BOOK FOUR in THE GUARDIAN'S SERIES
Book One: A Guardian's Touch, Book Two: A Guardian's Love, Book Three: A Guardian's Passion
Disclaimer See Part 1
Feedback: Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART SEVEN
Chapter 13
Clarissa's arms slowly came up and carefully slipped around Jessica's waist. She felt a shiver run through her at the feel of the warm body against hers. Three years ago she'd taken this woman to bed with the hope of exorcising the strange lustful attraction she'd felt for her. The one night turned into two nights and still she'd failed miserably. When Jessica had taken her hand earlier, she had to call on her superhuman control not to gasp at the sudden hunger which speared her starving body at their first touch in three years. She looked into the wet grey eyes and found them watching her intently. It was almost as if she was trying to burn her image into her memories. Oh, how wonderful it was to see those Angel Eyes again, she murmured inwardly.
She mentally thanked Inger for kicking her out of the basement as soon as Paloma had arrived. Otherwise she would've still been there ‘forced' to watch those awful girl flicks with her. Luckily Paloma turned up and with all the romantic movies Inger had been watching it was evident that she was all too happy to cuddle with her mate. Herself, however, was unceremoniously shown the door. As soon as she was alone, she had scanned for Trinity and followed them here; only to be stop in her tracks at the familiar scent she picked up the minute she entered the bar. Her sharp eyes had scanned through the patrons until it came to rest on the dark headed woman sitting alone at a table, her back to the door. The closer she got to her the stronger the scent became until she had to stand a few feet away and get her emotions under control.
She'd thought of going out and looking for her one day when things had calmed down a bit and Mary was not a threat anymore. It wouldn't have been difficult, since she was in dozens of magazines over the years. But to bump into her so unexpectedly was not what she ever dreamt could happen. Now here she was holding her in her arms again. They both have changed over the years. She herself had become harder, tougher and more dangerous than she'd ever thought she could be. Jessica on the other hand had become softer and more…open, judging from the way she had just let go when she had recognized her. She had read her mind the moment their eyes had met and she was stunned by the loneliness and unhappiness that Jessica was trying to hide behind a carefree exterior. Then the feeling of relief overwhelmed her, followed by a rush of long buried emotions.
“It feels so good to hold you again. I've missed being in your arms.” Jessica whispered softly and pressed her face into her neck. Clarissa felt the dampness of Jessica's tears on her neck and tightened her embrace. As scared as she was at opening herself up for more heartache, Jessica's tears weakened her resolve. The years apart had just intensified her love for the photographer. She simply couldn't bear to see her hurting. Jessica had changed, just as Jonas had implied all those years ago. She was willing to try again and see if they could make it work. She had more than enough time on her hands. She had an eternity to try and make this thing work between them. Wasn't this what she'd longed for all these years?
“I will hold you tonight until you fall asleep and the night after that and the night after that if you want me to .”
The dark head lifted from where it rested on her shoulder and the wet grey eyes gazed into hers incredulously.
“Do you really mean it? Even…even after what I did to you ? ” she asked softly and Clarissa read the fear and expectation in her mind.
“Yes.”
The music started and they both glanced to the stage. A waif-like girl was standing behind the microphone, singing a sad love song in a deep Irish brogue and Clarissa felt Jessica tightening her hold around her neck, pulling her tall frame closer to her. She sighed softly and Clarissa felt the tension gradually seep out of Jessica. They slowly began to move to the deep, sorrowful tune and they were still swaying together minutes after the song had ended.
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At the table, Gabriella and Trinity were staring at the couple, still stunned by the strange twist of fate. Their exes were in love. Gabriella looked at Trinity and shook her head.
“Do you think we should tell them?”
Trinity shook her head and took a hasty sip from her wine.
“They will eventually find out by themselves.”
“You're right.”
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Jessica was on cloud nine. Clarissa had found her and she wasn't going to let her slip through her fingers again. They had another round of drinks and danced some more before Gabriella and Trinity, both still looking a bit shell-shocked, left. The bar was slowly filling up and when the crowd became too rowdy, Clarissa took her hand and led her out of the bar.
“I don't like crowded places much.”
“Me too. Where do you want to go from here?”
The brown eyes slowly trailed over her, before they delved into the grey depths of her eyes.
“Where do you want to go?”
“My hotel room.”
