*sorry about the boring last chapter, I had to get information in there and my brain went wonky lol I plan to rework that one soon*
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I have little restraint, so of course I had to find Sera. I hadn't seen her the whole day, or the remainder of the one I had women up. She wasn't in her room, and I knew better than to slip into grandfather's unannounced, so I checked Axar's. That was where she was. In their pajamas, with Axar under her arm, they lie sleeping.
What I'd give to be in his place right now. Or even feed from her. I freeze myself in place after realizing my feet had been carrying me towards her. I incline my head to try to get a better view of her belly. I wonder if she's grown any. I can't quite tell for Axar's back against her and her baggy flannel top. I stiffen suddenly as I realize that she is now staring at me.
"Leave." Her arm raises high enough to point to the door. Her voice is thick with sleep.
"I wanted to tell you that I'm fine and to check on you. The sweater you gave me..." I gesture at it. "Is exquisite. I like this."
"Not my business...I'm fine too. Good...sweater..."
"Seraphine?"
"Get out."
I sigh in annoyance, but leave. I push Ezekiel's words around in my mind as I walk through the halls. I decide that I will take his idea. I'll make a way. After all, I want her to be safe, but not separate from me. I worry that if she thinks I'm finished with her that she might take another. That Justin boy did buy her a necklace after all and expressed his feelings to her. She's quite an attractive woman. I've caught others admiring her, and her phenomenal behind before. If my urge to unite us as a family later on will be successful, I have to secure my place with her. Also, I need her to not hate me.
I go down to the kitchen to sit for a few hours, waiting on the kitchen staff to come down. As soon as they arrive I immediately seek out the main man. I'm not sure what title he holds, as I pay little attention to human jobs and rankings.
"May I have a word?" I ask the man, who stares past me nervously. I'm aware I have a pitiful reputation among staff here.
"Yes-yes sir! How can I help you?" He stutters st first but immediately collects himself.
"Do you cook for the green haired female?" He smiles and nods quickly.
"Yes! I cook for all staff and family who chose to eat, but I have served quite a few meals to miss Seraphine."
"I see. I'm attempting to impress her, with an extravagant morning meal-"
"Breakfast sir?" His eyes dance with amusement as he fights his urge to laugh at my seriousness. I force myself to smile. Wise cracking mortals.
"Yes. Do you know any of her favorite meals or anything?" He chuckles.
"She loves almost all breakfast, she hasn't turned down anything yet. She does have a special appreciation for bacon, muffins and biscuits and gravy. If you are trying to be romantic, I'd suggest some chocolate covered strawberries. I could find you a nice little gift box and bow. For dinner I could fix you two-"
"Just her for now. I have to be away from her for a little while, hopefully not long. I will reward you handsomely if you can keep her favorites on rotation, and send her romantic snacks from me when I'm gone." He grins.
"You do not have to reward me, I speak for all of us when I say we are find of miss Seraphine. She has been very kind to us in her short stay here, carefully picking up after herself and offering help and compliments. If she is your lady, sir, you are a lucky man."
"I want to reward you though, and any others who assist you in this." He sighs and nods.
"If you insist, I won't refuse sir. Thank you for your gratitude! I am about to start breakfast, I will be certain that it exceeds her expectations!" I grin at him and set about my next tasks.
I head to the door, focusing on a mental list of things Axar had told me once that women liked. I rummage my memories from Sera as well, thinking of things she has wanted or looked at. This is hard, because she has never wanted for much. I'm entranced almost, as I set out to find shops.
I kill two birds with one stone, and I linger close to other customers in the businesses to swipe some energy from those experiencing stronger emotions. Just enough to stay sated. I'd love sex or even blood at the moment. This type of feeding does not cut it for me, but it would be hard to woo Sera if she realizes I killed or fornicated while retrieving her gifts. Fornicating. I sneer to myself. Can't wait to do that again. I sigh.
I decide on lingerie, unable to shake her image from my head. I grab oils, lotions, silky robes, flowers, an 'album' that claims it holds pictures. I grab a sweater for females in the same shade as mine. I grab baby toys. And two basic cellphones with cards to activate. I have no idea what this means, so I will have to take the worker's word. I'll need Axar's assistance with these.
Admittedly, I feel better doing this. There is a great chance I might die. I've done the calculations in my mind, and I wouldn't be surprised if Yeomorah doesn't get me to off myself during a possession. Or if he runs and I'm unable to kill him until he's found. I am also worried I might be rendered useless in fight against him and his posse. What if that's what the death aura means? If something happens to me, I want to have had time with Seraphine and know about the baby as it grows. I'm not giving her up, I have come to terms long before now that I can't cut myself off from her. They'd have to pry her from my dead hands. I grab another camera like the one she had before I leave.
I can't get back soon enough. I'm ready to have her gifts sent to her, and boast. Cockiness swells my head as I think about her face when she sees everything. Perhaps she'll be moved by all that I've done. Perhaps, she'll bring Nomias with her for safety and offer to let me feed for all my romancing.
I let myself inside the house and I immediately go up to Axar. He locks the door to keep Sera from popping in. I gift him a shirt with a game character and enlist his help setting up these damn phones. I study him as he works these, occassionally casting glances at the hideous fish, who's now free of his floral hell. He grabs a paper.
"Here's their numbers. Hers, and yours."
"I know that much. I just can't activate them." I huff impatiently. "I'm going to write a note too, I'll include my number. When she gets all this, can you take a photo of her face? I want to see how it has affected her."
