Chapter 9

A knock at Sly’s door filled him with momentary trepidation. Even though the witches had resealed the building against Malvant, some chucklehead might have let him in. Although, wait a minute—the front door hadn’t opened so it must be someone from the building.

As he strolled to the door, he hoped it was Morgaine. He hadn’t seen her for a couple days and he missed her. Gwyneth came by once to pick up his mash and show him how to use the still, but thankfully, she had stopped flirting with him.

Upon opening the door, he grinned. “Morgaine, it’s good to see you. Come in.” She looked especially pretty. She had on a short black skirt and a pink blouse. Her embroidered black denim satchel was draped over her shoulder.

“Thanks.” As she made her way to his couch, she commented, “I’m glad you’re using candles now. I love the ambiance of candlelight.”

“I have to. Knowing my maker’s out there, I’ve kept the room darkening shades closed. Thanks again for thinking of those.”

She smiled. “I’m glad I did. This way Vorigan Malvant can’t see in, either. At least, I hope not! Has anyone checked from outside yet?”

“Nathan did, and no, he couldn’t see in even with several candles lit.”

“I brought you more candles, by the way.” Morgaine dug into the big bag she held in her lap. “I figured you’d be stuck inside most nights now that Vorigan knows where you are.”

“That’s very thoughtful.” He leaned over and kissed her, then took the candles to the kitchen and returned. “I meant to ask Gwyneth how you discovered his name?”

“It was on the mailbox outside, and a piece of mail was laying on his end table next to the door. I didn’t notice it at first, but when we enlarged the photos, we could read it. It was blurry, but I’m pretty sure that’s what it said.”

Sly sat next to her and put an arm around her. “So, he’s been here a while if he’s receiving mail.”

“Presumably.” She leaned against him and rested her hand on his thigh. “There are a couple of things I need to talk to you about. They’re important.”

He shifted so he could see her eyes. She looked anxious, expectant. “What is it?”

“Well, I figured Vorigan has curtailed your crime fighting and blood drinking activities. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.” Sly hung his head. He didn’t want to admit he’d wanted to snack on her since she entered his apartment, but he didn’t want to lie either. He’d been purposely avoiding the temptation to stare at her carotid artery.

“I figured. Are you…um…” She squirmed a little bit and averted her gaze. Whatever was on her mind obviously made her uncomfortable.

“Spit it out, Morgaine. Whatever you want to ask is perfectly all right.”

“Are you able to stop before hurting someone? In other words, can you just take a little sip?”

What’s she getting at? She couldn’t be offering herself—could she? After a brief hesitation, he said,“Yes, I can do that. I might be tempted to continue if I’m famished and the bastard deserves it, but if there’s a good reason to stop, I can.”

“H—how long can you go without feeding? That’s what you call it, right?”

He shrugged. “I guess so. Feeding, drinking, whatever. And I’m not sure how long I can last without it. To tell you the truth, I tried suicide by not drinking at all for a while. It didn’t work. I just went mildly crazy.”

She looked horrified.

He held up one hand. “It was a long time ago. You have to understand, after my wife died and my daughter was taken from me, I sank into a deep depression. I’m not talking about days or weeks. I mean it lasted months. I don’t know how long I went without blood. A few weeks, at least.”

“Are vampires even able to commit suicide? I thought you were immortal.”

“I am—apparently. Having been a Catholic, I believed committing suicide was a mortal sin, but I had voluntarily become undead so figured I was on my way to Hell anyway. Just in case I wasn’t, I didn’t want to do anything completely selfish like walking around in sunlight until I fried or falling on a broken chair leg. I could have made it look like an accident, but God would know better.”

“So, you went without eating? And you didn’t think God would be able to figure that one out?”

“It wasn’t exactly like that. I hadn’t been able to eat because I was so depressed. After a couple weeks or so, I became disoriented, weak, and even more apathetic. Letting it continue didn’t seem like an active suicide attempt.”

“I—I’m sorry you went through that.”

He shrugged. “Morgaine, you’ve awakened my humanity. I’ve never thanked you for that.”

“What do you mean? You’ve always been humane.”

He smiled and focused on his lap as he spoke. “I mean human. I thought sexual interest in an attractive woman was a thing of the past. Now I know it isn’t.”

Morgaine smiled and nodded slowly. Then she looked pensive for a moment. At last, she gathered her hair in one hand and swept it over her opposite shoulder. “Here. If you can stop before it gets dangerous…”

She was offering herself! He didn’t know what to say. Yes, he wanted it—needed it! “Are you sure?”

She nodded more deliberately. “Yes. I don’t want you to suffer.”

He let out a deep breath and hesitated, giving her a moment to change her mind. Leaning in slowly, he whispered. “I can’t thank you enough for this. I hate that it’s going to hurt.”

