Kennedy had a restraining order and new locks on her doors before lunch on Sunday. Still, she wasn’t ready to go home, not yet, and not alone. Despite Godwin’s insistence that she could stay with him, he lost the argument to Kennedy when she demanded that Seneca stay with her. Refusing to admit defeat, he stubbornly stayed late with her well into the early morning. Kennedy eventually kicked him out. Seneca had half thought she would find the incubus climbing through her bedroom window, but he didn’t.
She was more than a little disappointed he hadn’t come back, but also a bit relieved. The last thing she needed was Kennedy to walk in on them, and she knew she would have wanted to be with him again if he stayed. Especially since she didn’t know how long this was going to last between them. She had declared her love for him twice yesterday, but she knew he didn’t believe her, not really. And he…well, he was incubus, he kept reminding her. She wondered if that meant he wasn’t able to love her.
She allowed herself to feel bad for a little while, then shook it off as best she could. She was going home today, she told Kennedy she was, but not without someone with her. Maybe she could call Josh, see if he wanted to come over. Her arm was mostly better, still achy and sore, but feeling much less broken. Still, her hunger was a low lying simmer, and she wanted to feed again before it got worse.
It would’ve been better to have Godwin go with her, but after Kennedy had kicked him out, she had no way to contact him again. She wondered if he would take a phone from her if she bought it.
She sent Josh a text on her broken phone, frowning disappointedly at the spiderweb-shattered screen. He texted back quickly. Omg, S! Godwin told me what happened! I want to see you tonight. Are you okay?
She bit her cheek. Apparently Godwin had been busy while she slept. I’m fine. I don’t want to go home alone, would you wanna hang out at my place for a while tonight? she sent back before she could be too embarrassed about asking so frankly.
Two incredibly long minutes passed before he replied. Sure, working now. I get off at 5. Can you get to the library?
She was in mid typing as another message came from him. Not alone! Can someone bring you? What if that weirdo is waiting for you?
Another text followed that one immediately. I’ll just come get you. Where are you?
Calm down, she sent back. I have a ride. I need to get a new phone. I’ll meet you at 5 at library, okay?
You wouldn’t lie to me, right? You actually have a ride?
She snorted. Olivia is taking me to get a new phone. Do you know where Godwin is?
Okay and no.
She bit her lip, disappointed that he didn’t know where Godwin was, either. She would feel so much better if she knew where he was.
Olivia had spent the night, too, on Kennedy’s couch despite her dislike of the dogs. She must have really been worried about her. It was easy enough for her to motivate Olivia with free food, and the two of them went out for a late lunch and then a date to the phone store to get hers replaced. They talked about stuff in general, and whenever they came close to the topic of Chip, Olivia expertly steered it in a different direction.
Her best friend gave her a hard time as she activated a second phone on her account. “Really, Seneca?”
“What?” she had replied innocently.
“Is this for Godwin?” she asked, her face skeptical.
“So what if it is?” Seneca said defensively. “He’s too old fashioned.”
“This isn’t him taking advantage of you, is it?” Olivia asked with narrowed eyes.
“Of course not! He…this was my idea. I didn’t even ask him yet. I just want a way to contact him. I’d feel better knowing…I mean, what if he comes back? I just…” Irrational fear blossomed to life in her belly, making her feel sick.
“Alright, alright, I’m just picking on you. Just get your phone, I promise I won’t say anything else,” she relented. “So…” her friend trailed off, changing the subject as Seneca dwelled on her fear at Chip showing back up. “I met a new girl…”
“Did you, now?” Seneca replied, one eyebrow raised, taking the bait as they left the store. “Who is she? And here you were, giving me a hard time about a new heartthrob…”
Olivia smiled widely. “Her name’s Annabel. Met her at the coffee shop. She’s become something of a regular, though I don’t think it’s because of me. She’s…different.”
“Annabel? What’s she do when she comes in? Just to see you, or does she work? Just hang out?” Seneca asked her as they walked back to her car, parked a block away at a meter. It wasn’t as cold today, but the sun was out, and too bright, shining off of everything offensively. It seemed so much brighter without the leaves on the trees, and she worried that it would be enough to burn her skin despite it being the winter. She had to squint against the bright rays as it was.
