candy kiss.. do you?"

"Candy kisses, but so much sweeter," he whispered, pulling the tears away with his knuckle. "It was more than what I called them. It's what they were, how they felt, how you felt... you made me feel." His fingers traveled to her arm, running slowly down to take her hand.

Her fingers laced into his instantly, naturally, she took a step towards him -her face tilting to offer him a taste of her lips. "Tell me if it's sweet enough.." She whispered just as her lips started to brush over his.

Chris took the kiss as before, but this was offered with less fear, less doubt. He nodded. It was sweeter and tempted his hunger for more. Her hands were brought around his back and held together in one of his, holding her tighter around him. His other hand lightly ran down her back as he sought more of the sweet candy from her lips.

[Lovely]

She trembled in his embrace, not out of fear as much anymore as out of awakening desire and remembered sensation. She arched with his hand lightly on her back, leaning up to seek deeper kisses and let him taste all the sweet candy he wanted.

He let her hands fall away to wherever she wanted them to land and sought to touch and taste her neck and shoulders in slowly lacing kisses. She'd wanted to be bathed and had offered more as a tease. He didn't mind. It was her he wanted to taste beneath the smeared paint.

Devin sighed and curled closer to him, every pass of his lips and tongue awakening memories of how his touch affected her. Hands slid over his muscled arms and seemed to know the contours well, the caress was natural as she melted into his embrace.

What bits of clothing remained on her were gently tugged and torn away further as he paused in the kisses, seeming to sculpt and carve her beauty out from beneath the stiffening shreds. "These insult you and your beauty, Devin. We'll find you something better," he murmured pulling the sheet up from the floor to enrobe her gently.

Her fingers shifted to hold the sheet around her and her eyes followed his movements. Her skin seemed to tingle wherever he touched her, forgotten sensations brought to life again. A knock at the door, startled her again, setting the fear he'd eased, creeping back into her.

"Hold that tightly around you and stay back from the door," he said gently, moving cautiously to answer, looking for something heavy to pick up, just in case. The room hadn't afforded much more than the bed itself and a heavy table. The chair beside that was enough and he held it nearby as the door creaked open slowly. "What is it?" His greeting was neither cold nor friendly, but curt and wary.

Devin nodded and actually hurried into the bathroom to be out of the way and out of sight.

The voice from the hall spoke in a bored tone. "The master sends provisions and comforts for you and the girl." The wheels of the heavy cart started to roll it into the room as another was dragged behind. Both were heaped with fresh clothes, linens for bed and bath, food, drinks, a wide assortment of comforts and neccesities the two might need for their stay. It was genrous as well as thoughtful, taking into consideration that she was not yet turned and what both would need and want before and after.

"Tell him thanks," Chris murmured, watching the arrival of the carts and provisions, uncertain whether to trust the 'gifts' they were given. "What's the catch?"

[Lovely]

"The master likes you.. if you consider that a catch." The other spoke and turned for the door to leave him to settle and sort through what they wanted.

"Find Toyoyuki-sama and send him down here when he's done being a punk b*tch. If he's not here I want to know why," he said, dismissing the servants. If the situation were the same as before, then his friend would be wearing his little minx for a few days before he'd surface.

The minion laughed and nodded. "I will deliver the message, he is here. Their room is in the wing across from this one." The girl, Aria had been placed with him, some were given rooms and others sent below to bunk all together.

"Eww... you better be sure they're not bunked with others. They'll sell tickets," he murmured, nodding and letting the servant go along. He turned and called back to the bathroom as he re-locked the door. "Dev... Devin? You can come out now."

"What if... I don't want to come out?" Her voice came softly from where she sat on the cool floor, her back against the smooth side of the tub. The sheet was curled and tucked around her, her legs bent and bared where the sheet fell away.

"Then I may have to come carry you out...eventually," he grinned, looking over the clothing and finding something she might like. He draped the skirt and bodice over his arm and grabbed an apple for her, taking it in to where she sat. "How many ways can I tempt you to come back out with me, hm?" He held the fine silks in one hand and the apple in the other, himself standing statuesque in the doorway.

Her eyes went from his feet, slowly up his legs and chest, to finally meet his gaze. "I still need a bath.. shower.. " She murmured, smiling a little at the offer he brought for her. "it's pretty.. very.. maybe too pretty for me.."

