“I do believe his mouth is heaven, his kisses falling over me like stars.” – Richard Siken
Jane
I was in a cocoon of warmth and softness it was a gentle peace I had not felt in a long time. I nestled deeper and let out a contented sigh as I let myself start to drift back off when I stiffened as reality suddenly hit me full force I jerked away and bolted upright only to let out a pained groan and fall back on the bed I was presently in griping my head I closed my eyes my head was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode and I was definitely hung over I let out a groan and tried to move as little as possible that’s what I get from drinking like I did. Suddenly a pair of strong hands grabbed me around the waist. Ice cold fear washed over me my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode out of my chest.
“No!” I screamed thrashing to get away not again oh god please no I was going to be sick.
“Jane? baby it’s me it’s Antonio!” I froze, slowly I turned around to fully face him. His eyes were wide with confusion and concern just like that all the adrenaline left me I slumped forward against his chest my hands clutching his shirt tightly.
“Antonio…” I slurred as the room tilted and as everything went dark.
“Love is something sent from heaven to worry the Hell out of you” -Dolly Parton
Antonio
I held Jane tightly against my chest as her eyes slowly closed and her heart calmed its frantic beating when her gaze had met his there had been so much fear and pain in her eyes... That joy, that spark, he loved so much about her had been absent, something had happened while he had been away but what? What could make the girl he knew who radiated such confidence and strength now radiate such hesitation and fear? I gently stroked her face, my gaze slid to her hair I ran my hand through her soft corkscrew curls I gently pulled them before letting go I loved the bounce of her hair. I sat back in the bed and cradled her gently in my arms I’d hold her while she slept and keep away the monsters that seemed to plague her and I would never leave her again, even if she didn’t want to be with him anymore he would stay around and always make sure she was safe even though the thought of not being with her hurt but anything happening to her would be even more painful, because he couldn’t help himself he gently breathed in scent of her hair coconut and lavender her favorite shampoo he had bought her the whole collection from the shampoo to the body wash and lotion the way her face had lit up you would have thought he bought her a diamond ring and when he said that she said it was the thought behind it not the price he knew what she liked and that meant a lot to her. I gently swept her hair back from her neck leaning in close I inhaled deeply enjoying her sweet scent it was like an exotic combination of floral and fresh rain he couldn’t help how his mouth watered and his fangs tried to lengthen she always had that effect on him more than other humans and he had noticed others of his kinds and other species turn their heads when she passed her smell calling to them he inhaled deeper and frowned what was that under her scent and the alcohol he caught a bitter smell some type of medicine what was she taking medicine for he felt panic start to fill him he wanted to shake her awake and tell him exactly what was going on was she sick was that why she was acting this way? Sighing he gently laid her down on the bed and pulled the cover over her he needed to run out and grab some food for when she woke up since he’d been gone his fridge was empty and he only kept food for her as well he started for the door and paused he didn’t really want to leave her all alone the store was right down the street no he’d stay and just order her some things and she still had some of her things over here as well sitting down in the chair by the window he pulled out his phone to order her some food his gaze slid back to her sleeping in the bed she was so beautiful inside and out how he had ever walked away from her he couldn’t even believe he had done so and if she sent him away he honestly didn’t know if he could survive that.
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies” -Aristotle.
Jane
I rolled onto my side and opened my eyes slowly afraid the headache would hit me again when I felt no pain, I slowly pulled myself up into a sitting position I ran a hand through my hair slowly everything started coming back.
“Antonio” I said his name in a whisper suddenly he was standing in the doorway a sky blue mug covered in silver stars and moons in his hand my mug I realized, the rich aroma of jasmine tea and honey filled the room my heart instantly sped up at him being close to me which was embarrassing since I knew he could hear it I got up and crossed the room he held the cup out to me since he was a good couple of feet taller than my 5’4 I had to look up I met his deep grey eyes sometimes they looked silver, a heat seemed to spread through me from my toes to my head I took the cup when our hands touched a jolt went through me it had always been that way for us and the small smile on his face told me he still felt it as well.
“Thank you” I murmured moving past him I went out in the living room and stood at his huge bay window I had always loved. It was still dark out and it was raining. This was my favorite something about rain that had always calmed me. Taking a sip, I watched the rain gently falling a tingle up my back told me Antonio had come up behind me he silently moved to my side.
