Point of View

     *Nat was worried. Ever since the demon had possessed Nick, he was acting really odd. He
was drinking human blood. He wouldn't talk to her, or anyone else for that matter, unless it was
absolutely necessary. When he thought she wasn't looking, he let the vampire loose. She would
see his reflection in a light in the morgue, or a window of a car. The golden eyes, the sharp,
deadly points of his fangs.
     But it wasn't Nick she was worried about. Not really. It was her reaction.  She *liked* seeing
this darker, more mysterious side of Nick. She found herself lying awake, fantasizing what it
would be like to have him attack her. To force her to submit to him. To take her body and her
blood. She shook herself, as she tried to refocus on the autopsy report in front of her. 
     After an hour, she realized that it would be impossible for her to stay focused on her report.
So she gathered her things and booked off early. Then she headed home.
     Once Nat was in the door, she put her stuff away, fed Sydney and went into the bathroom. A
good, hot bath and a glass of wine would help her relax. She drew her bath water, adding a
liberal amount of her favorite bubble bath, then went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of
chilled Pink Chablis.  Settling into the tub, she slowly drank her wine. She thought of all that had
happened in the last few weeks. When Nick had attacked her, when the demon had possessed
him, she had been afraid. Not afraid for herself. Afraid for Nick. If he had killed her, or brought
her across, she knew he would loathe himself even more than he already did.  No, she wasn't
afraid of dying. After the asteroid scare, she had taken a good hard look at her life. If she died,
the only things she'd really be losing, would be Nick and Sydney. She had come to terms with the
thought of dying and she was no longer afraid of it.
     Since the incident at Vanderwaahl's, Nat was no longer afraid of the Vampire side of Nick,
either. In fact, she was thrilled by it, fascinated with it,  aroused by it.  Coming out of her reverie,
Nat drained the tub and stood to rinse off the bubbles. She wrapped a large bathsheet around
herself, then picked up her half full glass of wine and headed for her bedroom. Picking her
hairbrush up from her dresser, she began to comb out her tangled mass of curls. She stopped as
she saw two glowing eyes, staring at her, in the mirror. Setting her brush down, she turned slowly
around and regarded the being that stood near her balcony window, silently watching her every
move.  "Hello, Nick." She said, calmly. She moved to the chair at the foot of her bed, preparing
to pick up her bathrobe. As she reached for the robe, however, a pair of icy hands grabbed her
from behind.
     "Don't." Nick said, his voice low and gravelly.
     Nat closed her eyes, leaning slightly towards him. "Alright." She took a deep,  shuddering
breath, as she felt one hand close around her firm, full breast.  "You smell so inviting. So sweet. I
wonder if you taste as wonderful as you smell." Nick said to her.  Nat tried to pull away, to turn
and face him.  But he misunderstood her actions. "Don't try to get away. It is useless, you know."
     Nat frowned slightly, but then smiled to herself. Here was the perfect opportunity to act out a
secret fantasy. If only she could make Nick understand.  She tried again to pull away.   "I don't
think you understand, Doctor, what kind of danger you are in." Nick said, turning her roughly
around, to face him.
     "I understand, Nick. Believe me, I understand." She looked defiantly at him, tilting her chin
slightly. "I'm not afraid."
     Nick's lip curled into an evil grin. He chuckled softly. "You should be."
     "Maybe it's you, who should be afraid of me." Nat said, looking levelly at him.
     Nick laughed outright at that. "I see. Just what, exactly, is it that I should fear from you?"
     Nat turned her back on him. "There's only one way for you to find out." She gasped in
surprise, as Nick pulled her roughly to him.
     "Then I guess I'll have to figure it out, won't I?" Nick growled in her ear. He pulled her close
to him, kissing her savagely, caressing her bare shoulders with the rough, cold palms of his hands.
     Nat placed her palms on his chest, whimpering slightly and tried to push him away. She was
enjoying this little game.  Nick grabbed her hands, holding them both in one of his own, then
pushed her back against the wall. He held them high above her head, then kissed her again.
After a moment, he released her lips, kissing along the ridge of her jawline,  to her neck. Finding
the sensitive pulse point, he began to gently suck on her neck.
     Nat gasped at the jolt of electricity that ran through her when he began to suck on and nip at
the vein on her neck. She found herself wishing that he would sink his fangs into it and take her.
"Nick," she said, breathlessly.  "Please." She whispered. She wanted him, oh so much.
