Lost Virginity

Answers

Prey/Highlander Crossover

He is standing in the park, enjoying the heat of the end of summer. August was hot anywhere, but it is very hot here. This close to the ocean it was also wet. The air felt so heavy it is almost a chore to breathe. He’s watching the people in the park. There’s a festival going on and he has come to observe. He’s dressed in light colored clothes, although he prefers dark, but it would stand out and be overly hot. But he did not forgo a light jacket, to do without would be to go unarmed and he never went unarmed. His sunglasses let him watch everything carefully and anonymously.

He hears someone coming up behind him. He tenses, waiting for a charge and lowers his shields to sense what might be coming. As he feels the calm sea wash over him, he knows. He had almost given up hope he would ever see her again. It had been over a year. He relaxes and lets her come close. He feels two arms come around his chest and a soft voice whisper, "Guess who?"

"Amerana." He lets the word dance on his tongue, stretched out until it was several words instead of one.

He grasps her arm and pulls her in front of him. He is surprised at what she is wearing, a cream halter-top with a short sleeve lace jacket that came below her hip. Sunglasses, beige pants and boots, he notes that there still is a knife in her boot. Her body looks far more lush wearing this but that may have been no more than the desire he felt in her and echoed in himself. He wraps his arms around her under the jacket to feel her bare flesh. His first thought is to kiss, but that changes as he gets close and he buries his nose in her neck, as she does to him. He inhales her scent and lets in waft over him. He can smell her arousal as well as feel it in her mind. He gently grinds his hips into her to let her know how he felt. He knows she won’t mind.

She pulls away from him. Looking over her sunglasses, her eyes are shining. "I would have sought you out sooner but I was busy." She reaches up and gently touches his hair; "You cut your hair. I liked it longer." She links her arm in his. "And why are you in town?"

"I'm going back to college. I'm taking some advanced courses in Chemistry, Physics, and Forensics. I hope we will have a chance to see each other, often."

"I hope so. I recently bought a house at the edge of town. It used to belong to a parish but is now being sold. Would you like to see it?

He pauses. Did he want to see where she lived, or would that be too personal? "Yes, I think I would"

"Do you have a car? Else we can take mine."

"I walked to the park. Let's take your car."

She holds his left arm so his right will be available for his weapon. It's like she instinctively knew not to come between him and his weapon. They stroll casually across the park, heading for her car. She had parked a few blocks away, they walk in silence. As they leave the park, Tom pauses at a vendor and buys her a flower. She accepts and inhales its fragrance. As they approached her car she asks, "Tom, why?"

"I thought you might like it." He nuzzles her neck. "Don't you like it?" He asks in a puzzled voice.

"I like it very much. I just didn't think you thought that way. Somehow you seemed more distant. Not quite the type to give flowers."

He looks at her carefully. Why had he given her the flower? He realized it was because his training told him that most women liked flowers. That was a bad habit to get into.

She comes up to her car, a bright red convertible.

He looks at it. "Could you find something more noticeable if you tried?"

"Come on, it's fun."

In the car he sits close to her. "Seat belt." She says. He reluctantly puts it on but in the middle of the bench seat. As she drives, he touches her shoulder and whispers into her ear. The sounds of her name are like a strong drink to him. He's getting drunk on her scent and emotions. He lets his hands travel down her body and to her thigh. She moves his hand gently. "Tom, please. Let me concentrate." His hand travels up her body to her breast. He was right. Her breasts were full and lush but not overly so. The black blouse she had worn minimized her size, probably what she had intended.

They drive out of town to where the houses become sparse. She turns into a drive that looks as if the house, far from the road, is deserted. The house is hidden by a copse of trees. She parks in the rear. When they come to the rear door, he sees a security system that is state of the art.

They enter into a large country kitchen. The house is only one room thick, although it is three stories high.

He puts his arms around her and bites her lightly on the back of her neck. "Amerana, how do you do this to me? I've never wanted a woman more than you. I'm not supposed to. In some way you make me want you."

She turns in his arms and looks at him. "Tom, I know what you are. I've seen you kill. I accept you. That can be very arousing. Besides I promised." She looks at him with smoldering eyes.

"But first I want to put this up." She says holding the flower. She opens a cupboard and reached for a vase on the top shelf. He is more interested in watching her than what she is doing. She reaches up and grabs a vase with two fingers, then it slips and falls. He catches it before it hits the counter.

"I'm sorry, I should have paid attention to what you were doing. Let me do that." He unwraps the flower from its paper and puts it in the vase. He moves over to the sink and half fills it with water. "Where do you want it?"

"Leave it here, Tom, we have much more important things to do." She gently tugs on his jacket.

