The works

[Lovely]

June 9, 2008
9:30 p.m.


Half an hour more and he could go home. Jon kept reminding himself of that as he pulled up to the curb and double checked the address for his order sheet. At least this seemed to be a better part of the neighborhood than the street he was on for his last order. Three pizzas, no sauce, just meat? Okay, then. However people wanted it, he didn't care as long as they didn't stiff him. His loans weren't going down any faster than before he'd taken this job, but at least they weren't killing him with interest now... as much. It's worth it, he heard his dad say in the back of his head. Hard work builds character. "Yeah, build this," he smarted back under his breath to the remembered scene as he walked up the dark steps, still getting that creeped feeling from the absence of nightlife. He didn't even see any cats out chasing moths in the grass, nothing, though there were a lot of moths, he noted, dodging one that fluttered and butted around his head as he got to the step under the lamplight and reached for the doorbell.

Ruby was waiting for the delivery boy to bring the pizzas but she hadn't expected him to be so darn cute! Adorable boy all talking to himself and not noticing her there in the deep recess of shadow on the porch by the door. She was smiling as she melted out of the shadow and stole the boy's hat, popping it onto her head with a small giggle. "Finally.. I'm sooo hungry.. I could eat you all up!"

He was after the moth and hadn't noticed anyone nearby. Where did she come from? He hadn't heard a sound beyond the flopping of the suicidal moth bouncing off him then the light and him again. She'd grabbed his hat and it was on her head faster than he could blink, though breathing again after she startled his lungs down into his shorts might be more of a concern than his uniform. "Geez, sorry, I didn't see you there. Did you order?" He held up the pizzas thinking she was talking about them, not really eating him. She was kinda cute in the hat, though and he did get off work soon. She was dressed up for a party, it looked like, but this place sure didn't seem like it had seen one of those in a while.

"I've been waiting .. and I'm glad I decided to. You are yummy looking." She giggled again and moved around him in a circle leaning in to kiss his cheek. "The others went off to play and left me all alone.. but I'm not alone now. I have you..." She shifted to look for a name tag to get his, she hadn't given his hat back.

"Um, yeah, okay." He dodged back a little when she shifted closer to him and tried to grab back his hat. It would cost him more than the thing was worth to replace it this week since he'd had to take two off the shelf already. "So you don't need all three? They left?" Damnit, another stiffed order. Who was going to want all this pizza with no sauce? Guess he knew what his dinner would be for the week. "Hey, I'm sorry you got left alone. Did.. you need a ride someplace?"

She moved in front of him again, her head tipping slightly as she seemed to consider things. "I'd love a ride.. where should we go?" She took the hat off and put it back on his head, straightening it and blowing him a kiss.

"Heh, nowhere until I'm off work. But I can come back by if you can wait about a half hour?" She was considering taking him up on the offer? He wondered if this was just some big joke - the order sounded fake to start with, but he could never be sure. That she was just there waiting was a little weird. He wiggled the hat a little although she'd gotten it pretty close. "If I don't get my last tips in the pool for the night, I don't get anything except what's in my pocket. Sucks kinda. But I'd be happy to give you a ride."

[Lovely]

"How do I know you'll come back? You could just run away and then I'd be all lonely again." She pouted at the thought, it would truly upset her to be all alone again. "Can't I come with you?"

Wow, what a look. This girl could put on the pout like nobody's business. It melted him on the spot and he tried to come up with a reasonable answer why he couldn't. "Um.. sure?" He was so fired, he knew it. "Sure, if you don't mind waiting in a smelly car full of pizza stuff."

"Can't be any worse than Gabe's... basement." She giggled and actually bounced in place, her pout completely gone and she nearly threw her arms around him. "I don't mind waiting for you.. as long as I can have you all to myself after.. promise? All mine when you're done with work?"

Damn. That's all that he could think with her bouncing and jiggling and everything else right there. If she wanted to go out, well, yeah, he was going to go. Probably straight to hell, but the road there was looking a lot better than five minutes ago. "No plans, so ... um, sure. Oh, the pizzas, though. Seriously, did you order these? It's gonna be thirty-five bucks out of my pocket."

"Don't worry.. I didn't order them, but Gabe did and he left money for them. We can take them with us." She shrugged her shoulder after reassuring him that the pizzas would not cost him out of his funds. "Gabe didn't want to wait, I can bring them to him later. He's going to be busy for awhile.. long while."

"That's really nice of you to bring his food since he just left you here. That's a little weird, huh? Ordering then taking off like that? Whatever. People are nuts sometimes. I'm Jon, by the way, hi. Um, my hands are kinda greasy, sorry." He was about to offer one, but reconsidered, feeling the film he wanted to wash off first.

"He's kind of a weird guy, he has this charm that grows on you though.. he's sort of family so.." She shrugged again, giving him as brief an explaination as she could. "I'm Ruby." She bit her lip lightly glancing at the hand he'd mentioned but hadn't offered. "Ohh.. I guess you'll have to use your teeth then." She leaned forward so he could see the bills that Gabe had tucked into her top, it was enough for the pizza and an extra hundred dollar bill that had been meant for his trouble. Gabe was in quite the good mood tonight.

"Holey... um. You're joking, right?" He wondered where the camera was and wondered what the bills might be dusted with, but at this point did it matter? If the boss saw him picking up a date on one of his runs, he was turning in the hat anyway, and the little half-lit sign on his car that was still running. "If this ends up on the 'net, man... " He laughed and did try to grasp the bills with his teeth - she offered and he had this theory about only living once. He'd been too busy not enjoying any of it lately, so how bad could this really cost him beside one pizza job when he could get another in a week? He noticed one more very strange thing about the girl and how still she stood, the bills and her top not moving at all. Was she holding her breath in some cute sweet anticipation? That was pretty hott.. and cute, he thought, pulling the bills up slowly so he wouldn't scratch her.

She waited and then he did what she'd hoped, he pulled the bills from her top with his teeth, he did it so gently too, gosh he was sweet. She sighed out her satisfaction in a dreamy way as if what he'd done was wonderful in her opinion. "Thank you." She whispered, glad that he was so perfect and had promised to be hers. "Don't put the tip in the pot.. keep this one for yourself, okay." He might understand that more when he saw the hundred wrapped up with the two twenties he'd pulled up.