He looked at the offerings and laughed. "It's only an apple," he said, setting it down and hanging the clothes on the hook. "And here, you're royalty.. and so am I apparently. This is about the simplest that they brought, unless you want leather. There's more food, but I thought something light might help with your nerves. Don't look under the dome on the tray, though, just a suggestion," he warned as he squatted down in front of her and helped with the sheet. "They brought more of these so you don't have to hold this one so tightly. C'mon. It's safe in here. Let's get you that shower. Although I'd let the rust run out of the pipes a little before stepping in."

"Can.. I ask you.. will you promise me something?" She requested softly, letting him pull the sheet away from her as her arm reached back to turn the water on and let it run for a few minutes as he'd suggested.

[Lovely]

"Yeah, sure. Anything... well just about anything. Why? What's wrong?" He took the sheet away to keep it dry.

"This.. all this.. it is just how it has to be. I think I get it.. now.. remember some.. I need.." Her voice trembled softly as she spoke, she still wasn't sure and clear on everything, but enough had sunk in, been remembered, and awakened for her. "Promise me.. you won't let anyone else, promise me it will be you." She brought her bright blue eyes to his, pleading for him to give her that comfort in everything that she had no say or control over. "It wasn't you.. before, I think I remember.. please.. please don't let him do that to me again.. promise.. even if you have to do it now to be sure.. "

Again he nodded, running his hands gently over her shoulders and reaching for a soft kiss. "It will be. I promise," he agreed, offering to help her into the water and not taking more than a step away. He wasn't leaving her side, he'd also promised that. He kicked the splattered and stained jeans aside and stepped in behind her.

The water was gloriously warm as she stepped into the spray, so soothing over her tense muscles and bruises. Her hands held her up against the wall as she leaned and closed her eyes, she felt him come in behind her and shifted so he could come under the spray of warm water with her.

She'd feel the soft caress as he worked a lather over her shoulders with his bare hands, kneading gently while he helped wash away the drops and splatters. Each cut and scrape he came to was kissed gently and cleaned further as he helped the wounds to seal.

Devin closed her eyes and enjoyed his gentle touch as he washed her and then as he tended her. "Why couldn't I find you before?" She whispered softly, reaching to find his hand and curl her fingers into his.

"Before when? Tonight? Ever? I don't know," he sighed. "It's like something... someone didn't want us to remember." He let her curl into the one hand for comfort. "If I'd known you wanted to find me... if you'd known... would either us have looked or just thought it was part of the same dream?"

"I was.." She admitted softly. "That's the whole reason I went to that party.. Aria has been asking me for ages to go with her.. and Robbie too..but frat parties were never my thing. I thought I was crazy for going tonight.. but I'd had this dream about this guy.. and something said I'd find him there.. and I did.."

[Lovely]

"Probably the same thing that told me to hang back alone in the office for a while," he smiled. "I'm no dream guy, Devin, but I do know this feeling is real and this is all real."

She turned slowly, letting the spray of water hit her back and run over them both. "Maybe not everybody's dream guy.. but you're mine." She smiled softly, looking up to his eyes and reaching to cup his cheek with her wet fingers.

Chris nestled into the touch. "Thank you. I could only hope that means..," he said it more with his eyes, the way he wanted to own her in much the same way, letting his hand glide lightly down her front, sending the water splashing over his fingertips. His other hand followed now alongside, trailing down further over hip and down her thighs as he slowly knelt down before her, unhindered by the water that stole no breath from him as he leaned in closer to kiss her softly.

"Chris.." She murmured his name softly, her eyes closing at the tender kiss and her fingers sliding into his slick hair. This whole night had been a nightmare, a jumbled mess that had her head spinning, yet this man had her head spinning in a different way and everything about him felt so right despite the circumstances. She pushed him away from her, sinking down to face him. "Would it be wrong to tell you that I feel like.. I love you?"

"No... no it wouldn't be wrong," he smiled. "Remember that girl who stayed? He loved her very much and always will."

"Well then.." She draped her arms around his shoulders. "I love you."

"Then you must be mine," he chuckled gently as she flowed over him. The nip on her neck was the first, the beginning, a mouthful and no more, taken gently in the absence of fear. He pulled a small hole open on his arm for her. "The water will dilute the taste. It will help keep the others away and let them know you're mine."