She gently tugs him up the stairs. Her bedroom is at the top of the stairs. When she opens the door he sees a room vastly different from the sterility of the rest of the house. It is furnished in lush shades of blues and greens. The bed hasn't been made. Somehow he knew she wouldn't be the neat type. She kisses him on his chin and runs her lips to his neck. Her hands caress his chest and start opening his shirt, the buttons popping off and spraying across the room. His hands are behind her back loosening her top, then running over her breasts and down her back again. "Amerana, are you sure?" She pushes his shirt down and starts to run her tongue over his chest. It feels almost if she is burning him, the touch is so hot. He groans deep in his throat and releases her long enough to rip the jacket and shirt off his hands.

Meanwhile, she has shrugged off the jacket she wore. He unties and removes her halter. She pulls him to the bed and pushes him down. She removes his shoes and reaches for his belt. "No, not yet." He pulls her down and pulls off her boots. She asks, "Are you worried about this?" Holding his holstered gun, she rolls off the bed and places it on the bedside table. She unzips her pants and drops them and stands there nude, looking at him with a smile on her face.

She approaches him on the bed and nuzzles his neck. "Tom, are you uneasy about this? About us?"

"No, I just…want you." He has no other words.

Her hand floats down to his belt and she unbuckles it as her mouth explores his.

She unzips his pants and feels his hardness. If she continues he will be lost, but she snakes across his hips and pushes his pants down. He helps with one hand and the other is on her. She is limber, she puts her foot in the crotch of the pants and pushes them down and he kicks them off. The passion is feral and deep. He wants her now. He pushes her back on the bed and rolls on top of her. He puts his knees between her legs and pushes them apart. He wants no preliminaries. He positions himself at her opening and thrusts into her, feeling her sharp pain only to be replaced by pleasure. This was what she wanted from him. Hard and fast, he would give it to her.

He presses her down with his weight and thrusts hard and deep. He cannot last long at this pace but he is determined to give her pleasure. Her breath becomes ragged and she nibbles little bites along his jaw and shoulder. Her knees come up and she thrusts hard into him matching his pace. He feels her start to crest and the waves of her orgasm roll over him, when she bites his shoulder. He pauses only momentarily, then continues. He feels her teeth cut into him, only to have that pain wash over with her pleasure. His back arches and he starts to scream only to have it come out of his throat as a growl. It delays his gratification and he continues to thrust. When she climaxes again he still feels her mouth on his shoulder but she does not bite. She triggers his own completion. Instinctively he places his mouth on her shoulder and bites. He knows he has lost all control, his teeth rend and tear at her. He tastes her blood in his mouth and it drives him higher still. He continues to thrust into her until he is drained.

When he comes back to himself he can feel her licking his shoulder and the burning that comes with healing. She is murmuring words he doesn't understand. Her shoulder is healing as he watches. He puts his mouth on the wound to feel it. Then he kisses her with her blood in his mouth, letting her taste. "Amerana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean.." She puts her fingers over his lips. "Shhhh, I'm afraid I hurt you. You will have a bruise."

He shifts slightly so he is not crushing her with his weight and rubs his shoulder. "I only remember the pleasure, not the pain." He nuzzles her neck and realizes she is satisfied but not satiated. That would take more. Soon he will be ready again, but this time it will be slower. The burning of their desire had been quenched. Next would be a dance of anticipation. To see how far they could go and still be themselves. He could do this, too. He could not afford to loose control again.

Her hair is still bound in the braid. He turns on his side taking her with him. Her hair is bound with a leather thong. He has little trouble loosening it and starting to loosen her hair. It falls in soft waves. He gathers a handful and smells it. He kisses her gently. He will make it slow and easy.

He kisses her face and along her jaw to her shoulder. When he comes to the place he bit he sees it is well on its way to healing. He kisses her there too, feeling the tingling of healing on his lips. Her hands are roaming over his back and buttocks. He now feels scratches along his back. He didn't feel them when they were made. He was glad she kept her nails short. She could have laid him open if they had been long. He runs his fingers over her back feeling the ridges and hollows. He'll do something special, but that was for later.

He has to release himself from her to continue. She gasps slightly as he moves from her. "What do you want Amerana? Do you want to tell me? Or shall I discover?"

She makes a noise in the back of her throat. "Discovery is always more enlightening isn't it, young one, don’t you think?"

Discovery it shall be. He kisses her across her shoulder to her collarbone and rains kisses and licks all across, pausing at her throat to run his tongue up her neck to her chin. As he moves down between her breasts she kisses and nibbles his head, her hands on his shoulders, never losing contact with him. He kisses and sucks at each breast, making each nipple become hard and extended. He hears her groan with pleasure. She is still very sensitive from her recent climax. He wants very badly to nip at her, but no pain this time only pleasure. Instead, he grazes his teeth across the sensitized nipples and is rewarded by her gasp. He licks and kisses his way down her ribcage and to her belly. It is soft with the spring of hard muscle under the light layer of fat she has. He kisses down one hip and than the other. She has come up and is kissing and licking his back. He moves in between her legs to taste her, when she says "Nooooo, Tom." He regretfully kisses her womanhood and flicks his tongue across her clitoris. He moves up to kiss her.