[Lovely]

He took the cash out of his mouth. Money was usually filthy but there was something even more rank but tempting at the same time about this. It felt too thick for just two bills and he fanned them out, finding the hundred. His jaw dropped a little and he shook his head. "No... no way, this? This is too much, I can't take this," he said, feeling more skittish than before but he really wanted to keep the cash and run.

"Gabe would have given it to you if he'd stayed.. but he wanted to play and wasn't patient enough to wait. He said it was for your trouble.. he'd be offended if you didn't take it." She reached to push his hand a little as if insisting he take the money that was offered.

Whoever this Gabe guy was, he must be loaded to just drop a dime and take off. He wasn't going to insist too hard on saying no to the cash since he needed it badly enough. Jon put the twenties in his bag and the hundred in his pocket like she told him. The boss would think he robbed somebody for it anyway if he saw it. "Guess I don't want to offend him, then," he smiled. "I really need to get back now, though, so if you're coming with me, let's go."

"No.. you really don't.." She warned in a soft mutter of agreement, her smile fading for a moment but returning a moment later in a softer sweeter curve up her lips. "Yes, I'm coming with you.." She walked beside him back toward the car, careful not to move too quickly and get ahead of him.. soon she would show him everything but not just yet.

"Yeah, yeah I really kinda do," he insisted, on that much at least, though he was curious to know why she thought he didn't. He told her he was working, if it wasn't still a little obvious. She bounced along next to him and he had to admit there was an excitement that just flowed around her, an energy he couldn't describe though he could almost taste it and wondered if the bills had been dusted, or if she had, maybe a little. "Door's not locked," he mentioned as he started to move off to his side.

"You want to offend Gabe? Oh sweety.. no.. no you really.. really.. really don't." She insisted a little more urgently, looking at him as if she was scared for him and that pout returned, deeper this time and pleading with him not to offend Gabe. She paused at the door, watching him move around the car before she pulled on the handle to unlatch the door on her side.

"Huh? No, I meant I really kinda need to get back to work, really really. No, I don't want to offend a guy that, well, tips big but also sounds kinda scary when you talk about him like that," he clarified, looking at her strangely and wondering how well put together the rest of her was. She seemed a little.. off somehow.

"He can be very scary.. when he wants to be." She shrugged, the pout was less now but hadn't gone away, she sighed and shifted down into the car, pulling the door closed. She wondered about the strange look Jon had given her and if he was suspicious about her, could he have any idea about what she really was? Not that it would matter shortly, but she didn't want to give it away too soon and make things all icky. "I'm sorry.. if I'm acting funny.. I don't normally do this kind of thing.. picking up the delivery guy at the door and all. You were just too.. I couldn't resist. I guess I'm a little nervous and excited." She hoped he would buy the explanation, it was actually all true.

"Nah, I'm not 'too', really. I'm just broke and really don't want to lose my job tonight. But if I do, well tough break, I get a new one tomorrow selling papers or whatever." He reached down to turn the key again although the car was already running. It screeched a little and revved. He pulled his hands away quickly. "I'm pathetic is what I am. But hey, I have some cash in my pocket now. We can go for drinks if you want? Maybe a grilled cheese down at the coffee shop... oh yeah, pizza. Heh, guess you're having that."

[Lovely]

"Maybe.. What if I have a different kind of craving?" She shrugged again, tipping her head ever so slightly and slowly blinking in a sultry way, the pout turned on to make him agree to give her what she really wanted.. which was him.

"Um.. like?" The pout was devastating and a little unnerving the way she turned like a lioness eyeing a lame gazelle. He was feeling pretty darn lame by that look. He chuckled nervously. "I don't have a hit of anything on me, if that's what you're talking about. I have to be clean, at work anyway... which.. is probably a moot point now anyway. So um.. what did you have in mind?"

"You." She whispered, her lips twitching slightly like she was hinting at a smile, her eyes seeming to sparkle with the ideas she had in mind. "I haven't done this before but.. I don't want to do it half way.." She gave another small shrug. "I want you." She licked at her lips, the pout glistened and she blinked at him again. "You aren't going to change your mind now, are you? You promised I could have you after work."

She wanted what? His mind raced through all the ways he could get arrested depending on what she really meant by that. Was she hooking and he was her first? The hundred seemed to burn in his pocket even more. Was it laced and the odd excitement he was feeling was just part of the high starting? Again his lungs didn't want to work and he forced himself to catch a breath. "Huh.. if I say yes I'm in trouble, huh? I'm not saying ... I'm just saying if I did," he said weakly, drawn to that pout and feeling like senior prom night all over again and just as awkward.

Her eyes shimmered, she looked like she might cry for a moment but she blinked it away and shrugged, not answering him right away. Her fingers played with her lips and she stared at the windshield, finally whispering a few words. "I'd be very sad if you changed your mind. I thought you liked me too... I guess you don't.." She looked back at him, still pouting but looking more genuine in it rather than playful or putting it on to get her way.

"Ruby, don't do that, don't cry. Please? I do like you.. See? Please don't cry?" Girls' tears always tore him up a little, but this girl had him in knots and shreds and he'd just met her. "I'm not changing my mind on being with you tonight. It's just..." Just what? He was freaked out and couldn't speak like a normal guy? He pulled away from the curb and started back toward the shop. He was already five minutes overdue for the next order he'd probably have to eat, too.

His plea and the words that followed seemed to ease her some and she watched him for a couple of minutes as he drove. "Just what?" She asked softly, her fingers running lightly over the edge of the seat. "Are.. you nervous.. too?"

"Tch. Just a little I guess. I've never done this, just so you know. I'm not in a habit of.. well not like I get much chance to be, but not in the habit of picking up anyone anywhere," he explained, still worried about getting fired. Great first impression as a loser, he thought. He had to admit for the few chances he'd ever had, he was glad he acted on this one. "And happy, too. You're pretty nice. You're kind of.. different, you know?"