Godwin had been kind enough to bring her spare clothes to Kennedy’s house. He really did have excellent taste. Today, under the new black peacoat Godwin had bought to replace the bloody, torn one from Chip’s attack, she had on a flowery peasant blouse and comfortable jeans that fit like they were tailored for her. She let herself feel a little special that he had picked this out with her in mind. There was also a pair of sunglasses in the bag, which she was more than a little grateful for now.
“Nah, not for me. She reads. I started talking to her last week, I was gonna tell you this weekend but it’s been crazy. I wanted to close the coffee shop early and come find you after I got the call from…” she trailed off, realizing the conversation was going back to Chip. Olivia shook her head slightly before continuing. “Anyway, she comes in about three days a week. I went out and spied on her, she reads some weird books. Botanical stuff, and stuff like recipes, but they’re all weird. Anyway, I finally talked to her. She seems nice, I really want to ask her on a date but I can’t tell if she’s into girls.” Olivia frowned, biting her thumbnail.
“Well, the worst she could say is no, right?” Seneca asked as she worried that she could feel her skin begin to burn. They turned a corner and she was relieved to find Olivia’s car. She practically ran to it as Olivia hit the button to unlock it from a distance. She was in the car and buckled before Olivia even opened her door.
“Wow, someone’s in a rush today,” Olivia said as she pulled the car into traffic. Folksy music came on, picked up by the bluetooth in her car from her phone.
“It’s cold out!” she said defensively. “And the sun is bright. You know how easily I burn.”
Olivia chuckled. “I don’t know how you survived this long in the world, girl.”
“I’ve had you to keep me alive,” Seneca said smartly. “So, this Annabel? What’s she like?”
“Oh, she’s super serious. I can’t wait to crack her shell.”
“Oh, really?” Seneca asked. “What if she’s not into girls?”
“We could be friends…” Olivia said with mild dejection.
“You are not good at being friends with girls…” Seneca reminded her.
“I’m friends with you!” she retorted.
“I’m different and you know it.”
Olivia snorted. “Fine, you’re right. But…a girl can dream, right?”
“I wish you all of the luck. It’s a good thing you have to wear a uniform at work, Olivia, that’s all I have to say.”
“What?” Olivia cried out defensively. Today under her parka she had on a beat up old sweatshirt which read ‘Grey Township Day Camp, 1979’ and had a picture of two cartoon deer in a canoe. “This sweatshirt is vintage! Tell me it’s not awesome.”
“It’s not awesome,” Seneca agreed statically.
Olivia dropped her off at the library twenty minutes early. “Are you sure you don’t want me to wait for Godwin with you?” she asked for like the twentieth time.
Seneca only felt a tiny bit guilty about lying to her best friend. There was no way she could explain her relationship with Godwin and Josh to her, not yet. She wouldn’t live it down, and she didn’t even know where to begin.
“No, I’m fine, I promise. I’ll go inside until he gets here. It’s a public place, there’s no way Chip would be dumb enough to try something. And I’m ready for him now. He’s not going to do anything, not now after Kennedy got a restraining order. He’s not that stupid. I’ll be fine, I promise,” she insisted.
“Alright. Godwin’s going to take you home?” Olivia said suggestively.
“Yes,” Seneca agreed. “And we are going to do all sorts of unspeakable things together, Olivia.” She smiled wickedly at her friend’s stunned face as she climbed from the car, still favoring her injured arm.
“Seneca!” Olivia called after her. “You can’t just leave on that note! What kinds of unspeakable things!”
“I couldn’t say, else they’d be speakable!” she called over he shoulder as she climbed the steps.
“Come back, Seneca!”
Seneca smiled and waved, then ran into the library. She really, really hoped she had been telling the truth.
She sent a quick text to Josh letting him know she was there, then she found a comfy looking group of lounge chairs tucked into the corner of the library and made herself comfortable. There was a small table between the chairs with a pile of books stacked high with topics ranging from famous historical ships to crafty books on how to make your own organic personal care products. She even recognized a few books published by the company she worked for, though nothing in that category caught her interest.
She landed on a book that described how to preserve different botanicals, thinking about Olivia’s new love interest. She leafed through the book, pulling her feet up as she made herself comfortable.
“I was wondering if this seat might be taken?” Godwin asked from behind, making her jump. She sat upright, closing the book guiltily. How had she missed his arrival? What if he’d been Chip? She couldn’t let herself get so distracted again. Even so, he was a sight for sore eyes. The butterflies in her stomach took flight, excited to see him again.