The kiss is slow and sensual. He lets her taste herself on his lips. "Now, Amerana, do you want me now?" He softly whispers in her ear even though he very well knows the answer. He lowers his shielding so he could feel her completely. He wants to know exactly what she seeks.

The only answer he gets is "Ummmmm." low and guttural in her throat.

He enters her slowly, letting both of them enjoy the sensation. He could last much longer at this pace. He feels her spread her legs and flex her hips for deeper penetration. He settles deep in her and lets himself become accustomed to her depth. He starts stroking himself into her, supporting himself on his upper arms, one hand teasing her breast. The other slipping under her to feel and support her back.

He kisses her slow and languorously. Exploring her mouth as if he had just discovered it. Her arms on his back hold him close. He streams kisses on her neck, first one side than the other. He is starting to build to climax, as is she. He feels the pressure start to build. Suddenly, he feels her tighten on him and almost yelps in pain.

Her fingers are on his lips and eyes almost black with passion look at him. "Tom, breathe deeply." He knows she does not want to hurt him but is delaying the inevitable. Soon a loosening of the muscle and a ripple of strength reward him along his shaft. He starts stroking into her again as she lifts her legs and cross them behind his back. The shifting of her hips gives him a new sensation. Soon she is driven to climax and he is swept along with her.

He is exhausted and gasping. Slowly he rolls off of her, feeling them both slick with sweat and semen. He feels the slight breeze coming through the partially open window and is very glad as it wafts through. She looks at him through half closed eyes.

"My turn to discover." She says softly.

"No, Amerana, I need time to recover. It will not take long."

"Tom, I will take it slow. Besides it gives me more time. I promise there will be no pain. I did not mean to cause you pain. Can you forgive me?"

She is asking his forgiveness when he had torn into her like a ravening beast. His teeth had torn skin and flesh almost down to bone. "As you wish, Amerana, do as you will."

She starts at his forehead, kissing and tasting. He knows she tastes because of the quick touching of her tongue she uses when she tastes. She gently runs her fingers through his hair, letting her fingers follow her mouth as she travels down his face. He relaxes and enjoys her touch. She is exploring him as if it is her first time. In a way it is, there is no urgency in her touch or her kisses. He feels the sweltering heat of the day and is delighted with the slow pace she is setting.

When she comes to his mouth she kisses and explores. He lets his hands come up to her now, gently cupping her face and holding her close. He wants to say her name but she shushes him with a finger to his lips.

He lets the heat of the day and her touches on his body lull him into a state of complete relaxation. As she comes to his hips and crotch he realizes that her touch is no longer merely exploratory, it is predatory. She buries her nose into his crotch, licks and then sucks on his testicles. He groans and reaches for her body. She moves to be just out of his reach. His fingers can reach her head at his crotch. She licks and teases his shaft. He soon realizes that he is ready again.

She mounts him as he lies there and he feels his hardness fill her. Slowly she starts to rock her hips. He reaches up to tease her breasts and enjoys her taking charge. She rises and falls in a soft rhythm. There is no urgency, only pleasure and delight. She props herself up by her hands on his shoulders, holding him down by his own desire. He lets time pass as they slowly drift from mere desire to want, to need, to climax. Not powerful, not overwhelming, only the culmination of what they had begun.

He feels as if every bone in his body had melted. A delicious lassitude comes over him as he turns his head to look at her. What he had thought was a light tan was not, it was the color of her skin, coffee with lots of cream. Her hair floats around her like a fan. She looks at him with the sloe-eyes of contentment. He let himself have a tinge of pride, he has not shamed himself, and she is pleased. There had been many little things that let him know she was more experienced than he was; at least in this, and still, she was pleased. "The heat of the day has sapped your strength, mi `etalon. Sleep now. Soon the sun will set and it will be cooler." She gently runs her fingers through his hair.

Still, she wants something from him, what? He studies her emotions as sleep tries to overtake him. He moves close to her and buries his nose in her neck, yes, that was it. He smells her and knows what she wants. Even with the room saturated with the scent of sex and sweat she wants to smell him. And now he knows why. Her scent has changed, it was still hers, but he can smell an undertone to it. His own scent mingled with hers. A scent of satisfaction, of pleasure. He hopes he smells as good to her. "I can't sleep now. How will I protect you if I sleep?" He whispers into her ear.

"Does that worry you?" she says with a small chuckle. She reaches over to the nightstand and pulls out a drawer. She flips a switch. "There. The security system has been activated. No one can go in or out. Now sleep, mi petit `etalon, sleep."

"Mi petit `etalon? My little stallion? Why?"

She runs her finger across his lips and smiles. "I'll tell you after we sleep. Now, rest, Tom, rest."

He awakens to find her watching him. The sun was low and it was considerably cooler but not chill. He reaches up and gently brushes the hair from her eyes. "You are beautiful."