"Me either, but I sort of told you that already.. up until very recently.. I was extremely shy, like so timid it was painful. I wouldn't even dream of.. picking up a delivery guy.. or any guy, especially one as handsome as you. I probably would have just squeaked and run away." She laughed a little and seemed to forget about being sad now. "But then.. something happened and I guess that's why I'm kind of different. I was always different.. not like the other girls.. but anyway.. that's why I decided to take a chance on you tonight.. there was something about you and you know you're kind of different too." She giggled again and shook her head. "You hesitated instead of just jumping on the offer and you were sweet and nice and.. I liked you the moment I saw you."

[Lovely]

"This night is something else," he muttered, hearing what she had to say about choosing him to keep her company for the rest of it. The more she talked about it, the more it seemed she wasn't talking about just tonight, either. That wasn't so bad, but didn't help him with getting over being nervous. He didn't want to say or do something to suddenly make her think he was a total jerk. The shop wasn't far away and he was about to turn in to the lot. "So can I ask what happened that changed your life so much?"

She hesitated to answer again but this time for different reasons, she decided to tell him in a somewhat vague way. After all if she was going to keep him, he'd know the truth soon enough anyway. "A near death experience.. It sort of changed my view of the world. I decided that life is too precious and that it's silly to be so afraid and not to experience life while you have the chance to."

"Wow, I guess that would do it, huh? So... did you get in a wreck or something? Oh, you're not that chic that almost drowned last month, are you? Not to sound cold or anything, it was just one of those freak things, you know? Pretty good philosophy though... about life and living it. Wish I could think like that sometimes," he sighed again, feeling too hum drum for her thoughts and lifestyle. All he ever did was work and study it seemed and he wasn't getting much time to study even, lately, with the hours he was putting in.

"I'm not the girl who almost drowned.. and I wasn't in a wreck." She paused, biting at her lower lip for a moment before continuing. "I'd rather not get into the details right now.. but I was attacked." She answered him softly, her fingers playing along the edge of the seat again. "Going to the library.. of all places.."

The library? Her? No way. He bit his own lip and chuckled. "Man, if I ran into you at the library, I probably would have too," he said almost longingly. He realized she was probably traumatized by it and didn't want to talk about. "I'm sorry. It was probably really bad, I'm just saying... cuz you know, if I'd been there I'd have tried to kill the mo-fo myself for trying to mess you up. Course I'd probably have a near death story or a whole death story to ... well I guess I wouldn't tell anybody if that happened, but you know what I mean, right? I'd have been pissed enough to kill somebody for that. Sorry I wasn't there."

Her eyes seemed to light up with a slight glow, her smile soft and shy as she reached over to play with his sleeve. She didn't want to directly touch him too much and have him notice how cool she was, soon enough she'd show him everything but didn't want it to happen yet. "Really? You'd do that.. defend me? You're so sweet.. It's alright that you weren't there, I would have felt terrible if you had gotten hurt badly." She licked at her lips, her gaze rolling gently over him, she was definitely keeping him.. and promised herself that she would be good to him.

He pulled into a spot by the front door of the small pizza shop as another car zipped into the spot beside him and another slipped out on the other side. The place was hopping tonight and here he was staring in through the glass, not wanting to go back in. He finally took a deep breath and turned toward her, moving his hand away to grab the heat bags and his money bag to turn in. "Well hopefully this doesn't hurt to much. Will you be okay out here for a few minutes? You're not going to run away on me, are you?"

Her sharp senses took in everything around them and she was aware of other scents and voices beyond the car. "I'm not going to run away.. I'll be fine. Do you have more deliveries to make?"

"I have a feeling the answer is no, but I'll tell you in a few minutes." He darted over to kiss her cheek before getting out of the car. "Please don't leave, okay?"

Her fingers reached to touch her cheek where he'd kissed her lightly, she smiled softly and nodded her head. "I won't leave, promise." She didn't want him to go but was willing to wait for him to come back.

[Lovely]

It was close to ten when he'd gotten back and made it inside with his bags, offering to take the next order out. He appeared to stand at the counter a long time, not going to the back but not running out, either. He was in less than five minutes and his hat was still in hand when he came back out. He climbed back in, visibly shaking, but smiling. "He didn't fire me," he muttered, shocked and a little giddy. He turned to make sure she was still there and smiled wider. "You're like a good luck charm or something, cuz not only didn't he fire me, but I got some phoned in credit tip someplace that made mine the order of the day. Not as good as your guy, but enough that I got a bonus for the night, how's that, huh?"

"People like you.. it's not me.. it's you. I can see why they'd like you.." She rubbed her hands together and reached to tug his sleeve and leaned in for a quick light kiss to his cheek. "So you don't have another pizza.. does that mean you're off work now?"

People liked him? He wasn't usually around long enough for people to even notice him most of the time. Someone liked him enough for that tip, though, and that was enough to make him agree a little. She tugged on his sleeve and as she leaned, he didn't want to let her escape so fast this time. "No more orders. I'm off the clock with a pat on the back and I don't work again til Friday. That's two whole days," he smiled, reaching to hold her still for a real kiss.

She was afraid that he'd freak out after he kissed her, if she'd wanted to she could have moved faster than he did, but she didn't. She let him capture her and kiss her cool mouth, her eyes closing as she leaned in to return the the sweetness with some of her own.

Could the night get better than this? He was hoping, but he was also realizing she was chilled. "Geez. I've been running around so much, I didn't think. You were sitting outside a while. You're freezing. Here, my jacket's in the back," he said, a little shocked at how cool she felt and a little worried that she'd get sick because he didn't think to close the windows. The day had been pretty warm and he just hadn't thought about it much yet.

"It's alright.. I'm not.. well I suppose technically I am." She smiled at him. "It doesn't bother me." She took his jacket anyway, because it would smell like him and would appease him for the moment about her being chilled. "There.. better." She snuggled into the fabric that held his scent along with the smells from whatever else had been in his car. "It smells like you and pizza." She giggled softly and leaned to sneak another quick kiss.

"Guess you can't get much better than that," he chuckled. He looked at how she snuggled into the jacket like a cat in a sunbeam. "Looks better on you. A lot. So.. we uh... have food for like twenty people and I've got two days to kill. Where should we start?"

"Someplace we can be alone... Maybe your place.. if it's alright with you?" She suggested and asked at the same time, giving him a tiny cute smile as she peeked out at him from within the snuggle of his jacket. She curled her legs up, slippung her shoes off and perching her small slender feet on the edge of the seat.

