One x One discussion

Vladmir shrugged. "The Colorado Rockies are beautiful; New Orleans is cool; but nothing beats home. I also can't leave here for a long amount of time, a rule all vampires have to follow, so I've never left for more than a week.

"What are you doing in this city, though?" he asked slyly.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr widened her eyes, pulling her hair away from her face. "Why... Why do you care?" she asked slowly, choosing out her words. She was pretty sure she would go with him; just as long as he didn't change his mind, which she hoped wouldn't happen.

"Oh, um, well..." Olivia began, letting her voice trail off as she debated what to say. After several seconds of internal debate, she decided on the truth, or at least, a modified version of the truth. Leaving out some details, like who exactly she was hunting.

"I came here on a job. For the Hunters Guild." She looked into his eyes. "But I can't go through with it. Not now."

************

"You are a beautiful woman, a damsel in distress as they say. I always did want to be a knight, and rescue a lady fair." Aiden smiled softly at her. "Will you let me rescue you, fair Zephyr?"

"Oh... And what would that be?" Vladmir narrowed his eyes, leaning forward a little in his seat as if judging her -although he was really just amused on the inside, none of which showed on his face. "The Hunters Guild kills vampires," he said with an arch of an eyebrow. "Repeatedly."

~_>_<_~

"Yeah..." Zephyr gave a smile. "That was cheesy though. And I'm not that good at damsel-ing but I can try, just long enough for you to rescue me." She chuckled, then her expression turned serious again. "Thank you," she whispered quietly.

"Precisely," Olivia said, a bit amused by his arched eyebrow. "I see you are familiar with the Guild. So you know exactly why I was sent here." She leaned forward, intentionally giving him a glimpse down her shirt. "To kill you.

"I should think, after that kiss, you would know why I can't do it." I can't kill my mate. Even if he is a vampire. I don't understand why fate put us together, but I do know we are meant to be. I felt it down to my bones as soon as our lips touched, she thought to herself, her eyes sliding to half-mast with the heated memory. She didn't even know if vampires had souls, much less soul mates. So did he feel the same way? She was beginning to doubt it, given his questioning of her.

***********

"Where I came from, such was life. As the poor son of a farmer, I could not hope to be a knight. But now, in these modern times, I can be one. Thank you, fair Zephyr, for allowing one so humble as me to rescue you," he said, bowing to her and taking her hand to kiss once more.

"Do you, ah, know how to drive?" There was no way he could drive back to the city just yet. He had to sleep during the heat of the day, which was fast approaching. His car windows were tinted dark enough for him to sleep in the back seat, but he would rather have a bed.

Vlad pulled his eyes back up to hers. "Sounds tempting. Maybe you should have killed me when you had the chance," he said with a teasing grin. "Before you promised to kiss me if I got the question right. Maybe then I wouldn't have asked you out." He raised his eyebrows. "Sounds like you're in a tough situation." He really did like her -found her very attractive- but was having fun teasing her anyway. It was just his personality. He knew she wouldn't kill him though... Would she?

~_>_<_~

Zephyr nodded her head and said with confidence, "Yes. I also know how to hotwire almost any car. Automatic or manual?" she asked, looking around. "I can do either, but obviously automatic is easier." She looked back up at him with no question, only trust in her eyes.

"You asked me out before I promised to kiss you if you guessed correctly. We were seated right here when I said that about the kiss. In fact, you asked me out less than five minutes after we met. The only time I had the opportunity to kill you was in the bookstore. That would a sacrilege; it would ruin too many books.

"So really, I haven't had a chance to kill you. Maybe on the way here, but part of my contract with the Guild is keeping vampires and creatures like myself a secret from humans. So, I couldn't kill you on the street either.

"You really don't know why I said I can't do it after that kiss, do you?"

************

"This particular car is automatic. I do need to make one stop before we leave. I checked into a bed and breakfast when I got into town, so I need to return my room key and let the owner know she has a room available. I walked from there, so we do have to go there to pick up my car anyway. It's not far, two or three blocks I think. Once we get the car, I'll tell you how to get back to where I live."