Clarissa nodded and held out her hand. Jessica placed her hand in hers and when she looked up into Clarissa's face, she saw the gentle look in her eyes. How was she going to tell her that she wasn't sure she'd be able to have sex with her tonight? Three years of total abstinence had nearly rendered her impotent. Caroline and many other faceless women could attest to the fact that she wasn't able to perform when the stage was set. She looked at their joined hands and closed her eyes. Finally she had what she wanted only to be scared of disappointing Clarissa. She looked up at her, but before she could speak, Clarissa shook her head.
“Don't worry. We don't have do anything tonight. We'll just talk. OK?
She wanted to know how she knew that she wasn't ready yet, but the tender look in Clarissa's eyes postponed the asking of the question. Her hand clasped tighter around Clarissa's hand and they walked the long stretch across the cathedral square to her hotel.
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Paloma's tousled blonde head appeared from under the covers and the liquid silver eyes lovingly looked into Inger's flustered face, forcing Inger to slowly lift her head and place a soft kiss on the smiling lips. Will she ever tire of this woman; Inger wondered and kissed her again. Over the years she'd seen the respect in the other vampires' eyes when Paloma entered a room. Their admiration; when she spoke and laid out battle plans, but its moments such as these that she personally treasures. Moments like there when the lethal silver eyes were warm with love and clouded with desire. She ran her fingertips over Paloma's lips and smiled lazily. They had just finished making love and she was in a very happy space at the moment.
“How was your day?”
“Now that I've seen you…? My day is now complete, my sweet.” The silver eyes caressed her bare breasts.
Inger bit her lower lip and grinned at the leering look. Only Paloma could make a leering look very sexy.
“I thought you enjoyed being the Guardian of the Race. What happened?” Her voice was teasing and she casually touched her breast, just over the nipple, just where she knew Paloma like to bite her. The silver eyes darkened slightly and Inger smiled. She could read Paloma's thoughts clearly. Her blue eyes widened suddenly with shock.
“You're crazy if you think I will allow you to do that to me, Vampire. That's…that's sinful, to say the least,” she sputtered, feeling herself heating up as her mind conjured up the explicit images. She blushed when she found the silver eyes resting on her, a knowing expression in them.
Paloma smiled and stroked the younger woman's thigh possessively.
“You want to bet on that, Human?”
Inger did… and she lost.
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Chapter 14
For the umpteenth time Jessica looked at her reflection in the mirror, looking at the laugh lines and the dark circles around her eyes. She had changed over the years. Her body wasn't as firm as it was four years ago. Her tummy not as flat anymore and her arms … Oh, heavens how was Clarissa going to react when she sees her like this? She tilted her head and looked at her chin. Was that a double chin or was she just paranoid?
“You look great.”
She swung around, shocked that she didn't hear Clarissa entering the bathroom. Clarissa was leaning against the door frame, the same somber expression on her face when she'd first seen her earlier tonight. She slowly turned away from the mirror and smiled shakily.
“I thought you were waiting for me in the room?”
Clarissa gazed at her intensely. The dark eyes slowly looking her up and down.
“And have you change into something …” Those devil eyes were wreaking havoc with her insides. “…even more conservative?” She took a step closer, looking at the way her pajama top was stretching over her breasts. “It's not a bad choice though. I'm beginning to like it.” She took her hand and pulled her behind her.
Jessica followed her, feeling like a sheep being lead to the slaughter. She stood there looking at Clarissa as she pulled the covers back and she silently slid beneath the covers. Clarissa reached out and pulled her into her arms, spooning her trembling body. She can't remember ever feeling so anxious about going to bed with a woman. But Clarissa was not just any woman. She was the woman. The one she didn't want to disappoint.
“I meant what I said earlier, Jessica. I want nothing more than to hold you in my arms.”
Jessica turned her head and looked at Clarissa. The dark eyes were surprisingly warm and tender.
“I know you do.”
“Good. Now relax and tell me what you've been up to these past three years. I've read a lot of stuff about you in the media.”
Jessica laughed softly and snuggled deeper into Clarissa's arms.
“I find the latest rumor very amusing.”
“The one about you having a threesome with those twin sisters while shooting in Hawaii?”
Jessica stiffened, surprised that Clarissa also heard about that particular rumor. Clarissa didn't strike her as a person who would read tabloids. She slowly turned in Clarissa's arms. The brown eyes were looking at her calmly.