“That’s okay. I have a high pain threshold. I may be chicken about other things, but not a little bite.”

Sly placed his fangs over the pulsing artery in her neck and carefully bore down. When the blood hit his tongue, it was like finding water in the desert. Despite his relief, he had to keep himself in check. Only a sip, he reminded himself.

He drank. With tremendous effort, he pulled away and licked the holes. They stopped leaking immediately.

He licked his lips and squelched the impulse to say something stupid like Mmm mmm good. “You didn’t even flinch.”

“I told you I have a high threshold for pain.”

“As evidenced by at least three piercings in each ear. Do you have any I can’t see?”

“You’ll have to find out.” She winked.

Oh, my Goddess! Did I just say that? And wink? No wonder he’s grinning. Quick, change the subject!

“I, uh…have something else to talk to you about.”

“Can it wait?”

“I guess so. Why?”

Sly cupped the back of her head, leaned in, and delivered the most toe-curling kiss Morgaine had ever experienced. Not that she’d had many.

When he finally let go of her lips, she leaned back and stared at him—stunned.

A look of concern crossed his face “Did I overstep?”

“No! I mean, you just surprised me.”

“Is that all?”

“Yeah. Well, that and you just gave me the best kiss of my life.”

He laughed. “I’m glad. Can I do it again sometime?”

A thrill rippled through Morgaine’s lady-parts. Even though she was a phone sex actress, she tried to think of herself in more respectful ways. “Anytime. Right now, if you want to.”

He looked at her with desire burning in his eyes. “Oh, I want to.”

It was about time she tipped her hand. Be brave. You can do this. “Do you want more? More than a kiss?”

He hesitated. “Do you?”

“Good Goddess, yes!”

He reared back and laughed. A moment later he straightened up and effortlessly lifted her in his arms. She grasped him around the neck and let him carry her to the bedroom.

When he had set her down on the bed, her nerves began to get the better of her. “It’s been awhile. I hope I don’t disappoint—”

He placed a finger over her lips. “It’s been a while for me too. Quite a while. Twenty-six years to be exact.”

“So, you haven’t been with anyone since your wife died?”

He nodded.

“Well, I hear it’s like riding a bike.”

He chuckled and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “Hang on then, it might be a bumpy ride.”

It was Morgaine’s turn to laugh.

Sly didn’t waste the opportunity and dove for her open mouth. She had never kissed a vampire before and wondered if his fangs would come out. A second later, she didn’t care if they did.

Their tongues met as if magnetized. He slanted his mouth over hers and their lips fused. His hand found her breast and fondled.

Dear Lord and Lady, my vaginal muscles are clenching.

More long forgotten feelings invaded her abdomen. Something fluttered around her heart chakra. Warmth flared. If she was over forty or forty-five, she might think she was having a hot flash. Nope, she was only thirty. Funny how a chilly vampire could generate so much heat.

She pulled in a ragged breath.

His head raised and his lips brushed over her temple, her cheek and found her mouth again. Morgaine wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. Sly’s embrace was strong, but it only made Morgaine feel safer. He deepened the kiss. Everything else fled to the far recesses of her mind.

His tongue swept over hers creating a jolt of excitement in her core. They’d both been celibate far too long. Morgaine needed him…inside her. Needed to feel his strength plunging into her.

The passion he had sparked burned hotter. She rubbed her breasts against his chest and ground her pelvis into him.

Sly broke the kiss and groaned. He stared into her eyes. “I want you.” His voice rasped, adding to her arousal. The possessive look in his deep brown eyes fueled her lust as much as his words did.

“Take me.” Her hands slid over the hard wall of his chest. “I want you too.”

His eyes darkened and almost glowed. “Tell me exactly what you want.”

Her inhibitions started to melt away, replaced by a sense of safe exploration. The hand she had placed against his chest descended. Her fingers slid over his rippled abs through his thin shirt. Hunger overtook her. A raw, desperate need stole her breath as she came upon his hip bone. Her heart pounded, but she slid her hand inward to where their bodies met. At last, she gripped his hard shaft through his pants and squeezed. He let out a low growl. There couldn’t be any doubt about what she meant.

Sharp waves of desire caused her womb to throb. Her nipples tightened behind the cups of her lace bra.

When she spoke, her voice sounded low and throaty—seductive even to her own ears. “Take me, Sly. I need you to tear my clothes off and fuck me. Like you can’t wait another moment. Like we can’t wait—because I can’t.”

His eyes blazed with an internal fire that seemed to heat his skin. Or perhaps he had just absorbed enough of her intense heat that he was radiating it back to her.

Without breaking eye contact, he gripped the top of her blouse. “Say it again.”

“Fuck me. I want you to tear off my clothes and take me. Don’t make me wait any longer.”