((Where are they? Anywhere in particular or just generic small town? 'Cause I've got to choose a city for him to return to... ^_^))

"Well.... Okay, not really. I'm just trying to annoy you because I can't help it," Vladmir said with a slight blush. "Although... It is kinda fun." He shrugged.

"You have reasoned me out. Why can't you kill me now?" he asked, now actually curious instead of just trying to mess with her. It made him want to laugh a little that she thought it sacrilegious to kill a vampire near books, but he didn't.

~_>_<_~

((I was kind of thinking either Tennessee or Florida, but you can pick. I don't mind ^_^ Or, just make up a city name. That could work too.))

Zephyr nodded. "Aunt May's inn?" she asked, knowing exactly where it was. "Yeah, okay. Sounds good." She followed him out of the dense woods, shifting her gaze from side to side, still antsy even though she trusted Aiden. Which she didn't even know why she did. He could be some sort of vampire kidnapper. She rolled her eyes at her own fretfulness.

Olivia stuck her tongue out at him when he said annoying her was fun. Mature? Not remotely, but she didn't care.

He really doesn't know. Could I be mistaken? That must be it. "Never mind. I must be mistaken," she said softly, blushing lightly once again. Damn. I was so sure too. Hell. At least I can have some fun with him. Then I'll kill him. Maybe.

*************

((Tennessee is perfect. ^_^ Also, they were already out of the woods.))

Aiden nodded to confirm her guess to where he was staying. For all he knew, it could be the only bed and breakfast in town. He reached for her hand, holding it as they walked the short distance to the so-called inn in companionable silence.

Vladmir's smirk spread wider then the waiter brought out their food. He arched his eyebrows at her. "You could have not accepted and waited until a better opportunity. Why not that?" He was pretty sure he'd still be able to talk her up, but knowing she was there to kill him he'd be a little more careful.

~_>_<_~

((Okay :D *facepalm* Sorry.))

Zephyr smiled a little, warm on the inside. She was pretty sure he wasn't a kidnapper. If he was he'd probably have just taken her without any conversation. She gave his hand a light squeeze just before they came to the front of the B&B. She lifted her head a little, a light breeze blowing her hair.

Olivia shrugged. "Maybe because you're even cuter in person than you are in the photo attached to your file." She took a sip of her drink. "Yeah, that's probably it," she decided with a nod.

I really don't want to kill him. I know I'm supposed to, but that kiss. Wow, that kiss was... just wow. And now, the logical part of my brain, the part that was arguing so hard for me to do the job before, has given in. All of me thinks he's my mate. How could I be so wrong?

***********

((It's alright. We all make mistakes. ^_^ ))

He handed her the keys to his car, then pointed it out to her. "The little blue Mustang there. I'll be out in just a minute," he said, deciding to trust her not to leave him. Of course, he could likely catch up to her if she did try to leave him. Unless she sped like a bat out of hell, but he doubted she would do that at all as it would draw too much attention.

He went inside and spoke with Aunt May, letting her know that he would not be staying after all but to keep the money he'd already given her. He made the excuse of having been called back on business. He didn't know if the woman knew Zephyr or her father and if she would tell her father about her leaving; that was why he'd told her to go to the car. No need to get caught before they even left town.

He was soon back outside and headed to his car.

((I could've swore I posted earlier.... <_< ))

She's avoiding the question, Vladmir thought amusedly, still leaning forward a bit. "I am pretty attractive," he said, kidding. "So you're basically playing the Black Widow card right now?" Raising his eyebrows, he took a bite of his food. I really don't think my usual tactics are working. He swallowed. "I doubt it's working because I already know you're doing it."

~_>_<_~

((Yeah; but I tend to make them a lot when I'm tired.))