“You know about that, huh?”
“Most of my family members are very much fascinated by this all consuming star struck culture of today and the media craze the lives of celebrities generate. Star News is an excellent point of reference . You do come up now and then.”
Jessica nodded at the explanation.
“They are lies most of the time.”
“I was wondering, because some of the things sounded too bizarre to be true.”
Jessica smiled at Clarissa's honesty. She'd missed that a lot. Her hand lifted as if it had a will of its own and pushed through the cool blonde locks. When her hand gently massaged Clarissa's scalp, she felt a tremor run through the other woman.
“I want to kiss you,” she murmured, already leaning in for the kiss. Clarissa swallowed hard at the lump in her throat and Jessica followed the movement with her eyes. “But if you feel it will be too uncomfortable, then I will wait for tomorrow.”
“Like hell you will,” Clarissa said sharply and Jessica smiled her satisfaction. She leaned forward and they both sighed at the first gentle brushing of their lips. They pulled away and looked at each other and then they kissed again. This time the kiss was longer…deeper and …less gentle. They pulled away again, both slightly out of breath. But only for a second. Their heads moved closer and they kissed again.
Clarissa was the first to break the intoxicating kiss. “I gave you my word and I'd hate to go back on it.” She gasped and moved away to put space between their bodies.
“I haven't been with anyone since we were together last.”
The brown eyes looked suspicious at first and then a sudden possessive look came into the dark eyes. The stirring look she gave Jessica made her heartbeat accelerate and Jessica couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Clarissa was looking right through her. It was as if she was literally paging through her thoughts.
“Why not?”
“I think you've bewitched me.”
Clarissa moved closer, rising on her elbow and looking down into the grey eyes, her mouth hovering above Jessica's, her breath warm on her face. Holding her eyes, she lowered her lips and gently brushed them over hers. Slowly and feathery.
Jessica felt the pent up air in her lungs explode, but before it passed her lips, Clarissa's mouth closed over hers. The kiss went on and on, until Clarissa wrenched her mouth away and buried it in her neck. They lay like that for a long while before Clarissa fell back on the bed and pulled her into her arms.
“You need to close your eyes and sleep now before we both lose control.”
Jessica wasn't really tired, but somehow her eyes suddenly felt heavy and she was struggling to keep her eyes open. With the last of her strength she turned her head and looked at Clarissa. The brown eyes were soft, very soft and the sweetest smile played over her lips. Jessica sighed softly and succumbed to the gentle pull of sleep.
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Clarissa felt as if her heart was going to explode as she watched Jessica slowly slipping deeper and deeper into sleep. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead and smiled. When Jonas came to Cleaver to get her, she'd fought against the inevitable. As a matter of fact, she denied it out right. But a few weeks after returning to New York, the truth hit her like a freight train. She was in love with Jessica and Jessica didn't love her in return. Although she'd known that one day she would love to look her up to see if she was still content with being alone and avoiding all emotional ties, she hid the memories deep inside of her and concentrated on her new role as protector of the human race. But seeing her again tonight, she knew that amongst other things, Jessica will be an important factor in her life. One, which will dictate the current of many events and situations, she was sure.
She held Jessica tighter to her and pushed her nose into her hair . Jessica always smelled nice but tonight she smelled delicious. Clarissa immediately regretted that thought as her eyes zoomed in on the slow shallow pulse in her neck. She quickly looked away. She craved the taste of Jessica's blood ; have been for the past three years. Her eyes seek out the pulse again and this time she felt her fangs lengthening.
Maybe just a sip or two would take the edge off her craving. It would be dawn soon and she won't have time to go out and feed anyway. She bent closer, but stopped a few millimeters from Jessica's neck. It just didn't feel right. She couldn't use her to feed her demonic hunger ; it meant that she would purposely reduce her to that of a blood cow . She needed to put some space between her and temptation. She slowly began to ease away from Jessica, hoping to be long gone by the time the brunette woke up.
She froze when the grey eyes fluttered open and looked straight at her. A dazzling smiled arched the beautiful lips as they looked into her brown eyes. The look only lasted for a few seconds before the grey eyes fluttered closed again and Jessica's breathing evened out. Slowly blowing out her breath, Clarissa eased out of the bed and walked over to the writing desk in the corner. She quickly scribbled a note and placed it on the pillow on which her head had rested a few minutes ago.
