Scarlet Masquerade (26 page)

Selene could see the blade of her rapier had bent and stuck out behind De Marcus’s shoulder. Grabbing the handle she began to wiggle it back and forth opening the wound wider. While the blade was close to his heart, it wasn’t a fatal wound. Nonetheless, it would keep him down for a few days. She continued to yank on the blade, blood soaking his white shirt. The action finally caused De Marcus to release his grip on her arm and he began to scream.

“I’ll kill you, you bitch.”

“Stop screaming or I’ll continue to open you like a Christmas pig.” Selene jerked the handle again to emphasis her point.

She could feel De Marcus try and toss her off, so she reached down and pulled the dagger she had hidden in her boot and pushed it into his throat. The tip instantly drew blood and she licked his throat. A tingle rushed through her when his blood hit her. She felt her body tighten and surge again. Setting her fangs to his jugular, a pair of red and blue lights caught her attention. Her back up had arrived.

A.J. held Clarissa as they stared out into the night. The city looked different tonight. Maybe it was just having Clarissa in her arms, but there was a hopefulness tonight. A.J. felt her former lover relax in her arms. She sighed resting her cheek against Clarissa’s head. How long would Clarissa let A.J. hold her? A.J. thought about all the things she wanted to say to her, about all the things that had happened since their last meeting. She wanted to carry Clarissa into the bedroom and reacquaint herself with her lover, but. There was always a but.

“Perhaps you would like to take a shower and change into something more comfortable?” A.J. released her, turning Clarissa to face her, finally. “I’m sure I can find some sweats that would fit you. Would that be alright?” A.J. asked, studying Clarissa’s face. A quick nod and a shy smile would have to suffice. “Okay. Um, my guestroom is that way.” A.J. pointed to the right. “I’ll bring you some clothes and you can shower in there. Fresh towels are in the cabinet, along with a toothbrush and a few other items you might need.”

“Look, I don’t want to keep you from anything. I mean, it’s night and I’m sure you have stuff you probably need to take care of.”

A.J. stopped and looked back at Clarissa. “What are you implying?” A.J. saw Clarissa visibly shake when she heard A.J.’s tone.

“I’m just saying that, well, you know.”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t. Please elaborate, Professor Graham, on your meaning of ‘stuff’. I’m sure you, as the literature professor, have an excellent command of the King’s English, so please enlighten me.” A.J. pulled Clarissa to the couch and sat down. “I fear, perhaps, you have an impression of me that’s no longer valid.” A.J.’s stilted cadence and tone clearly left little to wonder how angry she was at the moment.

“I’m sorry. I can see that I’ve upset you. I just—”

“Tell me what you think I am, Clarissa.” Her controlled anger seethed just under the surface and A.J. was having difficulty masking it. “This is a discussion that we should have now and not later. I don’t want there to be any misconceptions or lies between us.” Grasping Clarissa’s hands she slowly reiterated, “Please, tell me who you think I am.”

“I’m sorry, Alexandra. I just….” The comment died on her lips as she stared down at their joined hands.

“You keep apologizing, but you aren’t saying anything, so let me. I don’t sleep during the day. I sleep at night. I don’t hunt or kill humans and I don’t drink their blood.” A.J. pulled a tin case out of her pocket and opened it. “When I feel the need, I pop one or two of these and put them under my tongue. The affects are immediate. They’re concentrated blood capsules and have pretty much helped me control my life for years now.” A.J. put the container on the coffee table. “I enjoy a good meal and I like a good Scotch. I can be out in the sun, but I chose this city because of the fog that lingers near the coast. I don’t like the desert, for obvious reasons, and I move every ten to fifteen years.”

Looking at Clarissa, A.J. wondered what she was thinking. Did she believe her or did she still believe the lies De Marcus had told her. She could only hope that the flame that burned in her heart continued to burn in Clarissa’s. If not, then the future would hold no hope for A.J. She had already decided that days ago. Moving closer, A.J. tilted Clarissa’s gaze to meet her own.

Her tone softened, growing husky as she continued, “Since I saw you, I’ve thought of nothing else. I had hoped to court you like I did when we were back in Paris. The donation to the ball was to be my entry back into your world.” A.J.’s lips hovered over Clarissa’s. Watching Clarissa close her eyes she softly kissed her lips, lingering briefly. “I am still enchanted by your beauty and I would be lying if I told you I didn’t want to make passionate love to you right now.” Releasing Clarissa, A.J. took a deep breath and stood, “Now, I’ll find those sweats for you and deposit them in the bathroom.”