"You lie, Tom."

"No, I see you here, with your hair soft and unbound, the last dregs of sleep in your eyes, and your lips still swollen from desire. You're beautiful, and tonight you're mine."

"Is that what you want, Tom, only tonight?"

"No, but neither of us knows what tomorrow might bring. And with the dawn we'll decide what more may come."

"What are you? Who are you? Tom, nothing you say will ever go beyond these walls. You have many secrets inside you, will you share any of them?"

He sighs and reaches over to kiss her, a slow sensual kiss. He examines her face closely. He may frighten her so badly he will never see her again, but he will not lie to her. "I'm not human, not Homo sapian. I am a member of the next evolutionary step. I am of the People, as we call ourselves. I work as a chameleon. I play a part, become another; sometimes I kill, sometimes something else. Amerana, I have never been so comfortable with someone as I have been with you. I don't feel as if I should play a part with you."

She nods. "I knew you were different, but perhaps not how much different. Here you can be yourself, with no expectations. What ever becomes of us will be as ordained. I have played a part so much of my life, I sometimes forget who I am. Do not allow that to happen to you, mi `etalon, not to you.

"Mi petit `etalon, you said you would explain."

She gave a slow sultry laugh that warmed him. "You have not figured that out? I must be slipping. You have a stamina that is nothing short of amazing and you are, shall we say, not shy of physical attributes."

"But petit?"

"You are, thank the gods, not quite as well endowed as a stallion. I do think you are more than adequate. Are you disappointed?"

"No, I've never been called by anything but my name. I think I like it." He nuzzles his nose into her hair and revels in its scent. Slowly he turns he over onto her stomach. He pushes her hair away and looks at the scars on her back.

"No, Tom, don't."

"Shhhh. I said I'd never turn from you. Let me see what I have.

He looks at the deep scars on her back and leans down to kiss them. He still flinches when he sees them but he will never let her know that. He kisses and licks each scar from beginning to end the entire length of her back. He feels her revulsion at what he does. "No, Amerana, I want all of you. You accept me for what I am. Let me show you how I accept you. Someone did this to you. Let me restore what they did to you, at least in part."

He continues his slow circuit of her scars, down her back and over her buttocks. When he reaches the few on her legs he sighs. And continues. "What's that for Tom?" She asks.

"I guess I'll never see you in a short skirt. You'd look wonderful in a short skirt." He goes down her legs and can smell her arousal. It has been building for some time. He debates with himself whether to taste her but decided he has something better he could do.

He knows he is setting himself up for failure or at least a certain amount of pain for tomorrow. He thinks briefly about putting off what he has planned, but no, he will not deny her the acceptance she has given him.

He moves behind her and spreads her legs with his knees. He leans forward and kisses and nibbles at the back of her neck. He gently strokes himself in the cleft between her buttocks. "Feeling adventurous, young one." She murmurs under her breath.

"Yes and no." he whispers to her in her ear. "I've had more than a year to think about what I'd like to do to you and with you. This is one of them."

"Which is it, to me or with me?"

"Both." he says gently biting her earlobe. He reaches one arm around her waist and the other around her chest and between her breasts. He raises her up and slides himself inside her. She is only balancing herself with her arms; she lets him support her weight. He starts to stroke into her. Her legs come around his waist, telling him she has done something like this before. His lower hand creeps down to flick his fingers across her clitoris. He lets his hips stroke into her powerfully.

As her passion rises her back starts to arch until she is bent like a bow. He bites and nibbles at he neck as he takes more of her weight on his hand and brings her head beside his own. He doubts she has ever had someone support her with only one arm. She is keening her delight as his fingers stroke and tease her clitoris "Harder, Tom, harder." she whispers. He complies knowing he will leave bruises. He bites her neck as she comes bringing him with her. He slowly lowers her to the bed and lays on top of her. His breath is heavy and harsh.

"Amerana," he whispers, drinking in her pleasure. "Did I hurt you? I only wanted you to enjoy it." He lifts himself on his arms taking some of his weight off of her.

She raises her head and looks into his eyes. "No, mi `etalon, I never have had an experience quite like that." She nuzzles against him. "We'll have to try that again."

He smiles and lets himself have a little more pride. Tomorrow he would pay the price. His back is already screaming at him.

"Tom, are you interested in dinner? The sun is setting, it's getting late."

He slides out of her and rolls over to his back, letting out a soft groan. "That sounds very good. What are we having?"

"Whatever's in the refrigerator. Let's go see what I have. Tom, does your back hurt?"

"Some, but it was worth it. Let's go eat." He reaches over to help her off the bed and finds that his back hurts worse than he thought. He pushes the pain away and rises up. He pulls her close and kisses her, stroking her hair out of her eyes.