"You're killin' me," he teased with a wide cheshire grin as she started kicking off shoes and showing him more, little by little. He laughed outright, shaking his head at the weirdness and blind luck and starting the car without the squeal this time. "It's more than alright with me if keeping you all to myself is alright with you. Oh, hey, did you need to call anybody, let them know you're okay or anything? I mean, they might come back to pick you up later and if you're not there.. you know?"

"Oh.. keeping me all to yourself is perfect, as long as I can keep you back." She paused for only a second and gave what looked like a guilty little grin as she shrugged beneath the jacket. "I'm supposed to call if I need a ride. They won't worry. Too busy having their own fun."

[Lovely]

"Perfect.. heh, you got that right. I don't live far at least. You want some beers or something to go with all that food? I don't have much... usually don't have anything to get anything extra. Water. Oh, I might have some pop left. I forgot... had a couple tests last month... all nighters, you know? Gotta love those.. not. I mean, not the study kind, anyway."

"Whatever you have is fine, really. Don't fuss and don't worry, what I really want is you.. I don't really care about the pizza or beer.." She told him sincerely though he had yet to know why she didn't care if he had normal food or drinks at his place. He didn't live far which meant very soon she'd be alone with him and able to do what she really want to.. wanted more with every moment she spent with Jon.

"Okaaaaay. Wow, the way you say that... I really hope I don't get a speeding ticket. C'mon lights, do me a favor just this once," he said, glancing at the intersection ahead and hoping not to wait at it too long. "Okay, here's the deal. Let me fuss a little. I need to try or I'll look like a jerk and I really don't want you to think that, okay?" The light stayed green and he seemed to mutter out a 'thank you' to it as he passed through it and turned down another street, coming up on a small house. "And don't get the wrong idea or anything. It's not mine. I just rent out the basement from this guy. He's like in Mexico or Argentina or something all summer, so although it's like I got the whole place... well, we do for now. Hope that's okay."

She wanted to climb over in the seat and bite him right then, he was so sweet! He wanted to fuss over her and worried about her thinking he was a jerk and her being warm enough. "Okay.. fuss a little but not too much." She insisted quietly that he not over do it trying to impress her, she had already decided to keep him. "The basement and no one is home upstairs? Oh it's perfect.. really perfect! I think you're my good luck charm." She silently clapped her hands together in excitement over the discovery that rather than an apartment building they would be alone in the basement of a house.. it was so much better than she could have anticipated.

"No way, but thanks," he said as he pulled up into the garage. "Taking advantage of this little luxury too until he's back. So.. here we are. It's not glamorous or anything, but it's pretty cool. If you like the '70's," he laughed, ready to get out of the car for a while and stretch and relax and enjoy this company all sorts of ways.

"I have a feeling I won't be paying too much attention to the decor anyway." She sighed out as they pulled into the garage, feeling more confident and secure in the smaller and darker space. She shifted her feet down to slip her shoes on again and was opening the car door, eager to get inside the house and have at the boy.. her boy.

"Yeah, I think I might be having that same feeling," he agreed, pulling the pizza boxes out and tossing his hat down on the seat. He didn't want to look at it again until he worked on Friday. "Don't worry about locking it or anything, this place is pretty secure," he mentioned, opening the inside door that let up into the kitchen and the empty house they had to themselves.

She wasn't worried but was glad the place was pretty secure, they were going to need their privacy for awhile. Ruby smiled and followed him over to the door and then went in to the kitchen. "So.. where is your room?" She asked nearly as soon as they were both inside, slipping her arm around him, she kept his jacket on for now.

He almost dropped the pizzas but managed to get them on the counter next to the sink. He spun himself around her as soon as his hands were free and sought a little more of the kiss he'd left to warm her up with. "Mmm... it's too far away at the moment," he grinned, almost purring with her attention. Her smile, her pout, her cute everything was making him dizzy. "What's wrong with here?"

[Lovely]

"Jon.." She whispered and giggled like a sweet and coy little thing, curling into his embrace but making him chase the kiss. He was even more cute when he was like this and she hoped he wouldn't be mad for long after she bit him. ".. maybe I want more privacy? Hmm.. please.. take me to your room?" Her lips pulled down into a slight pleading pout though her eyes sparkled with excitement.

He laughed a little. "More private than what? Nobody's here, the shades are all closed. I could run naked.. right now... all through this place. He says it keeps the heat out during the day. The only plants in the house... well I can't really tell you about those, but he grows those in the laundry room, okay? Oh man, you really are killing me with that pout of yours. Keep that up and you'll get anything you want. I'm serious. Okay, c'mon. Let me get a glass quick," he said, breaking free just for the moment to get a glass from the drainer and splash water into it, not really that full. "See? Quick.. It's just down here. You know.. where they usually put basements and stuff," he said, pulling the door open to the stairway and clicking on the light.

"Really?" Her voice was soft, near purring with delight at how he reacted to her and her pout, he admitted his weakness to the latter and she was delighted by that. "What if I do this?" She shrugged out of the jacket on the way down the stairs which she seemed to glide down barely touching each step. She kicked off her shoes and turned so he would see her hands at her belt, slowly unbuckling it and undoing the button on her jeans, she tugged the zipper slowly down, biting her lower lip and looking at him with a more teasing pout.

"Of course if you want to run naked, hell, I'm not stopping you one bit," he said, closing the door behind him like she wanted for the privacy before coming down not quite as quietly as she had. He put the glass on the shelf beside her and sought after that pout to nibble at it and help her with that button. "Let me fuss a little here.. please?"

Now that she had him alone and more secluded she wasn't as shy or worried about him finding out what she was, even if he tried to run now, she would easily catch him. He wasn't getting away from her now. "Mmmm now you can fuss." She nibbled back and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, she leaned to deepen the kiss and gently ran her tongue against his lips.

She didn't seem to mind at all that he'd been doused in drips and drizzles from his deliveries. It's like that part of him didn't exist at the moment to either of them as she licked and nibbled. He remembered her words about wanting to eat him up. He was definitely thinking along those lines himself, helping her slip out of more than just her shoes as the last button slithered free for his fingers to play.