He groaned. His fingers curled around and gathered a handful of cloth just above her breasts. With one quick yank, he ripped the line of buttons open, sending them flying and plinking in all directions. They both kicked off their shoes and let them plop on the floor.

His hand cupped her breast and squeezed, then he teased the nipple through the rough fabric of her bra with his thumb. When he leaned over and pulled the nipple into his mouth to suck, Morgaine’s head fell back, and she moaned. The blissful sensations bordered on agony. She thought she might come right then and there.

His sharp fang hooked through the lace and tore, freeing her breast. Her sharp intake of breath made him hesitate.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

At last, he seized the fabric between them and tore it loose. He descended on one breast, then the other, hungrily suckling each one. He was careful his fangs did no more than graze her skin. This is exactly what she wanted…what she’d pictured when she allowed herself to have fantasies of Sly making love to her.

“Touch me everywhere,” she rasped.

He leaned back and in one motion, pulled her short skirt over her hips and down her legs. Fortunately, there was elastic in the waistband, so he didn’t have to tear it. She reached for his zipper. Before she could get it down, he freed the button and in seconds, his jeans lay on the floor next to her skirt. He grabbed his shirt hem, pulled it over his head and tossed the shirt across the room.

Morgaine lay in a pile of tattered clothes, so he raised her up an inch and pulled out the remnants of her blouse and bra, sending them to the floor as well. Finally, they were both gloriously naked.

Sly caressed her from her ribs to her waist down to her sensitive thighs. He slid his hand around to cup her bottom and squeezed. She shivered from the thrill.

His eyes were molten. He leaned over her breasts again. His tongue swiped one taut nipple and Morgaine jumped. Her ultra-sensitized nerve endings sprang to life wherever he touched, licked, or caressed her.

He sucked hard, pulling more of her breast into his mouth. She arched and moaned. “Oh, Goddess, yes.” She greedily tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his head closer. When he had thoroughly ravaged one breast, he gave the same amount of attention to the other.

Meanwhile, his hand roamed freely over her lower half. Touching her everywhere, but not in that special spot. Morgaine was half out of her mind with wanting him. All of him. Inside her, pounding hard, quelling the ache.

At last, he took possession of her mouth, and his fingers found her clit at the same time. She gasped and the vacuum sealed their lips together. They kissed and groped frantically.

Finally, Morgaine couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please, Sly. Now. I need you inside me. I have to feel you.”

He didn’t hesitate. He positioned his thick cock at her entrance. She was wet and slick and more than ready for him. He plunged deep inside in one thrust and held her for a moment. She sighed with pure relief.

He let out a deep breath too. “Jesus, Morgaine. You feel so good.”

“You too,” she whispered.

With that, he began his rhythm. He thrust hard and fast, causing Morgaine’s pulse to race. “Oh, yes, that’s it,” she encouraged.

He cupped her ass and drove himself deeper, pounding into her and obliterating reality. She savored the sensations, clinging to him with her arms and legs. Before she expected it, her inner muscles clenched. As she cried out in blissful release, a pulsating orgasm ripped through her.

Sly didn’t let up. He continued to piston into her, unleashing his own desire. He possessed her. Not only did it turn her inside out, but it also made her hotter and wetter for him. Perspiration broke out on her forehead as she built to another fevered peak.

“Come with me, Sly. Please. I need to feel you come.”

It took no more than her request. He let out a low groan and her name ripped from his lips as he jerked with his own release. Warmth shot inside her as he climaxed, which sparked another orgasm of her own. She spasmed and shook, her inner muscles milking him of every last drop.

At last, they collapsed and lay panting, still connected. Morgaine knew that part of them would remain connected. She felt him in her soul.

Sly, Gwyneth and Morgaine watched the clear liquid drip, drip, drip out of the copper pipe and splash into the nearly full glass jar.

“I thought this was whiskey,” Sly said. “It looks more like vodka.” The smell of ethanol had overwhelmed him as soon as he’d opened the false wall. Now it was beginning to dissipate but he wondered if it was wafting upstairs.

“I know y’all expected it to be brown or amber colored, and it will be by the time it’s ready for sale, but we thought we’d try the spell on the purest form first.”

Morgaine smiled. “We can call it Vampire Vodka if this spell works.” She bumped Sly playfully.

He put an arm around her and kissed her temple. “From your lips to G…the Goddess’s ears.”

“Now you’re getting it.” She nipped his ear, and he growled low.

Gwyneth folded her arms. “If all y’all can pay as firm attention to the spell as to each other, this should work just fine.”

The new lovers chuckled.

“Okay, I think we’ve got enough,” Morgaine said. She picked up an empty Mason jar and swapped it for the nearly full one. She set the clear liquid on the floor between them and held out her hands. Gwyneth grasped one and Sly the other, then Gwyneth and Sly joined hands so the three of them made a triangle around the liquid.