Zephyr was already in the car and had it started. She had been staring blankly at the car that was parked a few feet ahead of the hood of Aiden's. She jumped a little but then smiled at him when he returned. She'd only met the lady who ran the place he had been staying at once but she'd liked her.

"Where do you live? Is it still in Tennessee?"

Olivia wanted to scream. Was he being obtuse on purpose or did he really not know what she'd alluded to before?

"No. I am not playing the 'Black Widow card' as you say. I told you I can't actually kill you after that kiss we shared. But you don't seem to understand why that is. That or you're being an ass on purpose." She sighed and looked down at the table, running a hand through her hair. She'd probably just insulted him and now he would want nothing to do with her at all.

She couldn't allow him to just leave her here, though. She needed him to stay with her. Even as irritated as she was, she fought the urge to jump over the table and into his arms. She needed to kiss him as much as she needed to eat, maybe more.

***********

Aiden got into the car, feeling strange because he was getting into the passenger's side. "Do you know how to get to Interstate 40? Just get on 40 East and go until you get to North Carolina. Wake me by exit 44 in North Carolina.

"I'll be asleep in the back seat. I was up all night last night, which is why I needed you to drive."

Vladmir could see that he was obviously pissing her off, so he tried to calm down the natural instinct to tease her. Leaning back in his chair again, he sighed. "You think I'm your mate and it's my fault because I kissed you back. I apologize, Olivia." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them again.

"Start over?" he asked with a hopeful intension in his voice. "I promise to try not to be a total jackass this time." He really wasn't smiling now but it was because he wanted her to believe he was serious.

~_>_<_~

"I can do that." Zephyr nodded, more assuring herself than him. It wasn't that she was a bad driver, it was more of the fact that she was still trying to convince herself that going with him was an extremely good idea. Because she obviously could back out on it now. She looked over at him again and gave another smile and nod, her eyes clear and awake.

"No, no starting over. You're not getting off that easily. Do you really think that I only think you're my mate because you kissed me back? I am not that naive. Explain yourself." She glared across the table at him, though she had been very tempted by his request to start over.

************

"Good. Don't hesitate to wake me if you run into any trouble though," Aiden said. He leaned over the center console and kissed her cheek. "I'm very glad you decided to come with me. I promise you won't regret it."

Vladmir pursed his lips. "I'm not explaining myself until you do. You think I have no idea and if I'm wrong, then what is the reason for your inability to kill me?" He arched his eyebrows, now slightly annoyed. If she was now toying with him he would understand but he wasn't going to playing a morphing cat and mouse game.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr leaned back towards the drivers door unintentionally before sitting back and kissing him lightly on the lips. "Thank you," she said with a slight smirk on her face. "I'm glad also." She had pretty much talked herself into believing that it was a better idea than staying back with her father.

Olivia sighed; this was going nowhere fast. "I can't kill you because I think you are my mate. But I don't just think so because you kissed me back. I think you are my mate because of the way my body responded to your kiss." She closed her eyes and sighed again. Her eyes shone as she reopened them to look into his. "Everything in me, everything that I am, tells me that you are mine. You are my mate."

"I can't be wrong. I just can't be," she whispered.

**********

Aiden grinned and kissed her back, a little more forcefully than she had kissed him. He still kept it brief, however. Didn't want to get stuck here and end up with her father catching them.

He climbed into the backseat and laid down, keeping an eye on her to make sure she would be alright.

So in other words you have no idea how to tell your hormones from anything, Vladmir thought, mentally rolling his eyes, though his face remained passive. He tilted his head a little to the side, trying to decide what to say. "But you just said that you don't think I'm your mate," he said finally, arching his eyebrows.

"So either you keep your job and kill your 'mate' or lose your job and have something new that might end up being really good for you in the long-run."

~_>_<_~

Zephyr sat there for a moment then switched from park to drive, pulling out from the curb and heading towards the highway, heat rising to her cheeks. She drove, still wide awake even though she'd really only slept that one hour in the tree before falling out. Her mind raced but she didn't bother Aiden. Several hours later, at the correct exit he had mentioned she looked in the rearview mirror and said, "Aiden."