The way he responded to her encouraged her and made her more sure that he was the perfect choice for her. She could hardly believe she'd found someone like him at all, nevermind so soon. She reminded herself to bring Gabe some kind of treat to thank him later, right now she wasn't leaving Jon. She arched into his touch and pulled him closer, her tug was slightly on the rough side as he began working her up. "I'm going to make you mine." She whispered in his ear, as she shifted her nibbles to his neck, his skin was smooth and inviting. She wondered if he even noticed how cool she was anymore as he explored beneath the undone buttons. She shifted one hand to quickly speed through undoing the buttons on his shirt and was tugging it off him a couple seconds later.

He was hardly thinking, let alone thinking clearly once she started on the nibbles over his neck. The drips and drizzles he was finding now encouraged him to lather her more insistently. "God... please do," he sighed delightedly. "We can go over there if you want." He nudged her to see the nook that was filled nearly completely with the king-sized bed with only enough room for hte blankets to slide down between the bed and the walls. "Heh.. no rolling off, that's for sure. Rolling on, under, over... damn, anything you want," he murmured, craning under the nibbles.

She pulled back enough to glance at the bed and then walked backward toward it, tugging him with her as she kissed and nibbled. Her hands were quickly working on undoing and tugging away the rest of his clothes. Ruby felt the bed touch the back of her legs and she lifted them one at a time to climb onto it, still clinging to him as she crawled back into this perfect little nook. He was such a delight and she decided to wait on biting him, much more interested in the direction they were going in now, she'd turn him after they shared this.

[Lovely]

**********************************

The radio that had been playing quietly for almost an hour was supposed to remind him to get ready for class. At the moment, his dreams were thick and the radio went unheard. The pillow that was more on top of his head than under it didn't help him wake either where he was perched and tangled with the girl he'd brought home. Not only was his window shaded, but it was covered with a board cut to fit where the glass was supposed to be. It was caulked in place, keeping his little nook solidly dark and quiet. He'd colored it in with sticky notes with phone numbers and magazine pictures he'd taped over it of several 'beer girls' with wide smiles and wider chests peeking around each other's paper corners. A rim of light shone through a hairline crack at the top that painted an arc on the wall behind his pillow, a crescent 'moon' of indirect light that wavered now and then, probably from the leaves on the bushes outside. They were immensely private, unseen and shielded from the outside world in here. The music shut off on its own and the only sound was the water heater rumbing softly on the other side of his wall as it ran through its mechanic cycle, oblivious to anyone in the house.

Ruby wasn't sleeping, vampires didn't actually have to sleep, most did so out of habit from their human lives or for lack of anything else to occupy them. They rested during the day light hours but it was a choice to sleep or not. She'd dozed off for awhile, feeling content and comfortable beside Jon, she had decided to wait to bite him and was glad she had. He had pierced her sweetly and thoroughly in a different manner, never once freaking out of complaining about her being cool. He was as gentle as he was eager and their night together was by far the best night of her life. After her short nap, Ruby watched him sleep, spending the time thinking and admiring the man. She decided it was time to wake him up and she snuggled closer to him, trailing light kisses and nibbles over his shoulder. "Jon.. wake up.." She spoke softly, almost like cooing at a baby to wake him as sweetly as he'd helped her to her nap.

He distantly registered a flinch at the sound of his name. He'd been so worried at first, then so elated with the tips and definitely with the company that he was drained, and blissfully so. The magic of her voice worked into the dream and slowly pried open his eyes. She was still there! He groaned quietly and stretched out to wrap around her, not really wanting to wake up and definitely not wanting her to go anywhere, at least not yet. What a way to wake up - he felt so alive with her!

She didn't mind at all how he stretched and reached to pull her close, she let him wrap her up into his embrace and she burried her kisses to his neck. "You smell wonderful." She giggled and shifted herself to hover over him a little. "Jon.. I need to ask you something.."

"Mmm.. okay," he sighed, not ready for questions but her giggle perked him up a little. He opened his eyes a little more to find her looking down over him like a kid at Christmas and it made him laugh too. "What? What are you looking at? Is my hair stupid or something?"

"Mmm mm.. it's cute.. kind of sexy all mussed.." She glanced up at his hair, reaching to run her fingers through it lightly. "Don't worry about your hair.. you're perfect.. Jon.. I want to keep you... for always. I want to make you like me and I could just do it.. but I'm hoping you'll say yes, that you want to be with me too."

[Lovely]

"Huh? Sure, like keep like as a regular boyfriend? I don't know about perfect or anything, but yeah I think I could do this all the time with you," he said honestly without the benefit of full consciousness to really consider saying no. She was pretty and fun and made him feel better than anyone, like she was really a good everything, not just a good luck charm. "I think you lost me a little with the rest of all that, though. Do what?"

She smiled at first but then frowned, not sure how to make him understand what she meant. She pondered it for a few moments as she played with his hair. "Give me your hand.. I want you to feel something." She reached for his hand intending to rest it against her chest for him to feel the lack of heart beat or rise and fall of breathing. "I want you to know what I am and I want you to decide if you want to be like me.. I didn't get a choice. I hope you'll say yes, but if you don't..." She couldn't help the pout, she felt like her heart would shatter at just the thought of him saying no to her.

"You want to make me hott like you?" He grinned and instead of giving her his hand he reached out to embrace her warmly with what he was. "What you are is amazing and I don't want to change that if that helps." He wanted to kiss her and a few other things too thanks to the amazing things she was doing to him just waking up beside her.

"Jon!" She giggled and pouted at once as she let him capture her again and she snuggled back down into his arms, kissing his shoulder again. "I'm glad you don't want to change me.. it really means alot to me to have you say that.. but Jon.. I need you to listen.. I want to make you live forever.. like me.. with me.."

"I'm listening. Really," he laughed, but that pout... His head tilted and he looked her over, curious, maybe a little concerned, but that pout would make him do anything. He reached up to brush her hair over her shoulder. It was so beautiful loose and wild like that. "Okay, really, I'm listening. What do you mean 'forever'?"

"Do you remember last night when I mentioned a recent near death experience?" She paused, sure that he would recall, since he was such a nice sweet guy and had voiced his feelings on what she described only as her being attacked. "When I say forever.. I mean forever.. I'm never going to get older than what I look like now.. I'm not going to die like other people do.. I'm.. a vampire."