“Sly, just concentrate on the outcome y”all want while Morgaine and I chant the spell.”

He had purposely waited until his blood lust was back in full force to measure the success of the spell. He tried not to think of its failure.

”Wait just a doggone minute,” Gwyneth said. “It might help if we had the spell.”

Morgaine chuckled and let go of her hand. ”Good thinking.”

Gwyneth dug a folded paper out of her pocket. They read it over again and set it on top of the jar. Morgaine closed her eyes first and Gwyneth followed suit. The witches took some deep breaths. They had explained that they’d need to go into trance to recite the spell, and all he needed to do was keep the circle connected and visualize a positive outcome.

The two women opened their eyes and gazed at the Mason jar. They stood perfectly still and read, “Lord and Lady, hear us now. We re-pledge our faithful vow. With this spell we help our friend. Your healing power, his way send. The treatment for his vampirism, with this liquid will be hisn.”

His eyebrows rose. Hisn? Was that a word? Oh well, he figured the witches knew what they were doing.

“Let our will be granted as read, and help our friend, live un-undead. If for the good of most, so mote it be.”

They closed their eyes and stood silently for several seconds. He was just beginning to wonder if their minds had gone somewhere never to return when their eyelids fluttered open.

They smiled and nodded to each other. Then Morgaine said, “Blessings and thanks to the spirits attending our circle. We release you until we meet again.”

Sly glanced around nervously, half expecting to see shadowy figures floating away.

Morgaine continued. “The circle is open but not broken as we send it skyward. Blessed be.” They raised their arms and released their grasps.

“There. That ought to do it,” Morgaine said, sounding confident.

Gwyneth picked up the jar and grinned. “I’ll drink to that.” She took a big swig and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Ahhh…that’s the stuff, all right.”

Handing it to Morgaine, she said. “Y’all enjoy.”

She lifted the jar like a glass of ale in a silent toast. “Down the hatch.” She took as big a gulp as Gwyneth had and almost choked. “Holy Shit!”

“Ain’t it, though?” Gwyneth giggled.

Morgaine gagged.

“Now don’t ya’ll go spittin’ it out. That’s good moonshine and not ta be wasted.”

“Dear Lord and Lady, that stuff should come with a warning label!”

Gwyneth frowned and crossed her arms. “Like what?”

“Like, Caution, may eat through your stomach lining. That’s probably why they call it rot-gut.”

“This ain’t no rot-gut whiskey. It’s just a little stronger than y’all are used to. Try sipping it next time.”

“What next time?” Morgaine held the jar out to Sly.

“Don’t listen to her, sugar. She’s a wimp about all kinds of things. Why should liquor be any different?”

Morgaine suddenly yanked back the Mason jar without releasing it.”

“I beg your pardon? I’m not a wimp just because I like my internal organs.” She took another sip, squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed. “Yeah, it’s better in small doses.”

At last, she handed it to Sly. He winked at her. “At least I don’t have to worry about this stuff killing me.”

The girls giggled.

“To your health.” He raised the jar in a toast and drank. Hmm…that’s not too bad. Maybe the cure will outweigh the curse after all.

The witches watched him expectantly.

Morgaine spoke first. “Anything?”

Sly tried to think of blood without getting thirsty. Damn. He needed to feed worse than ever. Disappointment descended like a heavy cloud.

Suddenly, Gwyneth pointed to him, and the witches gasped.

“What?”

“Y’all are red as a tomato!”

“Sly lifted his hands and was temporarily stunned speechless. His skin was lobster red.

Morgaine ripped the piece of paper out of Gwyneth’s hand. “Let me see that.”

It may have been torn, but apparently she could still read what it said. She slapped her forehead. “Damn it! We asked the cure be granted as read. R-e-a-d.”

“Yeah, so?”

“The powers that be must have thought we meant the color, r-e-d!”

Gwyneth stamped her foot. “Shoot.” Then she snapped her gaze toward the ceiling. “No, don’t shoot! Sorry for the confusion Goddess. Can y’all fix it—please?”

Sly watched as the color faded from his skin. When he was his usual pasty shade, he let out a sigh of relief. “Whew. I wouldn’t mind having a little pigment again, but I’d prefer my Latino tan to lobster red.”

“What about your other symptoms?” Morgaine asked. “Are you still, um, thirsty?”

Sly nodded sadly.

“Oh, no.”

Gwyneth started toward the stairs. “Let me go up to my place and try again.”

“No!” Morgaine and Sly said at once.

“Well then, let me get a paper and pencil and we can write it together. That way it’ll be triple checked to make sure we get all the kinks out.”

Morgaine looked at Sly. “Do you want to try again?”

“If you’re sure you can guarantee the worst that’ll happen is no cure for this bad case of the munchies.”