“Godwin!” she yipped in surprise. “How’d you know I’d be here?”
He smiled, settling into the chair across from her. He looked so good, always dressed to the nines in his suits. Today’s suit was sky blue with delicate white pinstripes. He held his fedora in hand, and she saw he was using his cane again today. “I can feel my blood, remember?” he reminded her gently. “Also, I assumed you would be seeking Josh’s company, and blood, this evening.”
She nodded absently, biting the inside of her cheek. “Oh, I got you something!” she exclaimed, pulling the white bag from the floor. She handed it to Godwin and he took it, his eyes narrowed curiously. “A phone, so you can contact me if you want. Or if something happens again…” she trailed off, feeling stupid and needy.
He pulled the phone box from the bag and examined it, flipping it over in his hands. He opened the box and pulled the phone out. “I am unsure of how to operate such a device,” he said hesitantly.
She chuckled. “I can teach you, if you would use it…”
He nodded, examining the phone now. “I am sure that this will be useful. Such a device, are they expensive?”
“Were my clothes expensive?” she retorted with one eyebrow raised.
He snickered. “Understood. Our Josh is taking you to your apartment after his shift is complete?” She nodded and he continued. “Very well. Are you hungry? I could obtain food and meet the both of you there, if that is acceptable.”
“I could eat. What time will you get there, do you think?” she asked him, drinking in his figure in that enticing suit. She wanted to peel it off slowly, one garment at a time, and…what was she thinking?! She shook her head, clearing it of her lewd thoughts.
Godwin smiled his slappable smile and she shuddered. He leaned forward, his hands on the table between them. “Were you thinking naughty things, hansa? Do you wish to play?” he whispered conspiratorially. “You did promise Olivia we would do unspeakable things together tonight…”
Her stomach clenched and her face burned. “You heard me?!” she squeaked.
That smile again. It took all she had not to lean in and kiss it off his face. “Oh, yes, I heard that. You were so proud in your statement, so confident, it stirred me up, just a little.”
“I was, you weren’t, I didn’t think, I mean…” she blubbered.
He stood up, moving behind her chair with a speed that she didn’t expect. His fingers were on his collar a second later, running smoothly over the silver inscriptions. Relaxing immediately, she felt his desire, and how proud he was of her.
“I wish to play, Seneca,” he whispered into her ear in a way that tightened her core pleasantly. His teeth grazed her ear and she shuddered in his hands.
“Me too,” she admitted in a barely a whisper.
“Then tonight, if our Josh also desires it, we shall play. How is your arm?” he asked, the last question turning from playful to serious.
“It hurts, but I’m pretty sure it’s not broken anymore. Just painful. My hunger is pretty intense, too. I’m hoping it’s all healed up for work tomorrow.”
“I will make sure we play so that you do no further harm to your arm. Satisfactory. I will meet you at your apartment with food. May I borrow your new key?” he asked her businesslike.
“My key?” she asked confused. “Why do you want my key?”
“I…” he trailed off. She turned so she could see him over her shoulder. She caught him biting his lower lip sexily. He dropped it immediately, but she’d seen it. “I will go to make sure that everything is copacetic, that Chester Gibson did nothing to sully your home before you get there,” he explained carefully.
She breathed out a relieved breath. “Thank you, Win. That makes me feel so much better, it really does. I…thank you.”
His fingers traced along his collar again, leaving a trail of cold in their wake. “You do not need to thank me, hansa.”
She gave him her key and he left, though she felt his presence with her until Josh showed up to escort her from the library. He led her to a parking garage attached to the library, taking her all the way down to the basement, and then over to a shiny black motorcycle. He picked up a helmet and handed it to her.
“You have a motorcycle?” she asked, surprised. It didn’t seem to fit his image in her head.
“Sure,” he agreed easily. “Good on gas milage in the summer, and easy to store in the winter. Takes up a lot less space than a car, too.”
“Ah, it’s winter now…What do you do in the winter?” she asked him.
“Technically it’s not winter for another six days. And…usually I take the bus,” he said less enthusiastically. “But it was supposed to be sort-of warm today and I wanted to ride. So I did. Let’s ride.”
She eyed the bike apprehensively, helmet in her hands. “I…I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before…”
“Well, all you do is put your helmet on and hold on to me. Wrap your arms around my waist. Oh, wait, are you gonna be able to do that with your broken arm? Shit, I never think things through…” he grimaced, angry at himself.
