CHAPTER TWELVE

Gift of Affection

August had been a busy month for Warren; Karou had hardly seen him. What made the situation different from his last work spree was that he’d told her he would be swamped for a month or two. Ahead of time, he mentioned he’d be taking several business trips, which meant that she’d be left alone in the unit. In doing so, he was trying to be more accommodating towards her, even if he couldn’t offer her more attention.

Now that Karou knew more about REDford, he told her about his retail plans for cloned blood. It would allow him to move away from farming mortals and close his blood banks. Karou had found the topic fascinating but understood that he couldn’t give her too much information. Still, it confirmed to her that he wasn’t the monster he thought he was. He was moral enough to try and live more ethically. The effort he’d made just by being less mysterious was pleasantly surprising; Karou couldn’t believe the turnaround.

One night, while Warren was away on one of his trips, Karou was woken up by his office phone’s incessant ringing. Standing outside the door in her pyjamas, she contemplated whether she should go in and answer it or not.

Is the door even unlocked? She pondered, but in trying the handle, she was surprised that Warren had left it open.

Cautiously, she crept inside, peering around on high alert as if he might spring out of nowhere and ask her what she was doing.

When she answered the phone, she didn’t even get a chance to greet the caller before they said, “Why are you answering my office phone?”

“Warren?” Her heart skipped a beat.

Ugh, so this was some kind of trick, a test, and I fell for it. She thought, wincing, waiting for his lecture.

“Well… Why are you ringing your office phone?” Karou retorted.

“I hoped you’d eventually answer it.” He replied, surprisingly calm. She wasn’t sure which was more unnerving, the possibility of him being angry or the fact that he wasn’t. “I know it’s late… but I have a favour to ask you. Magnus is trying to get in touch with me from Russia, and I’m staying at a mortal hotel-”

“Mortal hotel? Isn’t that dangerous?” Karou’s knee-jerk reaction of alarm interrupted his explanation.

“It’s more ‘risky’ than outright dangerous. Anyway, because he can’t call me directly from coven territory, he’s going to call my office, and I need you to take a note from him for me. Okay?”

“You woke me up at four am to be your secretary?”

“Yes, I hope you’re not expecting wages?” He joked; his humour was as dry as always.

“No, but you owe me. I’m going now, so I don’t miss Magnus’ call. He’d better call soon ‘cause I’m enjoying having your great big bed to myself.”

“You’re sleeping in my bed?” Warren sounded mildly alarmed.

“Duh, you’re not using it, so why can’t I? I’ll wash your sheets, don’t panic. I’m hanging up now. Bye.”

Karou waited patiently for Magnus to call, and when the call came through, it rang once before she picked up.

“Good morning, afternoon, evening, or night, this is Mr Howard’s sleepy secretary speaking. How may I help you?” Karou greeted humorously.

“Ah, Karou! It’s so nice to hear your voice; I was expecting Warren’s answering machine. How are you doing, Bonita?” Magnus returned cheerfully.

“Oh,” Karou muttered, perplexed by this new information. “Uh- I’m the same as always but doing fine. How’re you?”

“Just the same here too. The reason I called was to let Warren know what time our flight lands and when we’ll be there. Could you write it down and let him know?”

“You’re coming for a visit? That’s great!” A pause. “Sure, I’ll take a note; let me just find a pen...” Karou agreed and could be heard fumbling about until she eventually opened one of Warren’s desk drawers and gasped, “Good grief, this guy needs a hobby - who organises their stationery to this extent?” The commentary earned a chuckle from Magnus. “Okay, fire away…”

“We will be coming September eighth. Landing around seven in the evening. So, we should be with you around eight-thirty.”

“Uh-huh, I’ve got all that written down - I’ll let Warren know for you. Y’know, he called six times before I answered and then scolded me for answering when all along, he could’ve just let you leave a message on his answering machine? He’s unbelievable!”

Magnus chuckled again. “It sounds like you’re getting along. It’s good that he has some company these days. But Karou, on second thought, how about you don’t tell him what I told you, and the visit can be our little surprise?”

“I wouldn’t say we get along. We fight plenty. Warren isn’t a fan of the whole company thing or surprises, if I remember right. It would feel sneaky not to tell him you’re coming. Besides, I bet he’d be really pleased to see his friends.”