She stood there for a long while and smiled down at Jessica's sleeping face. She looked so beautiful, with her cheek resting on her palm and a slight smile on her face. It was almost impossible to believe that they had finally found each other again. But the toughest test still lay ahead. How will she react when she finds out what she was? A creature who survives on the blood of humans? She quickly closed her eyes , hoping to stop the possible reactions that flashed through her mind. When she opened them, it was to look straight into worried grey eyes.
“You're sad? What's wrong?”
Clarissa stared at her, her exterior clam and collected, but her insides were jumbled. Jessica had sensed her sadness even in her sleep! For a human to be so attuned with the moods of a vampire, was unheard of … unless … unless she had some of the vampire's blood. But how and when? She'd been the one drinking from Jessica and she couldn't remember an incident where she'd exchanged blood with her.
“Are you OK, Clarissa?” Jessica was sitting up now; concern clearly on her face and Clarissa quickly shook her head.
“No, don't get up. I'm fine. I was just thinking about the time we were apart and how unfortunate it was that we allowed it to happen in the first place.”
Jessica smiled sadly. “I will always regret my decision and the consequent pain I caused us both during our separation.” She sighed deeply. “No need to dwell on the past. We have another chance to make it work and I promise not to squander it again.
“We both are to blame, Jessica. I probably shouldn't have given up so easily. I could've fought harder.” The sienna eyes were serene as they looked at Jessica.
Jessica smiled back at her, but her eyes still had lingering sadness in them. “No matter what you say, I know the truth.” Her eyes moved over Clarissa. “I can see that you're dressed and ready to leave. Could I have a hug before you go?”
Clarissa had to stop herself from falling over her feet in her eagerness to hold Jessica. Placing her hands on both sides of Jessica, Clarissa gently pushed her back, using her body, until she was lying on her back. Jessica slipped her arms around her neck and they gently kissed before Jessica pulled away.
“Will I see you later today?” she asked; her lips slightly swollen from the kiss. Clarissa gently kissed her again.
“Of course. We can have dinner somewhere, if you like.”
“OK. Go now, before I decide to keep you here with me.”
The grey eyes were looking at her with unexpected hunger and Clarissa quickly walked to the door. The sun will rise anytime soon and the look in Jessica's eyes was almost too inviting to ignore. As the door closed behind her, she heard Jessica's taunting laughter and grinned. Her promise of not seducing her expired this morning and tonight she wanted to see who laughs the last.
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Jessica rolled over and heard the crinkling sound of paper. She quickly sat up and reached for the note which lay on the pillow. Her eyes scanned over the lines and she smiled. It just confirmed that she was going to come by later tonight and that she would miss her until then. She brought the note to her lips and kissed it softly. Yes, she was looking forward to tonight. She glanced at her alarm clock. It was early morning hours and she suddenly wondered why Clarissa had to rush back so early. She slowly sat up, her heart thundering in her chest. The obvious reason could be that she was with someone and was rushing back home before her partner noticed her absence.
Her heart stuttered at the thought and she quickly tried to think of other reasons. Maybe she didn't want the hotel staff to see her coming out of her room in the morning hours, because she was … was … She abruptly cut of f her trail of thought. Only Clarissa will be able to answer that question. She rolled over on her stomach and smiled when the earthy scent of Clarissa assailed her nostrils. I wish you were here to hold me again , she thought with a dull ache in her heart. I will never admit it to you, but I'm so scared of letting you out of my sight. Scared you might disappear again. At least she knew now that Gabriella was related to her. This time, she will not disappear off the face of the earth again.
She'd reached her lair just in time and was already deep underground about to shut down her vitals in preparation for her dreamless sleep when Jessica's thoughts soaked through her sleep-fuddled brain. She was scared that she wouldn't see her again. That was not going to happen…never. Although she was aching to take her to bed and extinguish the molten heat in her veins by taking her over and over, she had also been privy to her thoughts , her fears. Jessica wasn't ready for that yet.
Whatever had kept Jessica from sleeping with other women over the past three years, obviously run deeper than she'd thought. She feared that she would not be able to return the passion and love. She will have to be patient and even if it drives her to the brink of insanity, she will at least be happy, knowing she had placed Jessica's needs before hers. She had a long lifetime ahead of her and a few weeks; months... years… of waiting were not going to matter. Her eyes fluttered closed and she smiled to herself.