"Tom, we really should rinse off before dinner. Sleeping through the heat of the day is pleasant, but we should rinse off the results of our exertion. It'll make it easier to concentrate on dinner." He nods, his hands never leaving her.

They shower, doing little more than rinse off and she ties her hair back. He strokes it feeling the tangles and asks, "What about your hair? You need to comb it out."

"I'll do it later. Now we need to eat."

They go down the stairs to the kitchen and raid the refrigerator. Soon they're eating a chicken and vegetable stir-fry made from odds and ends in her refrigerator. Tom swears he will never cook in the nude again.

Suddenly, the telephone rings. She answers it with "Amy Raines speaking."

"Amy, this is your lawyer speaking. Jason Waters. You know; the man you have make all kinds of contracts. I need you here to sign some papers."

"Let me put you on hold. I'll pickup in the den." She leans down and kisses Tom. "Duty calls. It's business. Back in a minute."

His curiosity peaks and he follows her. She enters the den but doesn't close the door. He stands outside and carefully listens to the conversation. He is not so far away that, with concentration, he can't hear both sides of the conversation.

"What papers do you need me to sign?"

"Those five thousand acres of swampland. Wilkerson is balking. He wants more concessions. I need you down here to approve his changes in the contract."

"No. No changes. He's getting a very fair price. He signs it now the way it is and takes what I give him or I walk. He gets nothing. Talk to him. I'll be down tomorrow night. I'll check things out and sign them then. The only concession I will make is if he wants it, I can make it an all cash deal. But if he leaves that mortgage on it, I'll roast him. Anything else?"

"I need you to look over the figures for the construction and sign off on them. It looks like it's going to cost more than was estimated."

"It always does. I'll do a walk through on the site sometime next week. And?

"That's it, Amy, for now. I'll be in the office 'til late or would you rather meet me at my house?"

"Office and make sure you have a notary present. I want no slip-ups. Good-by, Jason."

She stands there for a minute, looking out the tall windows beside the fireplace.

He quickly and silently returns to the kitchen and the table he deserted. The conversation had quenched the quick stab of jealousy he had felt. He didn't know where it had come from. She was human, no more than a diversion. Someone to fill the time with. Or was she more? As he gathers the dishes and places them in the dishwasher, he reflects. He'd been thinking about her periodically for over a year. She meant something to him. She had opened doors he didn't know existed.

"Tom, you didn't have to clean up, it could have waited. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We've got things to do."

He turns out the lights and walks over to her. The sun had set and it was dark, to his eyes she glows gently in the darkness. He wraps his arms around her. "What do we have to do tomorrow except stay in bed. I don't have to be at school for a week and I don't think you really have an office to go to. By the way, who is Amy Raines?"

"I am Amy Raines here. I told you I have lived a part most of my life. I'll tell you more tomorrow. Come, let's get ready for bed. I like silk but if we're going to play we should use linen sheets."

They prepare for bed and her hair is combed and bound but not braided. She rubs his back, relaxing the muscles and relieving much of his pain. He snuggles against her this night and feels it. Something he thought was a dream. Peace. A peace he'd always sought but never found. She feels peaceful and calm.

He feels her as she stirs the next morning, forgetting where he was and why he was here. With all the lovers he had had she was the first he had slept with. Before it had always been work, last night had been choice.

"Umm, good dreams."

"Was I one of them?" He whispers to her. He looks into her eyes and sees them glitter. He wishes he could feel more of her. Yesterday he could feel her passion. Today he can only feel her calm sea. The sea that covers her emotions. He knows it is a form of shielding. He had never met a human who could shield like this.

"I have a present for you, and yes, you have been in my dreams for some time. Are you surprised?"

"No, the first time we met I felt your desire. I knew you wanted me."

Her eyes open wide in surprise; he feels it only slightly. "My people have a sense for emotion. I can feel what you feel, at least sometimes. You can block it somehow. I often shield myself so as not to be bombarded by everyone around me. Yesterday during our," he hesitates, uncertain of the word to use, "passion, I could feel you. Knew what you wanted. When you came, it washed over me and was mine too. I can't explain it very well. Language doesn't have words to describe it or how it feels."

"I think you did a very good job of explaining it. Tom, I have had much pain in my life. I protect myself from it. If you stay for a while, and I hope you will, you will see. If you can feel me, I don't want to hurt you with a pain long past. Do you understand?"

"I think so. Can you try to let me in more?"

She smiles at him and runs a finger down the side of his face. "I'll try. Come and see your gift."

They go down into the parlor. It is completely white; sofa, walls, and carpet. "How do you like it? It discourages people I don't want here. They get uncomfortable and leave but I left your gift over here." She goes over to a low cupboard near an alcove. The alcove is bare excerpt for the knives hanging on the wall. "Come, Tom, come and see."