     Nick pulled away slightly, his golden eyes staring into her blue ones. He gently caressed her
face with the palm of his hand, trailing down the side of her neck, along her collarbone to the
edge of the towel. He grabbed hold of it and pulled it off of her, exposing her nude form to his
hungry gaze. He stood, silently staring at her for a moment. His nostrils flared and he leaned
forward to whisper in her ear. "You are more beautiful than I imagined."
     Nat closed her eyes briefly. He had imagined her like this? Hmmm. Knowing it was risky,
but really wanting to push their relationship further, Nat again tried to get away.
     Nick's eyes turned scarlet for a second, then he pushed her more firmly against the wall. "I
keep telling you not to fight me." He brought his mouth savagely down upon hers, holding her
chin with his free hand. He pulled away from her mouth, trailing kisses down her neck, again
finding the sensitive pulse point, then moving further down, to the full, round curves of her
breasts. He teased the outline of one, then the other, then slowly worked his way to the center
of one. He stuck his tongue out, lightly licking the rose colored tip, then pulled it hungrily into his
mouth. He sucked on it for several moments, then moved to its twin, devouring that one as
passionately as he had the first.
     Nat threw her head back, enjoying the sensations coursing through her. She felt the hot rush
of fluid, as her body became fully aroused; fully prepared for full penetration of Nick's icy,
smooth, rock hard shaft. Whimpering with need, she  tried to pull her hands free. Besides, she
was supposed to be trying to ward him off. A slow, devilish grin crept onto her face.
     Nick felt Nat's resistance and it fueled his desire. He wanted her. Wanted to feel her submit
to him, wanted to taste the sweet, warm honey of her blood.  He pulled free of her breast, then
grabbed her and pushed her roughly down onto the bed. He stood back momentarily, his gaze
holding hers, then he began to slowly remove his own clothing.
     Nat's breath caught in her throat, as she watched him begin removing his clothing.  She had
longed to see him unclothed, to feel his naked body covering her own.  She watched in silence,
as he methodically removed all of his garments. When he reached his silk boxer-briefs, Nat
stifled a gasp. She hadn't been with many men, but she had autopsied plenty. She was thrilled by
what she saw. Her breathing and heartrate increased, in anticipation.
     Nick heard her accelerated heartbeat and breathing and again mistook it for fear.  The
vampire was revelling in this. But somewhere, deep inside, Nicholas was screaming in fear and
agony. 'Don't kill her. Please, don't kill her.' He silently begged the Beast that held total control
over him. He moved to the bed, pinning her beneath him with inhuman speed. As he lay atop her,
caressing her porcelain skin, he breathed in the sweet raspberries and cream scent that was so
unique to her. His lips sought her own, his tongue forcing its way into her hot, delicious mouth.
     Nat barely controlled the urge to pull him to her. Her desire for him skyrocketed to impossible
heights. She had to have him inside her. "Nick..." she rasped.  "Please..." she begged.
     The vampire looked down at the woman beneath him. Taking in the sight of the creamy throat
that was now bared to him. With a deep growl, he thrust into her hot, wet center.  Natalie gasped,
as the sensation of having Nick's cold, hard member inside of her, sent flashes of white-hot
pleasure coursing through her. Losing all rational thought, Nat wrapped her legs around his waist,
thrusting her hips up to meet his. Her arms wrapped desperately around him, pulling him to her.
She gasped and panted, seeking the release that would free her from this unbearably pleasurable
pain.
     Nick thrust hard into her, wrapping his arms around her. He began a slow, in-and-out grinding,
but quickly increased the pace and intensity of his thrusts. He was lost in the sensations of this
union with her. He wanted release. But he knew that her blood would  taste all the sweeter, the
more aroused she was. He was aching to taste her fear, her hoplessness, her orgasm. He could
sense she was near to her release.
     Nat could only make soft, strangled mewling noises. She was teetering on the verge of release,
but could not reach it. She whimpered in frustration. Opening her eyes, she saw the red gaze of the
creature she was mating with. This union of bodies was just a part of what she needed. She needed
to feel all of him. She heard his whispered command.  "Relax. Submit. Give yourself to me." She
fought it for a few seconds.
     Nick felt her defiance and it fueled his need to possess her. "Natalie. Look at me." He
commanded her. When she did as he said, he focused on her heartbeat and the thrusts he still made
into her. "Give yourself to me."
     Nat relaxed, her body and mind yielding to the Beast.
     Nick felt her submission and he began to move faster. Thrusting deeply into her, he kissed her
face, her lips, her neck. When she cried out in release, he sank his fangs into the  throbbing vein in
her neck.