A.J. rolled her shoulders and took several deep breaths. She felt like a school girl who just had her first kiss on the playground. Her nipples hardened being close to Clarissa and her heart pounded in her ears. She contemplated closing the door and masturbating, but even that wouldn’t be enough to release her body from its fragile state. She wanted Clarissa and she knew only Clarissa could release her from the agony she was in. A.J. wanted her to come willingly, so she would wait. Forever, if she needed to, but she would wait.

###

Clarissa caressed her lips, still feeling A.J.’s kiss lingering. The softness reminded Clarissa of their first kiss, the possessive way Alexandra had kissed her that long ago night in Paris. If only they could return to that time and place and live life differently. Clarissa knew now she would have made a different decision back then. She had been so selfish when she told Alexandra she didn’t want to be a vampire. But Alexandra had never forced her to change her mind. She had left the decision in her lover’s hands and had abided by Clarissa’s wishes.

De Marcus was different. He had taken what he wanted, relying on her parents’ innocence. As she lay dying, De Marcus had convinced her father to let him treat her. He had been persistent in his pursuit of Clarissa and she often wondered why he continued. She had seen the way he looked at Alexandra and wondered if they had been lovers, but Alexandra had only dismissed the idea, telling Clarissa they had history and not to worry. After De Marcus turned Clarissa, he boasted how he had taken the very thing Alexandra had wanted. It was only fair, he said, since she had cost him his rightful place in the Coven. He never said much beyond that and soon after died, or so she thought.

A hot shower, a glass of wine and Clarissa would feel better. She was sure of it. Clarissa realized looking down at her dress that Carol had helped her with all the buttons on the back. Now, she was in need of assistance to get the darn thing off. Embarrassed at her predicament she called for Alexandra, but got no response. She tapped lightly on A.J.’s door but still nothing. Tapping again she opened the door and started to say something, but before she could say anything she saw Alexandra naked, rummaging through a drawer. Her strong, tight body was just as beautiful as she recalled. Alexandra’s firm breasts barely swayed while she shuffled things around. Clarissa licked her lips thinking about all the times she had tugged them with her teeth and then soothed them, running her tongue over the taunt tips. Lowering her gaze, the sight of Alexandra’s firm ass made Clarissa blush remembering the times she laid next to Alexandra caressing it. She finished her assessment just in time to see Alexandra staring back at her in the mirror.

“Oh, sorry. I guess you didn’t hear me.” Clarissa quickly slammed the door shut and clutched her chest. The sight of Alexandra’s naked body sent instant tremors through her and made her tingle, raw desire pooling between her legs. Clarissa felt herself blush thinking of Alexandra naked. Feeling a bit lightheaded she bent over gasping for breath. God, Alexandra was still beautiful. The quick look had given Clarissa enough to know Alexandra still had power over her. Her hand trembled as she brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

What am I doing standing here? If she finds me here waiting, what will she think? That I’m a wanton hussy, that’s what she’ll think.

Clarissa made a mad dash to her own bathroom and slammed the door. She didn’t have to wonder if Alexandra still excited her. No, that question had just been answered. Now, she had to deal with a new demon. Its name, desire.

A.J. stood dumbfounded. Had Clarissa been standing at the door the whole time, watching her? There was no mistaking the look she had given A.J. either. Lust, pure lust had met her eyes when she looked at Clarissa. A.J. heard a door slam at the other end of the penthouse and threw some sweats on.

A.J. slowed her breathing when she knocked on the bathroom door, “Clarissa? Clarissa, open the door.” A.J. pressed her ear against the door and listened. Gosh, how juvenile, she thought, waiting then knocking again. “Clarissa, did you need something? I didn’t hear what you said back there.” Motioning to no one, she shrugged her shoulders again. Geez, what am I doing?

A click and then a billowing cloud of steam rolled out a crack in the door. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you, Alexandra. I just needed some help with the buttons of my dress. I can manage. Thank you.” Clarissa tried to shut the door, but A.J. pressed her shoulder against it.

“Nonsense. Let me help you. Besides, I have some sweats for you.” A.J. pressed harder, the door budging slowly. Slipping her arm through, A.J. handed Clarissa the bundle. “See?”

Taking the clothes, Clarissa released the door, coming face to face with A.J. A.J. focused on the blush claiming Clarissa’s heaving breasts. The steam in the room only added to the obvious discomfort both were feeling. Clearly, the heavy dress was starting to weigh more as the steam saturated it. A.J. smiled, and then twirled her finger commanding Clarissa to turn around. With expertise she hadn’t relied on in decades, she started to unfasten the brocade buttons. Each button revealed the softness of Clarissa’s neck, then her tender shoulders. A.J. stopped suddenly, a tattoo exposed as she slid the dress down further. It was clearly tribal in nature and had a form to it that left A.J. struggling to figure it out. The blackness in deep contrast to Clarissa’s pale white skin gave it an ethereal look. A.J.’s finger traced the spinning tines of the tattoo as it swirled into the circle. Clarissa’s muscle under the tattoo tightened while A.J. continued to trace its gentle curves.