“Oh, no, it’s fine. It’s mostly healed, though it’s sore and I’m thirsty while it’s healing all the way. I can hang on to you. I’ve just never ridden, it’s a little intimidating.”
“Seneca, do you trust me?” he asked her, smiling debonairly.
“Of course I do,” she agreed instantly.
“Then let’s ride. I’ll keep you safe,” he told her, sliding onto the bike. He threw his hand towards her and she took it reluctantly. “Put your helmet on.”
“You don’t have one,” she hedged.
“I don’t have a second one, have never needed it before today. I already looked up how to get to your apartment, it’s not too far by roads, though the bus route from here to there is a nightmare of transfers,” he explained. “I can get us there without going too fast, and it won’t take too long. I won’t even go that fast, so you won’t get too cold. I’ll be fine. Also…I bought a second helmet online. I should have it next time we ride.”
“Next time?” she asked skeptically as he pulled her onto the bike.
She fastened the helmet and the noise around her was severely muffled. She didn’t hear Josh’s response but she felt his laughter through his chest as he pulled her arms around himself. He kicked something and the bike rumbled to life.
At first it was terrifying, driving next to cars and busses with nothing to protect them from impact, but Josh drove skillfully and soon she was completely enjoying the ride. There was something about the way the wind whipped around them, even if it was frigid, something about the way the bike seemed to move through the city more fluidly than any vehicle she had been inside.
The ride to her apartment was over too soon. Her heart was still in her throat, but in a good way, like she had just ridden a roller coaster. Josh put up the kickstand and leaned his bike in a parking spot near her apartment. She slid his helmet off and handed it back to him, her heart beating frantically.
“So?” he asked her. “You still against a next time?”
“Oh my god, Josh, that was great!” she exclaimed. “Cold, but great!’
His smile was broad as he grabbed her hand, pulling her towards her apartment. Godwin wasn’t there, but she had a spare key, so she let them both inside.
Her apartment was cleaner than she had expected it to be with Kennedy, Olivia and Chip coming here to look for her. Shackles was curled up on the dining room table, a small 2 by 2 square that was less of a dining room table and more of a junk collector. He looked up at her, opening only one of his golden eyes as she shied off her new coat, then dropped his head back down into his body, unimpressed at her presence.
“Come in,” she told Josh, who lingered in the door. “Make yourself at home.” She threw the coat on the small set of coat hooks she had screwed to the wall next to the door, placing her keys on the next hook over. “I need a scarf if we ride in the winter again…”
He followed her, looking around her little apartment. Her tiny apartment. “Sorry,” she explained, “I don’t usually have company over. It’s always just me and Shack, the cat.” She nodded to the lump of pale sleeping fur on the table. “He’s not supposed to be on the table.” She pushed the cat, trying to wake him up, but he didn’t budge. “Come on, Shack, get off the table. We have company!”
She looked around at her apartment, embarrassed of the size, of the quality, of everything in general. Her apartment was two rooms and a small bathroom. They were in the living/dining room, the kitchen was a hallway with appliances in it that lead back to her bedroom, a twelve by twelve room. The bathroom was tucked behind the hallway kitchen. Her apartment building was old and run down, the appliances throwbacks from older generations, and the walls were thin.
It was cheap, that was why she lived here. All of the movies and books where vampires were rich and sexy, they were all cruel jokes to her. This was her life, and she was incredibly embarrassed to share it with Josh and Godwin.
“Sorry, I know it’s not much,” she apologized to Josh as he removed his coat and hung it on the other spare hook. He threw himself onto her old couch as if he were already comfortable in her apartment. “Godwin wants to play tonight, but…maybe not here.”
“Godwin wants to play? Do you? How’s your arm?” he asked her, leaning forward on the couch.
“My arm hurts but isn’t broken anymore, though it’s still pretty sore. Yea, I want to play tonight. Stress relief if nothing else. But not here. My apartment…I never have anyone over. I would never had invited you here if…” she trailed off, feeling horrible about life in general.
“Woah, wait a minute. Your apartment is fine. It’s modest, sure, but you live by yourself. It’s fine, seriously,” he insisted.
“We can’t play here, Josh. I have a full sized bed, and Shackles takes up half of it. And…you and Godwin have such nice places and my place is a dump,” she insisted. “In fact, I’ll text Godwin, we could go someplace else. I’ll bring a change of clothes, then no one has to worry about bringing me back tomorrow, I could just stay the night.”