     The moment her blood crossed his lips and caressed his tongue, Nick found his release.
Growling, he pulled her closer to him. As he focused on the images and feelings from her, he
stopped at what he saw. And he was afraid. Pulling away from her neck, the vampire roared in
fear and agony, then collapsed on top of her.
     Natalie had savored the sweet agony of her orgasm, then had gasped in pain, as Nick sank his
fangs into her neck. The images and feelings assaulting her mind were more than she could
assimilate all at once and she momentarily lost consciousness. As she came to, she slowly became
aware of Nick, lying on top of her, sobbing. She reached up and gently caressed the back of his
head. "Nick..." She whispered.
     Nick pulled back, seeing Nat alive, and moved quickly off of her. He pulled the comforter
around her, then sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. "I'm so sorry, Nat. I tried..."  His
voice broke and he swallowed hard. "I tried to stop it. The vampire wanted you, too much.  I
couldn't make it stop." He began to sob again.
     Nat squeezed her eyes tightly shut for a moment, then opened them again. "Nick?" She sat up
slowly, pushing away the lightheadedness and reached out to touch him. "Nick? It's okay. I'm
okay."
     Nick pulled away and turned to face her. "Okay? Nat! I raped you, for God's sakes! How can
you ever be okay, again?" He turned away from her, wrapping the towel he had taken from her
around his waist.
     "Raped--? Is that what you think, Nick? That I... that you...?" She began to laugh, then she
began to cry. "Oh, Nick. No."
     Nick heard her laughter, then her crying. He was really confused. "Nat?" He turned to look
at her, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed.
     Nat wiped away a tear and looked into his eyes. "Nick, you told me, not long ago, that when
a vampire takes someone's blood, they know everything about them. Who they loved, what they
felt...everything. If that's true, then you know that I *wanted* you to do that to me. I have for
quite some time." She looked closely at him. "Look inside, Nick. Tell me what you see."
     Nick concentrated for a moment, then frowned. He let the images and feelings he had received
from Nat flow through him. He saw the desire she had for him, the dark wantings she had had for
him, especially recently. And he saw the love she had for him. The love that had so frightened the
vampire with its goodness and light, that it had retreated to some dark recess of his soul. He could
barely sense its presence. He was awed by the strength and purity of her love for him. As a man
and as a vampire.
     Natalie loved him unconditionally. And the bit of resistance she had put up against him, was
her way of encouraging the vampire to take what they had both wanted for so long.
     He turned confused, surprised eyes on her. "Nat. I had no idea..."
     Nat smiled and gently touched his face. "Oh, Nick. I'm so sorry. I had no idea that you would
think that you'd raped me. You didn't. I *wanted* that. I thought you did, too. I..." She broke off
and turned away. Then she began to cry. "I'm sorry, Nick. I just love you, so much. These last
few months have been so horrible. Ever since Schank and Cohen died, you've been pulling further
and further away. I've felt the distance you've placed between us and it's scared me.  I feel as if
you're distancing yourself, in order to move on. I don't want to lose you, Nick.  Ever." She began
crying again, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them.
     Nick looked at Nat, then moved to sit by her. He lightly rubbed her back, then wrapped his
arms around her. "Oh, Nat..." He laid his head against hers, when she wrapped her arms around
his neck and pulled him to her. He rubbed her back, then stroked her hair, then kissed her cheek.
     Nat lifted her head, looking into his eyes. "You did it, Nick. You made love to me, without
killing me. We did it once, Nick. We can do it again. I love you."
     Nick kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her neck. "I love you, Nat. I want you. God help me, but
I do." He kissed her, then. Soft and deep and passionately. When they seperated, Nick caressed
her face. "I don't want to be without you, either. Ever." He kissed her again, then began to caress
her shoulders. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes. "Trust me, Nat? Trust me not to hurt you?"
     Nat smiled. "I trust you, Nick." She leaned forward and kissed him again. Then she whispered
into his ear, "Make love to me."
     Nick smiled, then nodded, his eyes now golden. He carefully removed the quilt from her, then
moved slowly on top of her, pushing her back as he went. "I love you, Nat. I promise, no matter
what happens, we'll be together. Forever."
     A few hours later, Nick held Nat tightly in his arms, as they slept. Nat smiled in her sleep as
she dreamed of a time, in the not-so-distant future, where she and Nick sat on a beach,  watching
the sun dance in the blue eyes and alternately blond and chestnut curls of a group of children. Nat
knew, deep inside, that it wasn't just a dream.
     It was a glimpse of their future.
                                                              >End