“It’s beautiful,” said A.J., feeling a kindred spirit with the markings. “What does it mean?” A.J. finished the buttons, the dress pillowing at Clarissa’s feet. Her gaze followed the billowing fabric slide down the perfectly shaped hips and legs. The lack of a bra didn’t help A.J.’s libido as Clarissa covered her breasts. Stepping out of the dress, A.J. scooped up the heavy costume and tossed it on the makeup table. The question momentarily forgotten, A.J. watched the beautiful body unfold before her. The steam had started to collect on Clarissa’s naked form. A single drip between her shoulder blades beckoned A.J.’s tongue to follow the trail it was making down Clarissa’s back and down between a firm ass. Overwhelmed with desire, A.J. busied herself pulling pins from Clarissa’s hair, watching it slowly cascade down her back and absorb the wetness that had pooled. Need was starting to build in A.J. and she watched her hands shake as she fingered the soft locks. Clarissa’s head fell back into A.J.’s hands and a slight moan escaped her lips. The sound sent a tingle through A.J., reminding her of the moans of pleasure she had elicited from her lover in the past. To be breathing the same air Clarissa did was almost more than A.J. could’ve ever dreamed of. Now, she was disrobing Clarissa, seeing the beauty that she had thought was lost to her. A step closer and A.J. would be entwined with her lover. It took everything she had to keep her distance. It wasn’t will power, but a cold, heart wrenching fear that if she touched Clarissa this intimately, she would vanish.

The softness of Clarissa’s voice pulled A.J. back into the moment. “It reminded me of a joining, of kindred spirits on the same journey meeting and connecting. Obviously the sharpness of my life is represented by the spikes. The other strokes are those that are trying to tear that life apart.”

A.J. looked down at the spiral of life as it intertwined with the others. The description left her speechless and made her wonder what Clarissa had been through at that time in her life to need such a permanent reminder of the event. Her finger trailed around the spiral and then out one of the tines and then back into the spiral again and then out and back in again. It reminded A.J. of the Wiccan triple spiral, the symbol for life, just more tribal. Clearly, Clarissa had added the tearing of that life to two of the tines but one tine had no tearing symbols attached to it.
Perhaps it should stay a question?,
thought A.J. as she cleared her throat.

“Ask me,” Clarissa said, pulling a towel off the rack to hide her nakedness.

“I didn’t say anything.” A.J. looked down into endless pools of green. Clarissa’s eyes had always captivated A.J., just as they did now. She struggled with herself, wanting to pull Clarissa into her body, to feel her strength under her touch.

“I heard you. You said ‘perhaps it should stay a question,’ so ask me.” Clarissa’s smoldering gaze was hypnotic so A.J. did as she was bid.

“Why are there no tears on the other tine?”

“It represents the one time in my life when I didn’t have to endure pain or fear or loneliness, the time I had with my family. It’s the one pure time in my life.” Reaching up she laid her hand against A.J.’s face and caressed it. “I’ve always had them with me. I just had to look over my shoulder to see it. It was too painful to see it every day. To look at the loss, and remember the love.” A.J closed her eyes. Feeling the gentle hand against her face almost made her weep.

Turning into the palm she laid a kiss on it. She felt Clarissa’s soft breath against her face before she felt the kiss. A.J. pulled Clarissa into her body, molding herself against the petite, lean frame. Careful not to push, A.J. just held her, hands safely positioned on Clarissa’s hips. Clarissa’s arms encircled her waist. Clarissa’s fingertips burned a path across A.J.’s skin, stroking the muscles along her spine. She reached up and pulled A.J. into a fiery kiss. A.J.’s body tightened and desire pooled between her legs, as she lifted Clarissa off her feet. A.J.’s head spun as the kiss deepened. A delicate tongue probed her lips. As if on command, A.J. parted her lips and immersed herself in Clarissa’s exploration. A.J. leaned back against the wet wall and slid down to the floor, still clutching Clarissa. A.J. broke the kiss, struggling to take a deep breath. Desire spurred her further as she caressed the long porcelain neck, her tongue staking claim to the pulsing vein that lay beneath it. A whisper barely broke through A.J.’s consciousness continuing her path back up to Clarissa’s lips.