“Seneca,” he said, walking over to her. She kept talking, babbling, she couldn’t stop.
“…unless, well, I guess if we went to your place I should ask you first if I can spend the night, and that might be presumptuous, and I’m sorry, I don’t-” she babbled on until Josh cut her off with a finger over her lips.
“Seneca, it’s okay. We can go. It obviously makes you uncomfortable, but your apartment is fine, there’s nothing wrong with it and neither of us are judging you,” he insisted carefully.
“Josh,” she whined, trying to turn away from him. He reached out, cupping her cheek with his other hand, forcing her to look at him.
“Seneca, I promise it’s fine. Can I…” he trailed off, his finger running over her lips. “Can I kiss you? It’s just…I never realized this, but I haven’t kissed you since this started. All this, you know, with Godwin. Am I not allowed?”
“Ah…I…” she started. His fingers trailed over her lips and she suddenly, very much wanted to kiss him. Was it bad of her to want to feel good, to stop thinking, even if it was just for a few minutes? Godwin told her not to be ashamed of her desires, so she wouldn’t be. “He tells me what to do when we play, but we aren’t playing. I…” she trailed off, leaning up on her tiptoes. The hand on her lips moved to her other cheek and she enjoyed the feel of his hands.
She brushed her lips over his and he froze, his fingers tensing against her cheeks. “Seneca…are you sure?” he whispered.
She nodded, then pressed her lips more firmly against his. He froze for another second, then he kissed her back. He wasn’t as good as Godwin at kissing, a tiny disappointment. He was still warm and open and receptive, and he wasn’t exactly a bad kisser, either. The guilt at comparing him to Godwin, she pushed those thoughts from her mind as she returned his kiss. His hand moved to the back of her head, threading through her hair. Pressing her body against his, she wrapped her arms around his body until her hands touched behind his back.
He kissed her sweetly and slowly and she returned it, pressing herself into his mouth. She kept her bad arm wrapped around his torso but allowed her good arm to trail down his back. It landed on his shapely ass and she grabbed it, squeezing hard. He grunted in her mouth, then bit down on her lip gently with playful reprimand.
“You’re a good kisser,” he said, breaking away for breath.
She smiled, licking her lips. “I’ve had a good teacher,” she replied playfully, thinking of the delicious vanilla flavored kisses she shared with Godwin. She moved him to the couch and he let her steer him around the cluttered coffee table. He sat down with a thump and she jumped on top of him.
“I can tell,” he replied playfully. “Proper. I approve, not that you need my approval.” He smiled and she loved it, his playful, boyish smile. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck. Closing her eyes, she focused on her hunger, letting it get closer to the surface. As she urged it forward she felt Josh’s hands cup her butt and pull her over his half erect penis.
That little motion helped her focus, and her eye teeth dropped. She opened her eyes and smiled so that her fangs would be prominent. Josh’s member twitched between her legs.
“Your eyes…you’re so freaking hot, Seneca,” he muttered, squeezing her ass, pushing her over himself. “What are you gonna do to me?”
“Josh,” she breathed out his name. “What do you want me to do to you?”
“Anything, Seneca. Anything you want.”
She nuzzled his neck and he moaned deep in his throat. She chuckled, then moved back to his mouth. She kissed him again, and he kissed her back. His kiss was more passionate, his tongue tracing her fangs. She bit down gently, drawing the tiniest bit of blood from his tongue. She sucked it hard and he pushed her down against his erection.
“Oh, Seneca,” he moaned as she pulled away. “Bite me, please…”
She didn’t bother to answer. Instead she pulled his head to the side and planted her fangs into his neck. His blood seemed to surge into her mouth after Godwin’s thicker decedent blood. Godwin’s blood reminded her of dessert, and Josh’s was comfort food, both delicious and enjoyable, but in different ways.
Josh rubbed himself against her core, his hands clutching her ass. She sucked hard and he moaned, his head rolling back against the couch. Her core ignited, clenching needily. She bit down again and his hips jumped in response.
There was a noise behind her and she froze mid bite, her fangs still half buried in Josh’s neck. Her heart jumped into her throat and she was afraid to look.
“Please, do not mind me,” Godwin said from behind her.
Dreadfully Erotic 