He kept waiting for the giggle this time and it didn't come. His hand stopped on her shoulder that sat rigid and cool under his palm. He looked down at her chest for a longer moment, not for kicks but to notice again.. he hadn't imagined it that in the moments they weren't diving and tumbling around each other, how still she stayed. He stared long enough for three of his own breaths and still she'd taken none. Jon bit his lip and rose to kiss her while his hand trailed back down over her motionless everything. She'd been so much of what he wanted and he didn't want to let go and didn't want to think he was crazy, or that she was. His palm rested where she'd meant it to a moment before and the only pulse he felt was his own racing harder. Could it be true? "Ruby, I want to believe you and I almost do. But, vampires?" He didn't laugh and he didn't run. He really did want to believe it. If she looked closer at his room and how it was kept, the books he read, the darkness he kept it in, perhaps she'd believe him too. "God, I want to believe you. I'd give anything for that," he said, caressing her softly and wanting her close to him.

Ruby watched him, she wasn't smiling but wasn't exactly pouting as he tried to accept and deal with what she'd told him, he didn't freak out or laugh at her and it endeared him to her all the more. "I know it's hard to believe.. I wouldn't have believed somene if they said such creatures were more than myth." She let him explore her as he needed to in order to make the discovery himself that she wasn't breathing and there was no heartbeat to be found in her chest. "Some things are like the stories but not everything.. I'm real Jon and I'm telling you the truth." She reached to gently hold his face in her hands and leaned to kiss him. "I want you to be mine."

[Lovely]

He thought he'd only been dreaming, thinking this to himself while he slept but he'd talked himself into and out of it since he'd just met her. He couldn't explain any of it away. The way she moved and spoke, the way she didn't move in other ways and no one could hide a heartbeat and he hadn't found one, how could he say she wasn't? "What if I thought you were really an angel instead?" He meant that almost as much as she meant what she'd said. Jon didn't let her escape long, reaching back for a kiss and tangling gently with her, wanting more than just the kiss. He accepted it if it was true and if it wasn't, he didn't care, his answer was the same as he kissed down over her neck first. "I want to be yours."

She smiled a little soft curve of her lips as he said he might think she was an angel instead, it was sweet but that's how he was and part of why she already liked him so much. Instead of breaking, her heart felt like it would burst with joy as he said he wanted to be hers, her eyes filled with happy tears and she curled her arms around him to hold him close. He wanted to be hers! Ruby blinked the tears away as a small giggle found it's way out of her, she turned to nuzzle against his cheek as he kissed her neck. Her fingers slid through his hair as the delighted giggles bubbled up and she tackled him back to the pillows.

"No tears, jeezuz, you're killing me," he chuckled even though she was laughing under them. She tackled him back and he certainly wasn't stopping her. How did it work, really, he wondered and how much was it going to hurt if she was serious? He'd read novels and listened to shows with people calling in saying they were real vampires, but that wasn't having it really happen or having your arms wrapped around one like this, if she really was. "I just want to know... can we... you know.. while you do it?"

She leaned on her arms over him and looked down into his eyes to show the tears were gone now and to study his gaze while she pondered his question. "I don't know.. I mean.. it's sort of.. mm.. stimulating.. if you want to try.. I just don't know if the 'you know' will work while I do the other."

"How about I try anyway cuz I think we're working real good right now," he hummed playfully, hoping she'd take advantage of just how nicely a few certain things were working and trying to coax her to enjoy them, the mood and the morning while they had it so nice and quiet like this. "Or I'll try and you surprise me."

"Mmmm my Jon.. you can try anything you want." She kissed her way over his shoulder and the top of his chest, slowly working toward his neck. Her hands were light soothing feathers all over him as she wanted this part to be as perfect as everything else had been.

He liked waking up to the sound of all of that - her Jon? He chuckled a little and let her work her magic. He didn't even think of having to be anywhere this morning, having forgotten his classes altogether and everything in the world but being right here. Her touch gave him chills all over and made his yearning a little stronger. "If you're going to keep that up, you better come down here," he warned, trying to tangle with her and hold her in reach.

She giggled as she shifted and brought her hand behind his neck to hold him, she let a light and tender kiss sweep over his mouth before bringing her lips to his neck. Other then his neck which she held in a gentle but strong grip to keep it still and how she needed it to be, he was free to move and tangle with her. Each kiss over his neck was a light tease that tested for the perfect place to sink her fangs and take that sweet drink of him that would make him forever hers.

[Lovely]

She held on tighter than he'd expected but the touch felt so good he wasn't complaining. He wasn't holding on quite so tightly, caressing gently over her back to enjoy a little more about waking up with her. Everything was so perfect he was actually hoping and drifting ever more pleasantly into what he was sure had to be love. Lust wasn't like this. Lust and empty play always felt wrong or sneaky or just uncomfortable but not this. Since the second he'd taken the bills out of her top, it just seemed.. "Perfect," he hummed, feeling just how exact and beautiful everything fit with them.

Just as he said the word she kissed the spot and smiled. "Yes.. it is." She whispered and sank her sharp fangs in, she tried to be as gentle as she could and didn't shred him. She suckled at him and found that he tasted better than anything she'd ever imagined, she made a soft noise of pleasure as she drank him. Barely a drop escaped her mouth as she was determined to make this as easy and neat as she possibly could. She wanted to enjoy more of him once the change was complete and it was her intention to share everything she could with him.

He gasped at the suddenness, arching rigid with the shock and a wave of natural fear. She was truly biting him? It didn't hurt that much, perhaps because he'd been so relaxed first... well, mostly. The wave that rippled through him was just as she'd said, strange and sensuous, almost too much to endure had he not already been woven with her for her to share it with him. She certainly benefitted from startling him like that and he was aching to simply feel - everything. She still held him so he couldn't move away, though she didn't need to. His fingers twined up into her beautiful blonde locks to hold her himself, surrendering in complete trust and faith that she was his angel and wouldn't hurt him.