She looked at his arm and closed her eyes, steeling herself to take this first step. "Yours." She whispered and brought her mouth to the hole on his arm, gently suckling and lapping at the small flow.

The mark he'd given her was small, hardly noticeable and would be beneath her hair as she wore it normally. The scent, however, was his and would be warning enough. "That's it. Easy. Only as much as you can manage."

[Lovely]

She'd not expected his taste to be like this, nearly sweet to her, yet with a sharper metalic tinge. She took a sip more and pulled away from him, her expression distressed that she'd been greedy and enjoyed it as much as she had.

~Does it sound like it did in your dreams?~ He asked from his mind to hers softly as their blood slowly mingled.

Her head turned in both directions as his voice came into her mind and then slowly her gaze went to his face. ~Oh my..~ Her thought came back to him. ~I can hear you?~

He nodded and reached for her face. ~I love you, Devin, but the rest... I can't until you're ready. But, I promise it will be me~

Her eyes closed and a few tears slipped down her face. ~How do you know.. he won't.. like he did before. I wasn't.. I remember the desk.. but not your office.. and I.. ~ Her eyes opened to gaze into his. "I'm scared."

"Don't be scared. See? I'm here and he knows. I will. You know I have to, but not until you're ready... really ready."

"Was I ever really ready for it before?" She asked him softly, wondering how long he would put it off and what would happen to her... what could make her ready for what she'd seen?

"Maybe," he said honestly, looking deeper into her eyes. Chris ran his fingers over her hair. "So beautiful it would be cruel not to have it last for eternity."

"Cruel is what I saw him do to you in that office.. cruel is what he did to me.. to you.. tonight.. before.."

He nodded. "Cruelty is as it does. He takes for selfish reasons. I am bound to him because of what he did. His blood is in me, but he is not affected by what is in my blood. Honesty, direction, honor, a noble nature he probably had once but he's forgotten... I can taste it... feel it, but he ignores it. From me to you, it's different. I'm not cruel in the same way he is, therefore, it won't be cruel for you, do you understand?"

"I do.. I think I do.. " She curled back to him, kissing his cheek and neck softly. "I know I love you and I want to be with you.. even if that means being here with him."

"Then you may be ready now," he whispered, partly in her mind, partly to her ear as she kissed down his neck. He leaned back against the wall of the shower, watching her.

[Lovely]

"I'm ready for you.." Was her whispered promise as she brought her kiss tenderly to his lips.

Chris sat back up with her, plugging the tub and letting the warm water pool around them. "Then let it be me. Lean here and hold on," he said tipping her chin to look at him, wanting her lean into his shoulder so he could be gentle with her. He glanced at the marks he'd worked over earlier that were all but gone now with his blood working through her. Just like it was before, healing her quickly.

"Yours for always." She whispered, curling into his shoulder and holding on, her head tilted so he could reach her neck. His blood was already working through her and she could feel it, feel him there inside her.

This time it was sharper and deeper, but still gentle, as gentle as he could be to drain her precious life from her. The water would serve to keep her warm as it swirled around them, turning pale pink with the drops that escaped his tongue. He worked slow enough that she wouldn't panic or flail, but not so slow that she'd fall asleep and not respond to him. Once done, his hand was harsher, pulling open the recent wound on his own neck that had scarred with Gabriel's haste and pulling her head closer. "Drink," he directed, letting the flow run to her lips where she rested.

His blood dripped onto her lips and trickled down her throat as more flowed past her lips. It was slow for her to begin to actually drink and seek the renewing fluid. It was him, his essense and as it filled her, she began to lap softly, leaning into the wound to drink deeply.

Chris let her find her way and drink her fill as her strength returned. This time there would be only his blood at work and he hoped she would be stronger still because of it. His foot rose to shut off the water that had filled around them and steamed lightly. It was probably scalding though neither would notice except the absence of the chill. "Better?" He asked quietly as he felt her move more on her own.

Devin was still lapping softly over his neck and his shoulder, cleaning him nicely when he spoke. "Different.. " She whispered, kissing his ear and settling fully onto his lap.

"Different? How so? Welcome to the rest of eternity different or .. ?" He was curious and more so as he grinned with her sliding comfortably into his lap.