Olivia nodded. "I don't think you're my mate. I know you are. The job can go to hell for all I care." She shrugged.

"Though it does seem odd to me that my mate would be my enemy. That made me question myself. Then that second kiss removed those doubts." This can't just be my hormones talking. It can't be. Can it?

************

Aiden woke up instantly and sat up. He looked around and smiled. He was home. Almost. "Take exit 47 and turn right at the light." He waited for them to get to that exit, which was just two exits past where he asked her to wake him.

((I live in this area, so I know it fairly well. They're in/about to be in Asheville, NC - the city I was born in. ^_^ ))

Go to hell, job, Vlad thought amusedly. "Glad I could be of service," he said with a slight smirk. "You can't go out with an enemy, unless you're just doing what I normally do and plan on killing me. Although I don't think that's true. You're too honest. Like a human, only not. If you were a vampire I wouldn't think you were telling the truth, but you're not."

~_>_<_~

"Okay." Zephyr swallowed a little before pulling off exit 47 and driving a little down the road, then stopping, waiting then turning right. She lifted her head again. "Where are we going?" she asked quietly, raising her dark eyebrows.

((Okay. I've never been to NC before you so can totally call the shots on this one xD ))

"What you normally do? Does that mean you're going to kill me? Or try to at least. 'Cause if you do, all bets are off" She hated the thought, despised it really, but if he tried to hurt her, she would have to defend herself even if it meant killing him.

Olivia looked down, surprised to see her food had already come out. She thought she would have noticed that. But then, she had been rather distracted.

************

"One of my houses. The smallest one, actually, but the one I spend the most time in. The bigger ones are mostly for show anyway. Once you turn, get into the left lane. Go straight through the next two lights. Look for Rex Avenue. It'll be on the left. The house is just past the road, also on the left." He watched her drive towards his house.

((I thought I posted the waiter already came...))

Vladmir raised his eyebrows. "No. That isn't what I meant. What I mean to say, unless you're lying and plan on killing me once I believe you. That's what I normally do. You'd be switching places. I never meant to kill you the first place," he said with a shrug, taking another bite of his food. "Why would I?"

~_>_<_~

Zephyrine could feel his eyes on her but didn't look back. A minute or so later she pulled up in front of his house and stopped the engine. "It's not that small," she said with a shrug, now looking back at him. Arching her eyebrow a little, she said, "You woke up quickly. Did you actually get any sleep at all?"

((You posted that he took their orders, but I didn't see where he'd brought the food. ^_^ I can fix it if necessary.))

"Maybe because vampires and were-leopards are enemies. And have been for centuries. That's why my father was killed."

Olivia looked down at her food and licked her lips; it looked and smelled delicious. She picked up her fork and took a large bit, moaning at the incredible taste.

*************

"Yeah, I actually slept really well. I always wake up quickly. I always have. Back on the farm, I had to get up and get to work as soon as I could. It became a habit then and it's still a habit now," Aiden explained.

"You ready to go inside?"

((You don't have to; just pointing it out.))

Vladmir smiled; not a creepy smile, not a taunting smile, but a real one. "Maybe I don't want to kill you because you're too beautiful," he said while she was chewing. "Plus the food here is really good." He shrugged again. "And I don't want to waste a pretty face."

~_>_<_~

"No, I was ready to just sit here in your car," Zephyr said, chuckling as she opened the driver's door and climbed out, smiling a little, looking back at him and running a hand through her long dark hair. She stood back so she wouldn't be in his way.

((I fixed it. I finally found where you'd posted their food being brought out. Sorry about that.))

Olivia blushed lightly at his words. He thinks I'm beautiful? Well, that's something, I suppose. He seems certain I'm not his mate, though. I wonder why that is.

"Thank you," she murmured once she finished the bite of food. I think. Don't want to waste a pretty face? What the hell is that about? Well, at least he's not going to kill me.