I had to fight the urge to throw myself into his arms I had missed him so much and with everything that had happened in his absence... it just made the feeling even stronger but another part of me felt as if I didn’t deserve him anymore and that if he knew what had happened... he wouldn’t want me anymore either and he would look at me differently and I couldn’t handle that. He turned to face me “I’m sorry love” he said his voice flowed over me strong and deep with the hint of his Italian accent I loved. I slowly turned to him but couldn’t quite meet his gaze “ I’m so sorry for leaving you I never should have left you I thought I wanted you to really experience life and other options if you desired and I belittled your feelings and what you wanted I should have trusted your words when you said you loved me and wanted only me I’m sorry and I know I hurt you and if you want nothing to do with me I understand completely” he sounded so solemn but under that I knew he was afraid of actually loosing me that I wouldn’t forgive him and I’d completely leave his life something I never wanted to do I finally met his gaze. “My leaving had more to do with me and my fears than anything else you are everything to me and the thought of not being with you my best friend, my love it would devastate me…” I was shocked he had never seemed to fear or express himself so freely and deeply it was a soul touching moment I would never forget ever tears welled in my eyes.
“I forgive you” I said I loved him it was that simple “You did hurt me, don’t do it again” I stared him down I wanted him to know if he hurt me again, I was done my tears welled up and spilled down my cheeks.
“I understand” he stepped closer to me until we were less than an inch apart, he reached out and took my free hand he pulled me over to his plush black leather sofa he released me hand I sat down with my legs folded under me holding my cup with both hands enjoying the warmth I took a sip
“Mm” I murmured “thanks again for the tea I really needed it” I tucked a loose curl behind my ear we had so much to talk about to catch up I didn’t know where to start and this minor hangover wasn’t helping my thought process I could feel the anxiety bubbling under the surface.
“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known, but even that is an understatement.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Antonio
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I could tell she was nervous and a little unsure about what to say or what was next for them he had questions for her, but it was late, and she would probably want to sleep he knew certain things took a toll on her, yet she didn’t seem too bad.
“What medicine are you taking and why?” He asked if he knew he sounded blunt, that is just how he was, but he loved her if something was wrong, he had to know. She blinked up at him clearly not expecting that question.
“I’m taking some pills to sort of diminish my power” she said and shrugged looking away for a moment before turning back to him there were tears in her eyes “It was... it was too much I was so overwhelmed I..” she bit her lip reaching out he gently caressed her cheek he knew how draining and painful her gift could be she was a Clair cognizant/Intuitive Empath one of the rarest of the six types of empaths in the world she could feel the emotions of others as well as pick up thoughts and intentions she had told him it was like being a radio and getting a bunch of different signals attacking her all over it was overwhelming and she felt lost sometimes amongst the onslaught. She said she wish had gotten her mother’s gift sometimes her mother had been a Plant Empath and had a beautiful garden in her back yard he remembered when he first met Jane she had been 9 she wore a light blue sundress and was bare foot her long hair trailing behind her she ran through the garden chasing butterflies watering the flowers as well, and when she spotted him she had skipped over to him with a big smile on her face eyes bright with excitement and he watched as her eye color changed from teal to a beautiful shade of purple she held a hand out to him and he took her hand without hesitation and she had showed him around the garden and pointed out each flower and the names for them her mom watched them as she tended to the flowers a gentle smile on her face as she watched them from that moment he and Jane had become friends. He would come see her during his uncles visits with her dad and one day when he came to visit had been a bad day for Jane her gift had started to make itself more known and grew stronger as the days went by he had come over and heard screaming coming from her bedroom he took off he had never moved so fast in his life in her bedroom Jane had been in a corner of her bedroom her arms wrapped tightly around her waist tears streamed down her face and she rocked back and forth and her eyes they kept changing colors one moment they were green, then blue even black and she was begging for the pain to stop it had broken his heart. He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to push the memory away and come back to the present.
“As long as you’re okay, are you okay?” He asked her his eyes watching her face carefully she just nodded he felt his jaw cleave slightly he knew she was holding back and not being completely honest, but he knew it was his fault he broke her trust she would need time before she just opened back up to him completely and that was fine, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She sat her cup on the table and stood up,
“I’m going to lay back down if that’s okay” he nodded.