“Ay! If you feel you should tell him, then you go ahead. I wouldn’t want my devilment to get you into trouble. We don’t usually visit him on his birthday, but Ellis has been rather anxious to see him lately. I thought, why not spring a pre-Christmas visitation?”

“Oh, the eighth is his birthday?” Karou picked up Warren’s desk calendar and saw that he hadn’t even marked it.

“Ninth, actually. You didn’t know?”

“No, but we don’t talk about that kinda personal stuff. I don’t know his favourite movie, book, food, colour or anything.” For a moment, she felt sad that even after all that time, she didn’t even know when his birthday was, but she supposed she’d never asked either.

“Well, Niña, look around; his favourite colour is blue.”

Karou did look around. Even in his small office space, the abundance of the colour suddenly dawned on her. “Ah, right. Of course...”

“I shall let you get your rest. See you soon.”

“Sure. G’night, Magnus.”

~*~

Warren sat eating his breakfast at the kitchen island while Karou made herself busy around him getting her own. She’d been about to disappear into the lounge with her toast and coffee when he stopped her.

“You’re acting rather strange this morning.” Warren opened.

“Am I?” Karou raised her brows as if she hadn’t noticed her behaviour.

“Yes, you’ve been weaselling your way around me for the last few days. Here was I thinking; I’m the avoidant one... I can’t believe I’m asking this but is everything all right?”

“Yep, everything is absolutely fine.” Karou blurted with too much pep to be convincing. Sipping her coffee, Karou stared at him over the rim of the mug; her attempt to act normal only made her appear stranger.

Inside it felt like she was about to burst. Keeping a secret had made her overly anxious, and it was only made worse by Warren’s presence. He gave her a look, raised an eyebrow, and that did it!

“Okay, okay. I’ve done something you’re gonna be angry about, but I can’t hide it anymore!” Karou exclaimed in a whiney voice, indicating she desperately wanted to be forgiven for the misdemeanour. Stepping back up to the kitchen island, Karou placed her breakfast down, only for her mug to land awkwardly and spill coffee all over his newspaper. “Oh, shit! I didn’t mean to do that...” As if things couldn’t have gotten worse.

“I’m a little more concerned about what you said first than a ruined newspaper. Karou, spit it out.” Warren folded his arms, looking peeved and impatient.

“So, remember when you went away to New York last month? I was here alone, and you kept calling and calling and calling-...”

“Yes, and you eventually answered and took a message from Magnus for me.”

“Yeah. That time. Well, I lied about what he said...”

“You lied to me?”

“I mean, it wasn’t exactly a big lie, but -” Karou took a deep breath and spat out her explanation frantically, “- they’re going to be here at eight-thirty tonight.”

“Repeat that last part...” He hoped she hadn’t plotted to spring them on him.

“Magnus… and Ellis… they’re coming over to visit you. They’ll be here at eight-thirty tonight.”

The clock on the kitchen wall ticked and tocked. Warren was silent. He wasn’t furious per se, just surprised, but then again, he wasn’t fond of surprises - mainly because they messed up his schedule.

If his stillness and silence weren’t enough to cause Karou to fear the worst, then when he got up to start washing the dishes without saying anything, was when she felt doom consume her. Oh, he must be really, really mad.

“Uh- Before you shout at me... Just think! At least you’ll get laid tonight, right?”

“Setting me up for sex isn’t a good enough reason to lie to me, Karou.”

“Magnus asked me to keep it a secret - a surprise for you.”

“Throwing him under the bus, are we?”

“C’mon, don’t be such a grinch. I bet you’re actually really happy they’re coming.” Karou grinned at him over-enthusiastically, hoping that it might rub off. “Y’know, these days, I imagine you have this smiley guy on the inside. It makes you an easier pill to swallow.”

“You have a way with words Miss Morgan.”

When Warren genuinely smiled, any notion that he could be a dangerous predator seemed impossible. His mouth didn’t look like a place she’d go to die but rather somewhere that the hot fire of passion burning inside her went to be kindled. With one kiss, he’d ignited her, only to leave her cold and wanting after. Now though, the cold glaze that usually caused his eyes to appear like ice melted away so that she could admire how dazzling and full of charm his eyes were.

“What’re you looking at me like that for?” Warren had picked up on how she looked at him like she wanted to kiss him, but maybe he was projecting.