She hands him a sheathed knife. He holds it and draws the knife from its sheath. It has an 8-inch blade and a tang that goes completely through the hilt. The hilt is black ebony chased with silver. It is wrapped with leather at the top and bottom for a better grip. The blade is exceedingly sharp, at least 3/8-inch thick at the back and over 2 inches wide at the widest point. 1/3 of the back of the blade closest to the hilt has ridges and a blood groove runs down the blade, without compromising the strength. The guard was wide enough that even in the bloodiest battle, the wielder's hand would not slip on to the blade. He carefully tests the balance; it weighs slightly less than 5 pounds. Even at this weight it is well balanced enough that it could be thrown accurately, if necessary. He holds the knife in his hand and sees the glitter of the polished blade.

He had not been watching her. She comes at him with one of the blades from the wall in her hand. "Defend yourself." Are the only words he hears and then she attacks him. At first he thinks it is only a test, but her blade comes through his defenses easily, even with his longer reach and heavier knife. She never touches his skin; she comes close but never touches. None of his attacks even come close; all are either deflected or blocked. He becomes more aggressive, attacking and feinting, again and again. Hoping to exhaust her. He thinks he is feinting again when he goes right through her defense, a maneuver that she should have blocked easily. Instead of meeting her blade or passing through air, it penetrates her chest, passing through skin, flesh and bone. His knife pierces her heart, buried up to the hilt. He looks at the blood spraying out of the wound, covering them both.

"Mi `etalon, I knew you would do well. Such a good job." She whispers to him as she puts her bloody hands to the side of his face and slowly collapses, sliding off his knife.

He drops the knife and goes to his knees. He places his hands over the wound as if he could stop the flow of blood. Stop what he had done. Her heart slows and stills. He feels the life leave her body, the light in her eyes goes out and she dies. How could he have done this? What could he do? Who could he call? He looks at the blood seeping into the white carpet. Her hair flows over her like a cape. He looks at her, the body he had so enjoyed so few hours ago.

He thinks to call Lewis but he could do nothing. He sits and thinks. He'll wait. Wait 'til they come and take him, lock him away. He is numb. He's killed before but not like this. He had a target, a goal. This, this was carnage, no goal, merely death.

He feels the blood drying on his skin, making it sticky and taut. He feels the sharp pain of her life before he sees it. She gasps and her eyes open. He falls back and scrabbles away from her, backward, on hands and feet. "No, dead people don't wake up. I killed you. I didn't mean to but I killed you."

She comes close to him, gently. "Tom, my sweet, I'm all right." He moves away from her until he comes to a wall. He braces himself against and rises. He presses his back against the wall and turns his head away from her with his eyes closed. He murmurs "no, no, no " over and over. She comes close to him, smelling his fear.

"Tom, look at me." He refuses. He knows she is dead, this cannot be happening. She takes him by his shoulders and shakes him. She lowers her voice and lets it become deep and commanding. "TOM, LOOK AT ME." His head turns and his eyes snap open. "I am Amerana of the Wind. I am the Warrior. I fight, I bleed, I die… and I live again. I have been slave; I have been ruler. I have been soldier; I have been lover. I have fought in a thousand battles, in hundreds of wars. I have lived more centuries than you have years. I have lived a hundred lifetimes. I AM IMMORTAL!"

He sees and hears but does not believe. He stares at her. His skin has become cold to her touch. He is going into shock. "Come." She says. She drags him out of the room to the bathroom by the kitchen. She shoves him into the deep hall like shower; it has spray nozzles on three sides of the cavernous space. She turns all three on and pushes him face first against the tile wall. She creates a healthy lather on a natural sponge. She washes him completely, starting at his shoulders and arms, scrubbing his back and buttocks, and giving full attention to his legs and thighs. She turns him over and re-lathers the sponge. The warm water is relaxing him and he watches her as she bathes him, careful not to brush him lightly with the sponge and tickle. As she finishes his legs she returns to his crotch and lathering him generously and encouraging a reaction.

She reaches up to kiss him. Her body rubs against his as she lets him feel her and he again senses her desire. She was alive and warm to his touch; he hadn't killed her. His tongue snakes into her mouth and his arms hold her close. He pulls away from her and wonders what happened. She works up lather in the sponge again and places it in his hands. She turns her back and he starts washing her, just as she had done to him.

He drops the sponge and starts to wash her with his hands and the soap. He wants to feel each part of her again. He turns her over and starts to wash her front, lingering over her breasts and pinching her nipples. The soap ends up on the floor as he drops his head down to kiss her again as he rinses the soap off. He wants to feel her, know her passion again, know she lives. He pushes her against the tile wall and lifts her up. He enters her quickly with no preparation and feels her sex tighten around him. "Amerana, I need you, I need you to be alive." He says in her ear. She kisses his neck and then sucks lightly on the tightly coiled muscles between his neck and shoulder. She wraps her legs around him and lets him thrust into her, furiously, wantonly. She arches against him and lets him take her the way he wishes. He takes them both higher and higher. When she climaxes, she pulls him along with her, too. She has let him so deep inside her that when he shudders in release he almost drops her with the depth of what she feels.