When she was turned it had been harsh and more violent, she didn't want that for Jon and her efforts seemed to be paying off, she felt his fingers twine into her hair. He was holding onto her like she was doing nothing more than kissing his neck, after only the brief initial startle when she bit in, he was calm and relaxed. Another pleasured noise was muffled into his neck and the ripple flowed down her entire body as she leaned over him. She drank deep and long, feeling and listening until the critical moment when her mouth left his neck, with her nail she sliced her skin just below her collar bone and tilted his face so the blood would flow down into his mouth until the instinct took over and he would drink on his own.

Was he dreaming again? The radio... he heard singing or music.. maybe it was just ringing in his ears but the room was dark now, darker than he remembered. A shiver ran through him and he could feel how he was tied in and around this girl who was so pretty and so sweet, how she'd danced around with him for hours and still was now. Tired, but energized, a strange grogginess made him stretch and twine around her more now as he nuzzled her neck where the flow reached his lips. He didn't realize the blood he sought, only the attention, a tender passion to love and adore this creature with him, that surrounded him. His kiss lapped over the mark gently at first, then more fervently but never harshly. Even in near death he was truly what he was, kind and completely enamored of this woman.

As he had said of her pout, she could now say of him - his tenderness was killing her.. he was sweet beyond words and she cradled him gently as he lapped and drank of her. "That's it.. just like that.. drink." She whispered with a kiss over his ear, encouraging him and realizing that she'd truly fallen in love with this sweet man. "My Jon.." She giggled ever so softly and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the sensations and attention from him.

He drank gently as her body sang against his. The dreamstate seemed to deepen the more awake and energized he became, seeing things differently around his room, more stark and vivid yet the shadows were deeper and more pronounced. She said his name and woke him more. He hummed delightedly and curled and stretched again, having his fill and laying back from her neck but enjoying everything else with an amazing sense of freedom he'd never known before, and a sense of deepened passion and need to feel her awaken with him. Was this real? Was this a glimpse of a new world or just a better one with her in it?

He rested back and she shifted to hover above him, staring down into his eyes, her gaze full of wonder, hope, and adoration, her tiny smile lit up her face as her fingers fanned over his cheeks. She didn't say anything for several long moments, feeling as though they were connected now and their bond was that much deeper.. and always would be. He was hers now and she made a silent promise to always be good to him, she was far from a princess but he was her prince and she adored him. The giggle was a soft tinkling whisper which was followed by three beautiful words. "I love you." She leaned to claim his mouth with a tender kiss.

He hoped thinking it was enough for her to know he mirrored those words, though the way he held her and burrowed and tangled with her now, she couldn't have any doubt, could she? He didn't notice or maybe didn't care that the air had stilled in his lungs and that he still felt dizzy from the experience, but he still felt more alive than ever. He turned with her in their small nook showing her every way he could that he was definitely hers.

[Lovely]

June 11, 2008
8pm


The days were longer in the summer and Ruby was happy for that, it allowed her more time to spend tangled with Jon while they waited for the sun to fade and the darkness to blanket the town. She'd given him a couple of days to adjust to his new powers and strengths as they played and bonded with each other. He was sweet and she adored him, finding herself fiercely protective of him already. Tonight she would take him out for the first time and was getting herself ready, she wanted to look pretty for him and sat on the side of his bed pulling her fingers through her damp hair. She had nothing to wear but the outfit she was wearing when she met him as she'd not left his side. "I like the way your shampoo smells." She commented quietly as she sniffed her hair.

"I like how it smells on you," he replied from the doorway, able to smell it from the distance. He was slowly becoming used to this and the other small things he'd so much taken for granted. He wasn't the weakest kid on the block, but he felt invincible now. He pushed a stack of books aside, ones that he'd had to move a few at a time before. "We don't have to go out yet," he shrugged, though he felt he was going to need to. Even with this change, he felt obligated to his boss. What if this wasn't real? He looked at the books he'd moved that spoke about hoaxes and illnesses where people believed all kinds of things. He wasn't them, though, and neither was Ruby. "But you know, it's funny. Pizza sounds kinda good. Sort of. Is that supposed to happen?"

"I like how it smells on both of us." She smiled at him and stood to walk over to him, she slipped her arms around him and ran her hands up his back. "..and yes it's normal. You can still enjoy many of the same things, including food that you liked before. You don't need to eat that sort of food anymore but you can if you want to. I like pizza.. even more since I saw the cute delivery guy."

He laughed and stole a kiss. "See? I knew you were an angel. Let's me have anything I want. Shit, I'm supposed to go back to work, too," he said, feeling guilty, but only for a moment before he laughed again. "Hah! But why? I mean, like you said, I don't have to eat." He hoped she was right about that, but pizza sounded so good to him, he was starting to get cranky, like he usually did when not eating for a few days, only now it was worse and almost painful.

"I don't think I'd like you working.. it means less time to spend with me." She pouted and leaned up to steal back the kiss he'd taken from her a moment before. They were very intune and the sire connection with him was strong, she could feel what he was and her head shook slightly. "But.. you need something.. " She brought her thumb to his mouth, trying to run it over his tooth to cut it and allow him a few sips to tide him over until he could fully feed.

He bared his tooth for her, letting the jagged edge slice her as she wished. His mouth was filled already with the rusty flavor of his own blood.. her blood... from cutting his tongue over and over on his newly sharp teeth to feel the sensations that were a vibrant reminder to himself that the change was real. Wrapping his mouth around the wound, he sucked a few drops and then ran his tongue over the wound, looking to see its magic begin to work. Everything he'd read told him about the healing, but what the books hadn't mentioned was the time it would take to be proficient at it. He frowned when the wound popped open again. "I do need something. Everything. There's so much I just don't understand, yet, and I'm really getting too hungry to even think."

"Then take a little more before we go out.. you'll need to be able to think." She offered him with a small understanding smile as her finger brushed a smear of crimson over his lip to tempt him. Her eyes shimmered with a silvery grow and the expression on her face was clearly adoring. "I don't want you to hurt."

He registered some confusion, watching her face. "Hurt? No, I'm just wicked hungry. It's not the first time I..," he said, pausing briefly as he turned a little more pale and felt the rumble in his stomach make his knees weak. He stumbled a little and reached back for the bathroom door. "I.. I really don't feel so good." He wasn't sure that was what he meant. He didn't feel sick, he felt.. different. The kind of different he remembered from coming down from a sudden fever. "Ok... what do I do? I'm seeing flashes now, like scenes of stuff, and I'm hearing your voice. What does that mean?" He leaned on the doorway, seeing the images fly, images of victims, some of them familiar, former customers and a classmate... had she..?