“Like what?” She’d bit down onto her bottom lip and began toying with her fingers.

“Never mind.” Warren thought better of saying any more, so he set all the dishes into the sink and began washing up. Once he’d left the dishes to drain, he grabbed his cell phone and made his excuses; he had to sort out his guest’s sleeping arrangements.

Karou made herself busy for the rest of the day - she wasted the afternoon roaming the library’s aisles. When she finally checked the clock and saw it was around a quarter past eight, she thought she should make her way back to the unit. It was only polite to say hello to Warren’s guests, even if she wasn’t expecting an invite to their ‘party’.

Warren was sitting on the couch scribbling into his planner; he’d been working at the coffee table. Rearrange his schedule for that day had had a knock-on effect for the whole week. A pile of cigarettes sat in his ashtray; it seemed that reorganising his workload had taken some time. He had another smouldering cigarette wedged between his index and middle finger and had just blown a plume of smoke from his lips when he looked up and found Karou arriving.

“Ah, there you are. Your disappearance this morning was rather strategic; you got out of helping me clean this place.”

“Is it ever really untidy in here, though?” Karou asked sarcastically as she clambered over the back of the couch into her usual seat. Warren’s cleaning habits neared obsession, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever adjust to seeing a businessman scrub a toilet bowl until it gleamed.

“It would be if I let you run wild,” Warren replied, shutting his planner and tossing it onto the coffee table. “I wanted to thank you for the surprise before they get here and take over… and before I get too drunk.”

“It’s not really my surprise; it was Magnus’ idea, but you’re welcome. You’re difficult to keep secrets from.”

“Really, why’s that?”

“I guess we kinda initiated a... ‘thing’-” Karou articulated awkwardly, not wanting to say ‘relationship’ “- where we don’t lie to each other. Plus, how you look at me sometimes makes me feel compelled to tell you stuff.” She figured they could at least be honest with each other if they couldn't be friends.

Before Warren could reply, Magnus and Ellis were coming through the unit’s front door.

Magnus and his flair for the dramatic meant that his entrance was characteristically flamboyant. He called loud greetings to the pair with outstretched arms, ready to receive. Just like the first time Karou had witnessed the couple arriving, the men shared an embrace, and Ellis kissed Warren intrusively on the mouth.

This visit differed from their first because Magnus came up to her when she’d stood from the couch as a passive welcome. Despite his chilly vampiric temperature, Magnus exuded warmth, and when he hugged and kissed her cheeks, Karou felt like a giddy child.

“Uh, it’s great to see you,” Karou said, awkwardly hugging Magnus back; she wasn’t used to such affection. Over his shoulder, she spied Ellis paying a little more attention to Warren than he looked comfortable with.

Magnus hadn’t done with her yet and kept hold of her upper arms. With a grin, he held her back from himself, inspecting her as if she were a treasured relative. “Si, it is lovely to see you too.”

Warren had gotten away from his Sire and muttered something into Magnus’ ear, to which he responded, “Ah yes, yes… Good idea, before I forget. Do excuse us for a moment; there is a small business matter to take care of before the party begins.” Magnus excused himself and Warren, and they disappeared into the office and left Ellis and Karou alone.

“Uh-... Did you have a nice flight?” Karou asked, breaking the silence, however awkwardly.

“It was all very ordinary,” Ellis replied and was already making herself comfortable on the couch, taking off her jacket, shoes, and such. “I see you’re still living here. It was nice meeting you last time we visited.” She began and seemed to be starting an amicable conversation until she continued, “But you’ll be making yourself scarce for tonight’s little soiree, won’t you? You understand that our visit was to see Warren and share his birthday with him - it’s a… family affair.”

Karou was taken aback by Ellis’ directness, but she was almost impossible to get fiery about when she made her alienating request sound so reasonable.

“Uhm... Sure. I’ll just be in my room then.” Karou replied, pointing her thumb back toward her room.

When Karou started to back away, Ellis objected. “No, dear, you need to leave the house.” Curling her manicured fingertip through her black curls, she smiled, pulling her red-painted lips back over her shiny white teeth and pointy fangs, which hung down into the hollow of her lips unapologetically.

“I have plans for Warren and me tonight. I’m sure you understand. It was exceedingly difficult last time with you hiding away in your closet, and I can imagine it was awkward for you, also. You have a friend you can go stay with, don’t you?”