***********

Smart ass, Aiden thought, smiling and shaking his head. He climbed back into the front seat and followed her out the driver's door. He locked and closed the door once he made sure he had his keys. He walked up the stone path to the front door and opened it. The inside of the house was dark because all of the curtains were closed. He could see just fine in the dark; he wondered if she could as well.

((You're fine!))

"You're welcome," Vladmir said before taking another bite and chewing thoughtfully. A moment later he swallowed and asked, "So your father was killed by a vampire and you decided to have your vengeance by joining the Hunters Guild? Why wouldn't you just find the one that killed him?"

~_>_<_~

Zephyr followed after him silently, her boots tapping softly against the stone walkway. She stepped through the threshold of the house and could see clearly, though not as good as a vampire could in the dark. "You really are a vampire," she said quietly.

"Don't you think I've tried? I've been spending all my free time trying to find him and where he lives. He's a strong bastard. He's been hidden since he killed my father. No one knows anything about him. Or, if they do, they aren't telling me." She took another bite of her food, once again moaning softly at the taste. This food is amazing!

************

"You think? What drove it home for you?" Aiden asked, genuinely curious. He'd shown her his fangs but that obviously hadn't been enough to convince her. Now, though, she was convinced as soon as she entered his home? He had to know why that was.

Vladmir was quiet for a couple minutes, them both of them eating their food in silence. Finally, he swallowed again and asked, "Have you ever asked for help from an actual vampire? Like... one that hasn't tried to kill you?" His voice was quiet and uncertain -totally abnormal for the man- his eyes sincere, though they looked as if he were questioning himself.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr widened her eyes and looked up at him. I said that out loud?, she thought. "I- I didn't mean to speak that," she said, a flush rising from her neck to her cheeks. "Sorry." She swallowed then decided to say what she had meant. "It's just that I've seen shape-shifters and demons before with fangs, but neither of them are sensitive to light."

Olivia finished chewing and swallowed the food in her mouth. "No. But, then, you're the first vampire that hasn't tried to kill me either on sight or as soon as he learned what I am.

"Why? Are you volunteering?" I could definitely use the help. It's very odd no one has even seen him since that day.

*************

"Ah, yes, well." Aiden cleared his throat. "Sunlight doesn't bother me as much as it used to when I was first Turned. Of course, that was many, many years ago.

"Artificial light doesn't bother me at all. So if you need light for anything, use the electric ones. Please."

"I might possibly be volunteering... Possibly. Depends on who the vampire was- er... is," Vladmir said, watching her closely then shrugging, taking a bit more of his food, chewing then swallowing. "Do you even know his name?" he asked, still trying to decide if it was even a good idea to have voiced his idea in the first place. He probably should have kept his big mouth shut.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr nodded a little then shook her head quickly. "Oh, no. I can see fine." She tilted her head up a little ways and smiled. "Thanks anyway," she said with another slight nod.

Olivia nodded as she chewed her food. Once she swallowed, she spoke. "Yes, I did finally manage to find that out a couple of months ago. But you wouldn't believe me if I told you. I barely believe it myself. Actually, that's not entirely true. I still haven't decided if I believe it or not."

************

"Yes, of course, you did say that you aren't human. Forgive me for forgetting that. You see, you do smell mostly human. The demon scent is fairly weak and easy to forget unless we are close together." Aiden stepped towards her, leaving very little distance between their bodies. "Like so," he whispered.

Vladmir leaned forward again in his seat, now a little impatient, though barely letting it seep through his voice. "And are you going to tell me his name? Or would I be too shocked?" He arched his eyebrows. Obviously it's not me... right? "I promise to try to believe you," he tried.

Mostly.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr bit her lip and stepped to fill the rest of the space between them, then stood on her tiptoes, arching her eyebrows with a slight smirk. "Or like this?" she whispered back, her blush gone now, widening her eyes a bit, within a couple inches from his face.