He slowly releases her and feels her calm returning. In the swirl of her emotions there was much pain, now he understood. "Amerana, what happened? Dead people can't live again. I ripped you open. My knife sliced open your heart. I felt your death. What happened?"

"Dead immortals can return. That's why they are immortals. I'm sorry, Tom. I should have explained before I let you kill me. In ages past I would have been labeled a witch or daemon. I would have been feared but I would not have gotten the reaction I got from you. I have not told a lover of my immortality in many centuries. I thought you should know. It is not the first time you have killed me, you know."

She starts turning off the water. As he stands and thinks, he understands. "The park. I killed you then."

"Yes, I thought seriously about killing you, then. I'm exceedingly glad I did not. Come let us dress. We have a lot to do today."

"I thought we could stay here today. We have a lot of time to make up for."

"Tom, you will be here for several months. Soon you will be going to school, so today we are going shopping, because it is mid week and it will go much faster. Tonight I must go to speak with my lawyer and sign some papers. Do you have identification? Can you be a witness for me?"

"Yes, I'm Tom Wilson here, like you I play a part. Are you sure it would be wise for me to sign a contract? If someone comes looking later it could be difficult to explain."

"It doesn't matter that much. If they want to come looking, it's me they'll be looking for. Let's get dressed. Do you realize that we have not worn anything since you arrived yesterday?"

He reaches over to grab her before she exits the shower. "Yes, and I hope to keep it that way."

She snuggles close and reaches up to kiss him. "There is more to life than what happens in a bedroom, I'm sure you know that. You still have a knife to clean. I didn't make it so it could corrode."

"Amerana, I don't want to go back in there. You died there. I thought I lost you. I don't want to feel that again."

"Tom, it's all right. I'm fine. You want to keep the knife, don't you? Come on, you have to face it." She takes his hand and gently pulls him back to where she died. He sees the blood on the white carpet and the bloody footsteps that mark their exit. The knife is still there, covered with her blood. He feels the bile rise in his throat at what he had done. He doesn't ever want to do that again. He would though, he knew he would. The day would come when he would kill her again, and she knew it too.

He reaches down and picks it up. He strides into the kitchen and washes it carefully and dries it. "There. It's done. It's cleaned and dried. I don't wanna do that again. I don't wanna kill you again. I don't even want to think about it." he says, saying each word forcefully and distinctly.

"I know, but your trainer didn't school you to use a knife very well. You need more skill. You have speed and strength. Raw power. You need finesse and grace. I can teach you that, if you wish to learn. A knife is much more than a weapon. It's a statement of who and what you are."

He looks at her. Her eyes are clear and soft as she gazes at him. He knows she tells the truth. "What's the price? What price do I pay to learn the things you can teach?"

"The knife. It 's yours but to own it completely, you must kill me with it three times. You have done it all ready once. Only twice more and it will be yours completely. You're going to be here for months. I am very willing to let you know my experience. I have fought with a knife for centuries. I know you don't want to kill me but you must accept my immortality." She goes over to him and wraps her arms around his waist and places her head on his back. "In some way we are much alike. We live our lives surrounded by those that are not like us and can never understand us. Let us try to understand each other."

He turns and sweeps her up into his arms. "Compared to you I'm a babe in arms, but I will try to understand." He brings his face close to hers and looks into her eyes. "It was hard enough understanding you when I thought you were human. I don't know whether it's easier or harder now."

"Tom, where do we go from here?" she asks him, as he carries her up to the bedroom.

"What do you mean?" he says as he puts her down.

"I asked you last night what you wanted and you said we would decide with the dawn. Now we must decide. You will be here at least several months for school. If you wish you may stay here. I meant it when I said there were no expectations on you. You may do as you wish. But I would like to know what you want."

"Amerana, I would very much like to stay here with you, at least most of the time. I still have to go to classes and spend some time at my apartment." As he talks he gathers his clothes. They were widely scattered from last night. "Tuesday's and Thursday's are lab days and I must be to class early. So Monday and Wednesday night I should spend in town. I have no car so I would have to depend upon you to get here. And I will have to spend some time doing classwork."

"Part of that can be remedied, " she says as she dresses. "Out in the garage there are several other cars that are not as flashy as the convertible. Pick one and you may have the use of it while you are here. You can drive while we go shopping."

"Amerana, I don't think I have a button left on my shirt. You said something about shopping?"

"Yes, we're going to Ferguson's. You look stodgy. The clothes you wear could be worn by someone twice your age. I would like to see you be properly dressed. Including formal wear for the holidays, and before you say it, if you don't want to wear it, fine, it stays in the closet. But I want you to have it in case you need to."

"But I don't need to look like a rock star. I need to blend in."