“Of course get some rest” he gave her a kiss on the cheek when he pulled back he smiled she was blushing and her heart was racing he couldn’t help himself he gently took her face in his hands and kissed her a moan instantly left him at the feel of her soft lips she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up her legs wrapped around his waist her hands slid from his neck into his hair she kissed him back hard and he responded with the same intensity he carried her with blurring speed to the bedroom laying her down he made sure not break the kiss they rolled she took his shirt off their hands were all over each other his mouth slid to her neck his fangs popped out at her sweet scent and from the passion between them he tried to pull back but she clutched his head and pressed him back to her neck he shook his head
“Jane I can’t, I can’t be this close to your neck right now” he moaned he started to pull back again “It’s okay go ahead, I want you to” she turned her neck even more to give him full access if his heart still beat it would be pounding in his chest, he hadn’t had her blood in months. and no other blood compared he pressed her down into the bed his mouth went back to her neck he positioned himself just right over her vein and let his teeth slowly sink in she moaned and arched up against him her blood hit his tongue it was so good so sweet he closed his eyes in bliss it almost made him cum he pressed her back down against the bed he held her head securely keeping her perfectly still he took another deep pull from her veins she moaned again even louder her hands clutched his back hard her couldn’t help as he rocked against her lost in complete ecstasy he began to drink faster and deeper his fangs pressed Harder into her neck he took one last pull from her vein before he slowly pulled his fangs from her neck and kissed her deeply. He slowly pulled back and looked down at her, her eyes had turned to pure gold her chest rose and fell quickly as she began to relax her eyes slowly changed back into the lovely shade of teal, he loved so much she gave him a slow sated smile before her eyes drifted close and she dozed back off to sleep he pulled the blanket up over her before he headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. He wanted to wine and dine her today and really make up for lost time he stood under the warm spray eyes closed as he pondered things they could do together and places they could go when the shower door opened suddenly he opened his eyes to Jane naked and getting in with him his eyes drifted over her body she was perfect she turned slightly to shut the shower door and he caught the glimpse of a tattoo on her back that hadn’t been there before he gently turned her around to see it completely it was a Phoenix that covered her whole back and instead of traditional red and yellow for fire she had chosen a mix of sky blue, purple, red and orange it was beautiful then his gaze drifted to her shoulder where a long scar that definitely hadn’t been there before she pulled her hair out of its messy bun it tumbled down her back and past her waist she turned back around to face him, a small smile on her face.
“What happened to your shoulder” he asked his gaze narrowed on her when her heart rate picked up the smile fell from her face, she licked her lips a sign when she was nervous.
“I fell” she said her tone was monotone as if she had repeated it over and over, she moved past him to stand under the water.
“You fell...?” he drawled letting the skepticism leak into his voice she did not look at him she just nodded and proceeded to wash her hair he was distracted for a moment by her sleek hair against her skin he took a breath to refocus.
“Why aren’t you being honest with me about what really happened?” He asked after a moment, she tensed up, her hands fell to her sides and when she turned to face him her face completely threw him off, he had never seen her look so... cold? “No maybe detached was a better description as she stared him down.
“Stop you just came back into my life, if I don’t want to talk don’t push me” her voice was low and as sharp as a blade she moved past him grabbing a towel she left out the bathroom and closed the door behind her. He stood there for a moment at a loss she had never been that way before something was going on something she didn’t want to talk about sighing heavily he continued washing up he’d give her some space for a moment, and he wouldn’t push her again when she was ready to talk, she would. Twenty minutes later he got out grabbing a towel he headed out and into his bedroom and froze she was gone? No, he checked the other room and the kitchen and gym she really had left hurrying back into his room he quickly got dressed and headed out shit where did she go it was 6 am and still pouring down did she go to her new place or her dads? He stepped out onto the street and the door attendant held the door open for him.
“If you’re looking for your girl, she got into a cab ten minutes ago” he said he turned to him.
“Did you hear her give an address at all?” The door attendant hesitated for a moment then sighed.
“I did but I’m not sure I should just violate her privacy that way, especially with how she ran out of here” Antonio ground his teeth in frustration he could understand where he was coming from, he just didn’t care he got in his face and held his gaze as he exerted his will over him.
“Tell me the address” he said his tone low and authoritative full of command the doorman’s face went slack his eyes glazed over as he obeyed.
“1920 Melrose Street” he answered his tone void of any emotion as he complied, he released the man from his compulsion, and he took off down the street to uncle’s car practically jumping in he started the car hitting the gas harder than he should. He really should get his uncle’s car back to him he did have his own. He would take care of it as soon as he and Jane were good, he had pushed too hard and to fast he had been gone all this time he hadn’t been there when she needed him the most and she was hurting he had no right to demand anything of her he had overwhelmed her without meaning too, it was hard when it came to her he wanted all of her and he took when he should have been giving and giving her space and time it was always easy for them to fall into this comfortable place this bubble with just them and so much emotion consumed with each other but things were different now he hurt her and she was clearly hurting he had tried to fall back into that bubble but it had been too much and it popped, things needed to be taken slower and he would do whatever she needed so she was okay and so they were good moving forward.