"Oh, I'll tell you alright. But when you don't believe me, don't say I didn't warn you." Olivia took a deep breath to steady herself. "Vlad Dracul, the Impaler. The supposed inspiration for Bram Stocker's Dracula."

She sat back and waited for him to tell her it was impossible, that he was dead, or never a vampire, or something.

***********

"Precisely," Aiden murmured. He slowly lowered his head until his lips met hers. With a soft groan, he wrapped his arms around her slender form, pulling her flush against his body. He'd wanted to kiss her since they met.

Vlad gave her a blank stare for a few moments before a huge grin broke out on his face and he started laughing. After a bit, he tried to stop, his face a little red compared to it's normal extreme pale shade. He took a couple deep breaths and regained his serious face. Sort of. "It would be amazing to meet him. Why wouldn't I believe you..?"

~_>_<_~

Zephyr closed her eyes, wrapping her thin, pale arms around his waist, letting a small, quiet moan escape her lips, still absentmindedly standing on her tiptoes, tilting her head a little to the side to better fit to his.

"Holy shit! You mean he's real? Like, really real? Oh. My. God." Olivia began to hyperventilate. I am so fucked. He has to know I've been looking for him. Oh shit. Oh shit, ohshit, ohshitohshitohshit.

"I'm going to have to go into hiding now, aren't I? He has to know I've been asking about him. He's going to come after me next."

************

Aiden growled with pleasure. He set one hand on the back of her head to let him angle her mouth as he wanted it. His other hand ran over her back lightly before coming to rest on her waist once more. He licked over her lips, seeking entrance to her hot mouth.

Vladmir shook his head quickly, a little amused at her worry. "You don't have to go into hiding, Olivia. Don't you think if you've been asking about him for a while and he wanted to find you, he already would? It's a vampire thing. You're not screwed," he added, even though she hadn't said she thought she was.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr wasn't really thinking, but if she had been she would have liked that he was being rough, but not hurting her at the same time. She parted her lips for him, chills running through her body, though she didn't actually shiver.

"I... I'm sure you're right," Olivia said, smiling shakily at him. She tried to calm herself by taking several deep breaths. She hadn't quite finished her food, but she no longer had an appetite.

"Can we go somewhere else? Please," she whispered, shooting him another small, shaky smile.

************

Aiden's tongue swept into her mouth, wrestling her tongue for dominance briefly before pinning it down. He groaned and let both his hands run down her back to her rear end. He squeezed her cheeks, pulling her up against his body. If he knew she wasn't a virgin, he'd just take her against the wall, repeatedly.

"Yeah," Vlad gave her a smile back, standing up and offering her his hand, leading her to the front desk and paying. They left the restaurant and a bit of the ways down he stopped and turned, looking down at her. "Don't worry. I will help you," he promised with another smile. "Which also involves protecting you."

~_>_<_~

Zephyr kissed him back just as hard, jumping up a little with his help and wrapping her black jeaned legs around his waist easily. Her fingers gripped the back of his shirt even though she knew she wouldn't fall down, and even if she would his shirt wouldn't help. Her stomach tightened as she moaned again.

Olivia turned to face him. She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you," she whispered as she leaned up on tiptoe to press her lips to his. She kept the kiss light, brief. "Take me to your place, please," she murmured against his lips before kissing him again. If they weren't on a public street, she would jump up and wrap her legs around his waist.

***********

Aiden growled and began to walk forward, carrying her. He stopped when her back hit a wall. He groaned in frustration before breaking the kiss. "Zephyr, baby, I want you more than is sane. But we've only just met. I don't want to move too fast and ruin what we could have. Please tell me to stop." He kissed her neck.