“Uhm, yeah. I can go someplace else.” Karou found herself agreeing.

The second request was quite a blow - being kicked out by someone who didn’t even live there felt horrible, but she guessed that Warren would probably agree that she shouldn’t be there to snoop on them.

When Magnus and Warren exited the office, they noticed Karou missing.

“Where is the little one, mi amor?” Magnus asked unreservedly.

“She said something about going to see friends...” Ellis lied.

Warren knew immediately that his Sire had probably asked her to leave. At present, he didn’t want to cause a scene, so he said nothing and went about enjoying their evening together.

Without Karou, the three vampires shared several bottles of wine over their catch-up, but the further Warren got from sober, the more he found his eyes wandering towards where Karou usually sat on the couch. Magnus tried to steer the conversation in the mortal girl’s direction a couple of times by asking Warren some choice questions when he noticed his attention was already distracted that way. Alas, Ellis was quick to change the subject. It seemed Magnus would have to get Warren alone if he was going to extract any information from him regarding his increasingly uncharacteristic relationship with Karou. Had she somehow gotten past Warren’s social façade and become his friend?

Once the evening wound down and Magnus and Ellis took their leave, Warren didn’t waste any time before vacating the unit. All night he’d been growing increasingly wary that Karou was out so late and alone. To quell his worries, he’d hoped that one of her many friends had given her shelter. Thanks to his vampiric sense of smell, his nose led him to her with ease. Unfortunately, though, his hopes had been in vain when he found her alone.

After she’d been dismissed, Karou had gone to the Compound’s main lounge, where in a gloomy mood, she’d curled up for the night on one of the Chesterfields. Hours later, when she heard her name being whispered, she blinked open her eyes and was surprised to see Warren crouched down by the side of the sofa and framed in the orange glow of the dying fire.

“Is it morning already?” Karou asked sleepily and sat up in a start but quickly realised it was far too dark still.

“No, it’s not morning yet. It isn’t even one am yet. What are you doing sleeping here?” He whispered gently in reply, and though Karou had bolted upright, he wasn’t in any rush to move.

“Making myself scarce so you can get laid, duh.” Karou rubbed her hand over her face before flopping back into the oversized and cosy cushions.

“Ellis told you to leave?”

“Mhmm, she said something about your party tonight being for family, that and she has a present to give you,” Karou said, still drowsy and giggled girlishly at the mention of Ellis’ implied sexual gift. “Did you have a good time? Seeing them, I mean, I don’t wanna know about you and Ellis...”

Warren smiled weakly when Karou mentioned Ellis’ deviance. It was all old news to him; the predictability of her behaviour had made her tiresome to deal with.

“We just had a catch-up over a bottle of wine or three; there was nothing exclusive about it. Come on; you’re tired. Let’s get you back in your own bed.”

“I think I’m supposed to be gone all night because of Ellis’ present, remember?”

“Her idea of a late-night birthday present is probably lingerie and masochism.” Warren didn’t take no for an answer when he suggested she return to their unit with him. “Come one, don’t make me carry you.” He warned.

Back at their unit, Karou quickly disappeared out of his sight and went to get ready for bed. With her pyjamas on, she peered out of her bedroom door and saw Warren had tidied up the lounge and now sat in his corner of the couch holding an unfinished bottle of wine. As she watched him, she figured he was waiting for Ellis to arrive. I’d better shut this door tonight.

“G’night!” Karou called down the hall.

“Karou, come sit with me a while?”

Slowly, cautiously, she reopened the door and looked out again; Warren was staring her down, waiting. Her mind was instantly jumping to all the worst conclusions. Maybe I’m in trouble. Perhaps he’s changed his mind and wants you to leave.

Karou wrapped her arms about her shins on the couch and looked at Warren over her knees sheepishly. “Uh- D-Did you have a good time tonight then? It must’ve been nice to see Magnus and Ellis.”

After taking a swig right from the neck of the bottle he was holding, Warren said. “Yes, it was a pleasant break from my usual routine, but I was a little disappointed that you didn’t join us. Magnus enjoyed your company last time.”

Ah, so he wanted me to entertain Magnus so he could ka-noodle with Ellis.

