Exton

Back at the Lodge, I help Ky out of Gareth's car - errr, horse - oh, whatthefuckever! - and carry her into the house. "How about one of the vacant rooms?," I say, and she just nods.

I kick open a door at random and gently deposit her on the bed, already turned down. I pull the covers up and tuck her in while she tries hard not to glare at me. At that point, Gareth pokes his head in.

"Excuse me… Raina and I are in the room two doors down. We know you guys need to talk, but we need to get some sleep." He drops a slow wink and mouths, "eventually…." and then he's gone, closing the door behind him.

I hang up my duster, kick off my boots and stretch out in the only chair in the room, an overstuffed armchair with a hassock in front.

"Okay, babe. Pull no punches, tell it like it is. I'll do the same."

Minutes tick by, no one saying anything. Two minutes. Five. The suspicion of a smile tugs at one corner of Ky's mouth. Another minute and it widens into a full-fledged grin and I feel myself following suit. Fifteen seconds later, we're laughing our asses off, the tension dissipating as we laugh and giggle and cackle and roar….

When it's over and our faces are back to normal and we're no longer in danger of dissolving into giggle fits. Ky arches an eyebrow and says, "Well, that was refreshing. Now - would you care to tell me why you've been avoiding me since that night?"

I shrug. "It's not easy to explain - " I begin.

"You've got a mouth. Use it." She grins. "You sure did that night."

"Well… I'll try." I take a deep breath; force of habit. "Look, just let me ask and you answer, no bullshit, okay?" She nods, her eyes locked with mine. "That night… did you enjoy it?"

She rolls her eyes. "Like there was any doubt of that?"

"Well, there was in my mind. Look, Ky, you're not the most private person in the world; in fact, you're a lot like me - you tend to say what's on your mind, and if someone doesn't like it, fuck 'em.

But after that night, you never said a word about what happened. I thought maybe you regretted it… you know, like getting drunk and you wake up next to Homer Simpson or something." Ky grins; I've discovered she loves cartoons. "If it wasn't something you wanted to think about, I didn't want to remind you of it, so I just left you alone."

"Vampire, you are a moron."

Well, I did tell her not to pull any punches….

She continues, her eyes steady on mine. "Do you want to know how I feel about that night? How I really feel?"

My mouth is dry. "Yes."

"Come here, Nick."

I get up, move to the side of the bed. She looks up, maintaining eye contact. "I don't have to tell you to watch the ankle… I want you to undress me. Completely. Right now."

My hands feel suddenly clumsy, like I'm wearing catcher's mitts, but I manage somehow. When I'm done, Ky's body seems to glisten like a freshly-peeled willow twig.

"Good." She stretches. "Look all you like. Get a good long look." (I do.) "Now, I want you to stand right there and undress for me. Everything. I want to watch."

That's easier, since I don't have any sore places to watch out for. When I'm naked, Ky takes her own long look - then reaches out and takes my hand. "Come to bed, Nick. I want to sleep with you tonight." She indicates her ankle with an exasperated look. "Can't do anything while this is still banged up… but now I have another incentive to go easy on it so it'll heal quicker."

I pull back the covers and climb into the bed, my hip just brushing hers. "I'll have to leave before sunrise."

"We have time. Hold me, Nick. I want to feel your arms around me and your hands on me... and I want it now."

I pull her close, pillowing her head on my shoulder. Her voice is barely a whisper now. "Kiss me."

My lips meet hers and it's slow and tender and perfect. Her hands move gently, tentatively over my body, her undamaged leg moving between mine while the other goes over my hip. She draws me closer, her mouth hot and sweet, her tongue teasing and playing. Her nipples are hot and hard against my chest and she moans into my mouth.

"Soon, Nick… soon, lover… soon…."