Vladmir grinned a little before pulling away from her kiss. "Yes, I will. I have a database on where a lot of vampires are, plus-" he gestured to the street around them, which wasn't very busy, but still had a few mortals and supernaturals on it, "People," he said with a shrug. He bent down to kiss her quickly again before taking her hand and leading her to his car, opening the passengers door for her and helping her in, then shuffling over to the drivers side, opening it and climbing in himself. He looked over at her and smiled.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr smiled, kissing his cheek and holding one hand behind his neck. "Thank you," she said earnestly after a bit of a long pause. She took a deep breath. "Most men wouldn't stop even if I said to, but-" you obviously aren't most guys, she finished in her head. "Stop, please, Aiden," she whispered huskily.

"I didn't ask that to get you to help me find Him," she said, the Him being Vlad Dracul.

"I asked you to take me to your place for an entirely different reason." She winked at him and put her hand on his leg, gently squeezing before trailing her fingers up his thigh teasingly. Surely he would know what she meant by that.

She did still need to find out why he didn't think she was his mate. And if it was - hopefully! - possible for him to be wrong about that.

***********

Aiden nodded. He kissed her neck once more, then gave her lips a brief, gentle kiss. "Now, we need to find you a room. Come along," he said, then didn't give her a choice in the matter because he took her small hand in his.

"There are three bedrooms on this level and a fold-out couch in the basement. You may sleep in any bedroom you wish, though I will warn you that one of them is, of course, mine. I doubt you want to share a bedroom with me," he said, giving her a wide smile. Not if you want to stay a virgin. He pointed out the three bedroom; it was obvious which one was his because it looked lived in.

"I am well aware," Vladmir said gruffly with a wicked grin on his face. "But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna quit offering." He looked over at her with a twinkle in his eye. He started his car and pulled out to head down the road the way to his house. "I don't live far away but it looks like the middle of freaking nowhere..." he said, trailing off.

~_>_<_~

Zephyr glanced over at him, raising her eyebrows and smiling. "I wouldn't mind, but I can stay in the one next to yours," she said finally, peeking out from under her dark bangs. She felt a slight blush on her cheeks and neck again and absentmindedly held his hand a little tighter. "Thank you," she said.

Olivia smiled in response to his wicked grin. She couldn't wait to be alone with him. Just him, her, and a bed. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the sudden ache there. She needed to think about something else, anything else.

"Middle of nowhere? Does that mean you don't have any close neighbors?" she asked, trying desperately to get her mind off the subject of being in his bed. Of course, the idea of no close neighbors was making her think of how they could be together anywhere, even outside and no one would see. That didn't help matters any. She really hoped they would get to his place soon. Or she was going to tackle him while he drove.

***********

Aiden's eyebrows rose when she said she wouldn't mind sharing his bedroom. She'd just asked him to stop, hadn't she? Did she even know what sharing his bedroom would mean? Surely she did; she wasn't that young.

"You're welcome, my dear," Aiden said in a husky voice. He led her to the room that was now hers. "Make yourself at home. If you need anything, let me know. I'll be around all day and all night." He'd left his club in capable hands in preparation for a few days away. It would run just fine without him.

"Well..." Vladmir gave a sort of shrug, running one hand through his short hair. "Sort of." He smiled again, proud. "I run a ranch with an orchard, a couple hundred acres. Kind of takes up a bit of space," he said with a chuckle. "So no neighbors." He looked out of the corner of his eye at her, slightly amused "But I do have workers, although they've been given a few days off."

~_>_<_~

((Obviously Vlad and Liv have their own thing going right now... But skip to later for Aiden and Zephyr? Like maybe a few days later, at his club? Maybe some drunk guy comes onto her when she's not next to Aiden or something?))

Zephyr nodded at the room before turning around and hugging him without saying anything. After a moment she said, "I don't need anything, though thank you for offering." She had a slight headache ut didn't know why.

"Oh? Oh," Liv said, the first 'oh' disappointed, the second relieved. She smiled over at him, letting her desire shine in her eyes. "Just how long does it take to get there?" she asked, hoping his answer would be a very short amount of time. Or that they would be there by the time he answered.

