She stepped out of the tub carefully to avoid the shards of broken glass that glistened against the marbled floor of her bathroom. She reached for a towel and quickly wrapped its warmth against her cooling skin. She was puzzled at first as to why she was chilled but quickly remembered that she had opened the balcony doors before getting into the tub and a northeast wind had begun to blow as a series of thunderstorms moved in. Even though it was summer, the blowing wind against her naked form was a little refreshing and titillating at the same time. She stopped in front of the full-length mirror in her room, the candlelight illuminating from behind her. She walked a little closer, noticing the way the water trickled down her neck and between her engorged breasts. Her nipples were taut and puckered. She ran her hands against her soft skin and was pleased at the sight. She smiled as she pulled her hair out of the clip that had held it up while she soaked in the bath. Shaking her head gently, the soft curls fell around her shoulders, covering her breasts modestly.
She closed her eyes and could see him behind her, his supple red lips on her neck; one hand cupping her breast while the other nestled beneath the soft wet curls of her mound. His breath was warm against her skin, his kisses torturous yet simplistic against her wanting flesh, his teeth grazing her slightly. She opened her eyes as an exquisite pain spread through her body, only to find him pull away from her neck, the blood trickling between her breasts and following the same trail the water had. Horrified, she screamed out!
He recoiled quickly. All that was visible to the mortal eye was a blur as he disappeared into the night air. Fearful that he had just ruined all hope of having her willingly accept him, he stood behind the huge oak tree below her balcony trying to decide how to handle the situation at hand. He raised one finger to his lips, remembering the feel of her flesh, the taste of her blood against his tongue. His mouth was saturated with her passion, her lust, and her need. He was angry at his stupidity, his overwhelming desire to possess her without considering the consequences of his brazen actions so he inched closer to her balcony, hoping to find out her state of mind. Silently he slid up the wall of the house and stood at the opening to the balcony doors. What he saw both shocked him and elated him.
Isabella was sitting gracefully on a stool, pulling her hair into a twist high upon her head. She had put on the dress that she had bought earlier in the evening accentuating it with matching earrings and a tear drop necklace made of rubies. Her beauty took his breath away.
As she dabbed a little rouge on her cheeks, she smiled sweetly. It was as if she knew he was watching her from the shadows. Her demeanor confused him. The way she had shrieked when she saw him had led him to believe that she would never want him. And why was it that she saw him when no one else was able to see him through a mirror? His heart began to pound, his erection growing harder by the minute as she stood and walked towards the door. When she spoke, her voice was like the soft sounds of a violin playing.
“I’m not scared of you now. Please, I need you. I’m inviting you in” she said as she turned and walked away.
He hesitated momentarily but soon found himself through the door and standing just inches from her. She had her back turned to him, her lovely neck inviting his touch. He placed one arm around her waist, his hand resting on her stomach while the other hand brushed tiny tendrils of loose hair from the nape of her luscious flesh. His breath was hot on her skin as he whispered sexily into her ear.
“You have no need to be scared of me, my love. I will not hurt you nor will I take you against your will. I want to be your lover, your sweet prince.” With that, he pulled her against him so that not an inch separated their impassioned bodies. He kissed the nape of her neck as she leaned against him.
She placed her hand over his as it rested on her stomach and laced her fingers through his. “May I turn around and see your face now?”
“Just promise me you will not bolt from me.”
Isabella turned around, her eyes still closed. She used one hand to reach up and touch his face lightly, allowing her fingers to trace his structure. She shivered as his lips kissed the tips of her fingers. Upon opening her eyes, she gasped.
Standing before her was the most incredibly sensual, exotic man she had ever laid eyes upon.
His long dark tresses were wavy and stood out prominently against his cinnamon skin; his deep brown eyes rich with love and desire, his lips pouty and seductive. He wore a black top hat and suit with a purple silk vest over his crisp white button down shirt. He was definitely all she had hoped for from her ‘midnight lover’.
“You are so beautiful!” she said softly as her eyes studied him.
He smiled and her heart melted.
His hunger for her grew stronger while her own desire engulfed her body threatening to consume her soul as he cradled her face in his long fingers, his eyes threatening to hypnotize her as she kept his gaze.
“Let me love you. Let me give you what you need.”
“Why me?” she asked. “Why did you choose me?”
“I didn’t choose you. You chose me, my angel!” he answered.
She was confused by his words. “But, I don’t even know you. How did I choose you?”
He stared at her for a moment, unsure of his next move. “I am going to show you something but I do not want you to be afraid. I mean it when I tell you that I will not harm you!”
She nodded as he stepped away from her. He bared his fangs slightly, causing her to back even farther from him.
“Do you understand now what I am?” he asked. “I only feed on the miserable, the souls that want to die. You called out to me with your soul, wanting to die, whether intentionally or not and I followed your cries of agony. But from the moment that I saw you, I knew that I could not take your life.”
He glided across the floor so quickly that her knees buckled beneath her. He caught her before her limp body hit the floor and he held her tightly, his lips brushing hers.
“Give your love to me freely and I will in turn lay the world at your feet” he said as he held her against him, her heart racing uncontrollably, her eyes filled with emotion.
“I...I don’t.... I’m confused.....but I......” she stammered as he leaned in and kissed her deeply.
As if floating on air, he carried her to the bed that they had unofficially shared for months now. Gently he laid her on the down comforter and caressed her face with the back of his hand.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~