[Lovely]

"You will hurt.. if you don't behave and listen to me. I would never do anything to harm you.." She spoke softly and followed him as he stumbled back, her eyes closed and she tried to concentrate on soothing him with her thoughts rather than upsetting him. "What you're seeing means you and I share a very special bond.. a bond strong enough to share thoughts, memories.. even dreams."

He laughed nervously and tried not to worry about the thoughts he was having that might embarrass him. They were overshadowed anyway by the intensity of the flashes as her mind apparently flew at his in pieces like flying shards of glass, shining and sharp. "Ca-... can you slow them down a little maybe? What I'm seeing is ... well, it's weird," he said, looking to her then to the center of the room though he was concentrating inward. "It's like smelling french fries when you're drunk. You want it all so bad...," he said, his hand reaching out to the air as if he could grab at something in his mind. He could see the blood, the horror, almost feel the fading heartbeat in his fingers.

Her face crumbled into a bewildered expression, complete with a deep pout and faintly red tears in her eyes. "I was trying to!" She backed away from him now, rather than offer him some more of her blood to keep his hunger at bay but if he needed it she would give him every drop she had. Perhaps if she wasn't so close to him the images wouldn't bombard him. "I'm sorry Jon.. I.. " She realized she didn't know what to do, she hadn't been a vampire all that long herself. "Wh..where is your phone?" She couldn't call Gabe.. but.. would Larson help her?

He nodded. His phone... call someone... sure. A series of new flashes, slower and more deliberate took hold and he saw men, older men, but doubtful that either one was her father. He felt a twinge in the familiarity... brothers, maybe? He wasn't sure, but dug out his phone and handed it out to her. "Hope you're not calling for a delivery," he sighed, trying to tease. He was, afterall, the delivery boy, himself. "Who are they? Those guys..?"

"Gabriel and Larson.. My sire and.. well my brother for lack of any other way to explain it. Gabe made him and made me.." She explained as she dialed the phone, looking down at her hand for a moment, her fingers trembled. She brought the phone to her ear, wondering if Larson would even answer.. he wouldn't know Jon's phone number. She closed her eyes trying to concentrate so perhaps Larson would feel or hear her through the familial connection, he was a strong vampire.

"Staying with friends?" Larson answered, piecing the imagery together with the call. He sounded curious more than protective for the moment. "I'm guessing it's not a slumber party with the girls and the emergency isn't that they ran out of the color nailpolish you wanted, hm?"

Jon could sense the tremble in her hand without touching it. He looked at his own that stayed steady despite the need growing within him. He listened to the voice he could hear now, feeling an odd connection to it like he did to Ruby. This was just too weird, he thought.

She felt a slight relief wash through her when Larson answered as well as a slight fear, he was not someone she wanted to ever be angry with her. "A friend.." She answered softly, reaching up to her cheek and feeling the dampness of the tears on her cheek. "I.. I need your help. I'm not sure what to do.. and I thought you could.. because of how you are with Devin.. that you'd understand.. the kind of connection I have with him now. I don't even have this with Gabriel.. not like this..." She wasn't sure she was explaining it very well and was probably just going to make Larson mad at her. "My thoughts.. memories.. how do I get them to slow down? I think it's hurting him.."

[Lovely]

Hearing her name through the phone, Devin curled around Larson, her teeth nipping softly at his abdomen, though she let him attend to the call.

"A little hurt will do him good. It'll make him a stronger, better person," Larson teased, being pleasantly distracted by the nibbles on his end of the phone. He could sense her distress, but he didn't know the friend enough to care if he hurt. Her comparison to Dev made him more curious, though and his tone changed as he ran his fingers over Devin's neck, massaging softly. "Get drunk, get him drunk or get him a real meal, something big. If he's keyed in on you this fast, he's a pretty strong guy himself. Pretty open, not putting up much of a fight, is he?"

"I'm not fighting anybody," Jon defended, not sure what the man was talking about. Strong guy? Him?

Ruby smiled as Chris said Jon was strong, he was much stronger than he yet realized but she was sure he would know soon enough. "No.. he's not fighting me at all.. he loves me, too." She spoke almost proudly as if telling her brother she'd fallen in love with the most wonderful creature on earth. "Thank you Larson.. and tell Devin 'hi' for me." She could hear the movement through the phone and was fairly certain the other girl was with Larson.

Devin could hear Ruby clearly and she chuckled. "Hello Rube." She said herself as she slid up to tug at Larson's free ear. "Speaking of big meals.. I'm hungry.."

"Ruby, be a good girl and don't worry about bombarding him. Don't panic. He needs time and probably some... mmm... distraction. I'm sure you'll know exactly what to do. I gotta go," Larson said, leaving the situation back in her control. He had faith plenty in her that she'd manage. Gabriel hadn't borne any stupid children yet.

Jon managed to peel from his spot at the doorway and came over beside her, concerned about the tears and what Larson was saying, or not saying, to help her. "Time? See? I guess it'll be okay, huh?"

She'd already thanked him and Larson had his own distraction so she simply hung up the phone, handing it to Jon as he came up beside her. "I'm sorry.. I'm.. new to this too.." She reached her hand to his cheek, he was so beautiful in his own way, he had this gentle look to him but lurking beneath that was strength. "We need to get you fed.. you'll feel better then and he said you might need some distraction too." Her giggle was soft and her eyes lit up with thoughts of how she could keep him occupied and his mind off other things. "He's right.. about you being strong. I can see it."

"Aaaah... Ruby, so can I," he cautioned, about what he could see in her thoughts about the distractions, more than his strengths. He chuckled and tossed the phone by his shoes. "Before we get distracted, though... what he said... some big guy or something. I think I know this place..."

"Oh." She caught her lower lip and tried to look innocent, though as he could see her thoughts, he would know she was far from it... at least when it came to him. "Oopsie.. do you mind me thinking of you like that?" She asked him, feeling much better with the reassurances from Larson and seeing that Jon seemed to be doing alright for the moment. She reached for his hand, they could talk on their way to this place he 'knew'.