***********

((Sure. I like that idea. ^_^ ))

It had been three days since he'd brought Zephyr home with him, and much as he didn't want to, he needed to return to work. The manager who'd been watching the club in his absence had requested this night off over a month ago; some concert or something his daughter would be performing in. If he had anyone else, he'd go as well and take Zephyr with him; he thought she might would enjoy a concert.

Aiden knocked on the door of her bedroom. "Zephyr? I have to go in to the club tonight. Would you like to go with me?"

"Another minute or so," Vlad said with a bit of tease in his voice. "Depending on the route I take." He smirked, looking out at the road ahead instead of her, arching one of his eyebrows. He tapped his fingers on the wheel, impatient himself -though obviously not as much as she was. "I'm guessing you'd prefer the quicker way."

~_>_<_~

Zephyr stood up and walked over, opening the door and smiling up at him. "I would love to," she replied. It wasn't that she was bored but she knew she would enjoy it more than just beating herself up mentally for no good reason.

"Please," Olivia whispered. "Or I could just jump in your lap here. But I don't think you want to crash, so you should probably hurry." She gave him a sweet, innocent-looking smile, batting her eyelashes.

She had been kidding about jumping in his lap. Mostly.

*************

Aiden smiled down at her. "Good. We should leave now so we can find you something more appropriate for clubbing. Something a bit sexier, but not too sexy. I don't want other men hitting on you. Unless, of course, you want that." Please don't want that. It would kill me to see you in another man's arms.

Vladmir widened his eyes and turned his head to look at her before realizing she was kidding and turning his attention back to the road again. "There's really only one way to get there, so," he shrugged with a sort of relieved laugh. "You could consider it the quick way, I guess." He chewed at the corner of his own lip for a moment, then said, "Why are you so convinced I'm your mate?" It wasn't as though he was upset -hell no- but he was curious.

~_>_<_~

Zephyrine widened her eyes and shook her head quickly, then stopped and arched her eyebrows with a bit of a small smirk. "Whatever you think looks good will be fine," she said, thinking, Of course I don't want other guys looking at me. I hope he doesn't think I do.

"I don't know. It's just a feeling I have, deep down inside of me. Why are you so convinced I'm not your mate?" she asked, turning the tables on him. Maybe if he told her that, she could find out if anything would convince him that she was his mate. She would do it, whatever it was, even if it meant letting him drink her blood.

On second thought, the idea of him drinking her blood was erotic now. They would have to be close for him to do that, a closeness she was sure she could take advantage of.

***********

Aiden smiled. "Then let's go and find you some clothes." He took her hand and led her outside to his car. A quick trip downtown and he was sure they would find something suitable. There were dozens of boutiques downtown, surely one of them would have clothes that would fit her and look appropriate for going out to a club.

((Feel free to skip or sum up the shopping.))

"It's not that, Olivia, it's that most vampires don't think and/or feel the same way were-leopards do... I guess." Vladmir took a deep breath, trying to decide how to say what he was thinking. "Usually, most male vampires mess up their chances with their actual mate and just go back to doing whatever it was that they were doing before the two met -most likely some playboy act that they think they've got down perfectly." He winced at his own words.

~_>_<_~

(((view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] ))

Zephyr came out consciously, turning in front of Aiden. "How does this look?" she asked, not looking up but then deciding to, pulling her black and white hair out of her face. Personally, she didn't think she looked good but valued his opinion more than her own.

Olivia giggled at his description of most male vampires. "Okay, so does that mean you don't know whether or not I'm your mate?" I can work with that. That means I might actually have a chance to convince him that I am his mate. "How does a vampire know when he's met his mate?"

***********

((Love that dress. ^_^))

"Hot," Aiden murmured. "Perfect," he said a bit louder. He walked up to her and cut the tag off the dress, taking it to the cashier and paying for the dress. While she'd changed into the dress, he'd looked at the shop's small selection of shoes. None of them satisfied him. Luckily, there was a large shoe store just across the street. They were sure to be able to find something there.