"I can do that! I will return." He beams as he rushes out to find Sera with gift bags, boxes and camera in hand.
I pace for a while, then I sit in a chair in the corner. Waiting. Resting. Second guessing. Odd for a creature like myself, who is always self assured. I nearly knock Axar down as he opens the door.
"What did she say?" He hands me a picture of her. Her eyes are wide with a confused expression as she takes in the gifts in her arms.
"She said thank you, that you didn't have to. She said she will call you soon." I am smug. I sincerely thank Axar and I slip off to the room that I stay in here. Looks like I might end up staying tonight.
Perhaps it would be safe with all the others in the house? Plus, my room is furthest from hers now. I don't really want to leave. I'm still not completely at myself, and earlier's thoughts have me thinking I should remain under supervision. Which means that when or if Seraphine calls, since I will remain here in this house, I should start explaining myself as I should have before leaving. With that decided, I call her first.
"Hello lover."
"Oh? Lovers again now?"
"We never stopped being. Listen, I have a lot of things to explain if you'll give me a chance to redeem myself here."
"I need to do the same. Look...I'm sorry for being petty. I thought you had left me alone with this baby. That you had cold feet and abandoned us. I'm just hormonal and angry and...I ruined Barima. I don't want to lose anybody else. I don't know anything about being a whatever I even am. This baby needs someone to teach it. Don't leave us...I'm scared."
"You want me?"
"Yes. I know I've yet to address it, but I love you. That's why it hurts when you push me out, or hurt me. I feel bad if I retaliate, and it drives me crazy. I shouldn't feel bad..." I hear running water. "I just want to mean to you what you did to me. I want to be respected, included-"
"How about we talk about it over dinner then? We'll start with what I was doing and where I went. I assume you met your grandfather Ezekiel akready?" I grab fresh clothes and exit my room quietly.
"Yes! He tried to fucking sacrifice me! Why is he here?"
"Because, he's here to help us. He no longer wants to harm you..." I slip through her door silently.
"Bull shit! He's just going to lower my guard and- AHHHHHHHHHHH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" I chuckle as she screams and wraps her arms around herself and sinks into the frothy water.
"I'm here to talk about it, remember?" I sit my clothes on the vanity top and start removing sweater.
"Over dinner, you said!"
"You are dinner, Seraphine. You look good enough to eat."
"What are you doing? Stop stripping!" I only smirk at her.
"If anything happens, they'd hear you and come to your aid. Now quiet. We are going to bathe, and talk. Then I'm having my dinner. Scoot over." She grumbles and shifts, remaining covered. I remove my pants and boxers to step in. Her eyes slowly rise up to peek at me, and I stand still before her so she can take me in. She looks away and steadies her breath. I already know that look though, the way her eyes dilate. She has list and hormones written all over her face.
I settle into the water across from her, pulling her legs over mine so I can rub her feet as we talk. I tell her of our little voyage through the portal, our plans, Ezekiel's revelations, of what things look like in the other realm. Her eyes twinkle at the mention of the three legged horses, and she grabs my arm as she begs to go when this is all over. My chest tightens, fear that one of us might be gone by then resurfaces and Sera takes notice. She gives comfort by squeezing my hand. She confides in me about how terribly she misses Barima, her guilt and Barima's little service Nomias helped her with. I listen intently, and I feel guilt that I wasn't here to protect her.
I steal glimpses at her full chest and growing tummy. I reach out and pull her into my lap, resting my head on hers and trying to think about anything but her body for fear of frightening her. To my shock, the little minx decides to feed. I can feel her pulling from my energy, and see her little dark eyes. I startle her by biting into the side of her neck, and clutching her back to my chest. I drink very little, just enough to keep me calm. Knowing how desperate I can get for her blood. I lick her neck closed and nibble her shoulder, rousing a low moan.
It's risky, but I decide to go for it. I reach around her sides to cup her breasts and feel her stomach. A slight shift in her sides has me giddy as I spin her to face me and I hold her stomach. I feel it move again, and I kiss her. Her eyes fly open in surprise but she closes them and reciprocates. My whole body feels like a warm buzz. The water, the bond between us, everything envelops me like a fog and settles along my skin causing goosebumps. My claws sink into her cheeks as I push her rear up higher in my lap. I grind her into me and we moan together, tongues and lips still tangled in eachother. Her breasts are pressed into my chest, and I open my eyes for a moment to memorize the view. I want her. No. I need her. She pulls back a bit and my body aches.
"Please, Sera? If you aren't comfortable I'll stop. If I'm not myself I expect you to get away from me. I haven't feed on blood since yours. I've had no sex. It's hard for me. It's my main source of-" I lose my thought as Seraphine eases down onto me.
I wasn't expecting her to initiate. My eyes roll and my tongues lulls as I lap at her skin tasting everything that I can. She moans again as I work her with my hands, her bouncing driving me delirious. Water rolls out onto the floor. I stand urgently with her and kick a towel over the water. I sit her bottom on the counter and dry her top half with another as she continues her motion. She takes the towel and dries me a little too, ruffling my hair. I pull her back up, legs wrapped around me as we kiss again. We tumble around the bed together, writhing in tangled sheets. I can't get enough of her.
"If you treat me right, you could have this everyday." She taunts into my ear.
"Deal. Be prepared, I fully intend to take you up on the offer." I look into her eyes and I place my forehead to hers. "When Yeomorah is dead, you're going to be joining me in our family history. Your name beside mine and our child's as my mate."