"You will. You'll look like any rising young executive at my company. Ferguson does all my company work. By helping all my executives buy suits at a reduced price and still have quality I have people who work for me look a certain way and know that they will represent my company well."

He sees how she is dressed. A suit, she could walk into any office building downtown and blend right in.

He watches her as she quickly braids her hair and secures it with a leather thong. She has been doing it for so many years it must seem like second nature for her to do it. He closes his shirt and tucks it in his pants. No one will notice with his jacket buttoned.

"Tom," she asks, "you carry your gun in a belt holster. Do you ever wear a shoulder holster?"

"Yes, but it is difficult to wear one and keep it concealed. Most jackets are cut in a way that the bulge shows. I can't have anyone notice I'm wearing one. And on campus I must be extremely discrete."

"Come here, I want to show you something." She brings him down the stairs and into the den. It truly is a den. It smells of smoke and leather the walls are covered with books of all types, some very old. She goes over to a locked metal closet and keys the lock open. It opens up to show a very complete guncase. She has a selection of handguns and holsters. "Is there anything here you would like to use. I'll have you registered as my personal assistant and that will give you a Concealed Carry permit. When we get your new clothes they will be adjusted for you to wear a handgun

He goes through the weapons in the case and picks out a Sig Saur and a compatible shoulder holster. He puts it on and adjusts it for fit. He knew it would take a while to become used to wearing it but he has done that before. He stretches and moves and knows that it is secure. This one will do.

She tosses him his jacket. "Let's go." She says with a smile. They go down to the garage and Tom picks out the dark blue Lexus to drive, a couple of years old and certainly suitable for an up and coming executive. The Lincoln town car would be too much and he didn't think the pick-up would work and no Mercedes, either.

They stop at an exclusive menswear store and Amerana tells him to pick out a dozen or so shirts, silk and cotton. They go on to get undershirts, briefs and socks. She wants to make sure he's outfitted from the skin out. Everything is charged to her personal account. They stop for breakfast and then go on to Ferguson's. Rather than a large business, Ferguson's is a relatively small tailor shop on the far side of town. They go inside and the elderly owner effusively greets her. "Ferguson, I want you to meet Tom Wilson, my personal assistant. I want him to have a complete wardrobe and be measured for formal wear. He'll be armed so I want to make sure he is well fitted."

"Amy, you have never needed an assistant in all the years I have known you. Why now? And one so young!"

"Now, I never ask you about the bevy of beauties that you almost always have here. Besides personal assistant sounds better than bodyguard does. Put it on my personal tab. Tom, pick out what you want. How long before all the adjustments will be done?"

"Including the adjustments for being armed? A day per suit. I'll do them myself because I want it done right. The formal wear will take at least a week but I'll say two to allow for any problems. And I'll need at least two fittings. You wear a shoulder holster, young man? You can't wear it with formal wear. You'll have to do something else about that."

Tom is measured and fitted, with suits that are linen and silk/linen blends. Tom sees what she means by quality. He decides that 3 light suits and 3 dark suits will do for a wardrobe. He arranges to be able to come by and pick up some of them at the end of the week.

As they go back to the car, he asks her, "Amerana, Amy, is this what is meant by being a kept man?"

She tilts her head back and laughs. "Only if you want to be, young one, only if you want to be."

"Where do we go from here? Back to your place or elsewhere?"

"My office building. I want your face to be seen and have you recorded as my personal assistant. Don't worry. I'll do it in a way that your name will never be known. I'll take care of some business and then we'll go home." She looks at him noticing that he had said 'your place' not home. " Tom, home is where you hang your hat. If you hang it at my place, it's your home. You will always be welcome there. You will be welcome anywhere I should go." She gently runs a finger down his cheek.

'Anywhere I should go' what did that mean? "You said you're Amy Raines here. Are you some one else in other places?"

"Other places and other times. Tom, at my office I only want you to stand and wait. The less they know about you the more respect they will have. I want you to have unquestioned obedience if ever it should come about that you must relay an order. I hope it will never come to that, but I wish to be prepared." She watches the lines of his face as he drives. "Tom, do you want a salary? I can arrange for you to have whatever you want. You will be listed as my personal staff but other than that nothing will be known."

"Money is something I don't need. If you wish, put some aside somewhere so I can get it if things go to hell. When I'm working, some times I need a bolt-hole. It would be nice to know I have a refuge somewhere."

It was obvious that he was wearing a gun when he entered the office building. The guards just look at her and escort them around the security measures. They went directly to her office and she sent for her aides and assistants. In much less time than he thought he was accepted. Never a word was said to him. He stood behind her at all times. He was astonished at the authority she wielded. The only person he had ever seen do things like she did was Lewis. She went through, listened to what people said and made a decision, quickly, confidently. Looked through paperwork, made phone calls and rebuked dissent. In less time than he thought it would take, she was done. She tells her secretary she'll be in next week. When she walks through a room, the people part to let her pass. She exudes power. What had he gotten himself into?