Nectar (Nectar 1)

She spent half an hour organizing her things in the closet. She separated the clothes from the other miscellaneous things and moved a few of Tristan’s things around to clear two shelves. She piled everything of hers on those shelves.

There. My life. Two small shelves in a vampire’s mansion. Does this mean I’ve accepted this?

She didn’t prod within for an answer but knew she put things away because at some level she’d hoped it would make him happy that she’d done so. She was trying to show him he didn’t need to worry about her trying to run. She didn’t want to question her sanity. She knew she’d do that if she put any degree of thought into her actions right now but told herself she was just doing what she needed to do right now. Right this minute she needed to do this. She didn’t want to prod because she was tired of being in the labyrinth inside her own head. There was no way to make sense of this situation right now so why torment herself?

As she put things away she checked out his belongings. He had a lot of suits, many of pairs of jeans, some nice jewellery, lots of dress shoes, boots, and several pairs of running shoes. His closet probably rivaled a rich woman’s closet in terms of number of articles of clothing as well as the money spent.

She opened all the bottles of cologne on the dressing table one at a time, sniffing them. She couldn’t find that scent, the warm scent she always smelled at the base, underneath the various desserty scents. She was craving it so badly. She tried to ignore that pinching sensation in her arms and legs.

Kyla broke the boxes down and put them against a wall in the closet and then climbed into bed and put the TV on and peeled an orange. It was a long and boring afternoon. Every once in while she’d forget for a little while but then something would be said on a show to remind her of her bizarre predicament.

Or, she’d see the shackles on the chair out of the corner of her eye. She had a minor crying episode watching a classic episode of Looney Tunes with that cartoon vampire bat and Bugs, when Bugs kept saying Abracadabra, Hocus Pocus.

She kept wishing he’d come in, although she dreaded it at the same time. So confusing! She decided to lose herself in a book. There was a bookcase with hardcover books, great books she’d have owned herself. Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, many others.

She snickered as she fingered the spine of Interview with a Vampire. In fact, one entire shelf was dedicated to vampire books, both new and old. Dracula, The Anne Rice vampire chronicles, The Vampire Diaries, the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, Salem’s Lot, even the Twilight Saga.

When it started to get dark, the bedroom door opened and Tristan walked in. She was in the bed, just starting to read The Vampire Lestat. She’d already devoured Interview with a Vampire, envisioning Tristan instead of Louis as the main character.

He walked toward her. Was that anger on his face? He strode purposefully, his eyes seemed to be emitting heat and holding hers prisoner. Uh oh.

She slouched back against the headboard, fear rising due to the intensity on his face. The book in her hand landed on the floor with a thud. She didn’t blink, probably didn’t even breathe.

He put a knee on the edge of the bed and then crawled toward her, stalking, almost like a lion. She covered her face with her hands. He took her wrists gently and moved them away from her face and his eyes met hers again. They stared at one another for a moment. Kyla felt like her blood pressure must’ve been through the roof.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said and at those words it slowed a little. She slowly exhaled.

He let go of her wrists and circled his hands around her head and took the elastic band out. Her long hair fell in a cascade of curls. It was still slightly damp due to having been wound tight since her bath.

“I need you,” he said, “Right now.” She was startled. His eyes were intense. Well, they were always intense… but right now they exuded something scorching hot.

He reached for her and pulled her toward him, catching her mouth with his. He kissed her hungrily. She responded, giving as good as she got right back. She let out a whimper, feeling relief wash over her as Tristan’s musky sweet sugar and caramel scent enveloped her.

He squeezed her tight, almost too tight. She revelled in that scent, that sweet and warm and comforting scent. And the taste…he tasted like something sweeter than she could have fathomed. If the past kisses were 1000 calorie desserts, this was an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet with 100,000 calories. Sugar and chocolate and maple syrup…and…whoa --- his zipper descended and then her sweatpants and underwear came down together in a bundle that didn’t even get off her ankles and he suddenly rammed hard into her. She winced at the fullness and lack of preparation but welcomed it at the same time.