Sucking the wine from his lips, Warren offered the bottle out to Karou to share. For a long indecisive moment, she looked between Warren’s face and the bottle.

I did want to drink wine earlier, but maybe now isn’t a good time.

Sensing her indecision, Warren obliged, shuffled over from his corner of the couch, and put the bottle into her hand.

“Thanks. Y’know, I didn’t go out of my way to leave; I was told I couldn’t stay.”

“I find that disappointing too.” Warren settled down into his new seat, nearer to Karou. “I’ve told you before not to listen to Ellis, especially not when she’s telling you to leave your own home.” Lounging back, Warren sighed and tugged his tie loose from his neck - he’d kept it on as a way of guarding it against Ellis.

Home? Karou picked up on his use of the word. It was the first time he’d called his unit her home. It made her feel nice.

“I just didn’t want to ruin your evening, that’s all.” Karou stared down at the bottle of wine. “D’you think I should be drinking this late at night?”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but we don’t have to go to bed yet; that isn’t to say you should get drunk.” Warren cocked an eyebrow at her playfully.

“Don’t you have a big day to be up for tomorrow?” Karou asked before she finally took the bottle to her lips. Taking a hearty swig of the dry white wine, the face she made, made Warren chuckle.

“We really need to find you something else to drink if you hate wine that much.” When he took the bottle back from her, he unconsciously brushed her fingers with his own. He took another swig before handing it back to her. “But what’s happening tomorrow?”

“I don’t hate it. It’s just the aftertaste that takes some getting used to, and y’know what big day it is tomorrow, old man.” As if the magical effects of liquid courage had kicked in instantly, Karou swatted Warren’s upper arm with a smirk. All that had actually happened was that she’d realised she wasn’t in any trouble, and seeing as Warren was making jokes, she felt comfortable doing so too.

“You know about that, huh? You really have been studying me. Who told you?”

“I found out by accident. Magnus told me on the phone, well, he mentioned that’s why they were coming anyway.” Karou explained but didn’t deny she’d been studying him. “Oh! Wait here; I have something for you...” She disappeared but was back just as quickly and climbed back over the sofa with a box in her hand. It was black and without wrapping paper - she presented it to Warren with a smile as she sat back on her heels.

“You didn’t have t-”

“You got me a present, so I’m returning the favour.” Karou offered the box up to him again. “Please take it.”

“I wasn’t going to refuse. Thank you.” Warren took the box and slid off the lid to find a tie rolled up and nestled inside. On its side, the silky fabric shimmered like a coiled snake. “A tie?”

“Mhmm, do you like it?” She looked hopeful. “Now, I know it’s not blue like you like, but I thought-…”

“I like it.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I like it. I don’t have any green ones.” Warren took it out of the box and ran it over his fingers, admiring how the silk wove into a scaley pattern. “Can I ask how you paid for it?” He put forward delicately. To his knowledge, she had no money of her own.

“Well, about that, you kinda brought it for yourself courtesy of Ms Finch. But I picked it! I’ll wash the dishes for a month or something to actually ‘pay’ for it. Deal?”

“You don’t have to do that.” An unbridled grin spread across his face; her cuteness was impossible not to find endearing. “It’s the thought that counts. Thank you.” This time, his smile was that of genuine gratitude - her gift meant a great deal to him.

“You’re welcome. Happy Birthday, Warren.” While he was still examining the tie, she bravely lent forward and kissed his cheek.

Invariably, his reflexes were swift compared to hers, and before she could back away, he’d sensed her proximity and turned his face her way. His lips brushed over hers briefly. Caught entirely off guard by his willingness, she had backed off when he intuitively leaned toward her to continue the kiss.

Before she knew why her hand came up to press against his chest; she was stopping him. Why?! Her mind screamed at her body’s contradictive reaction. There was no time to think things through; the look of surprise in his eyes captured her. Though he didn’t understand why she’d stopped him, he immediately looked apologetic. To kill the moment with cold finality, there came a knock at the door.

That must be Ellis. They thought in unison.

Figuring she should probably scuttle off into her room, where she could lock herself away from the amorous couple Karou shifted as though she were about to leave the couch.

Warren noticed her moving and shook his head, instructing her to “Stay there.” With his new tie still in hand, he tugged off the one he wore and laid them both over the back of the couch.

“Hello, Ellis,” Warren greeted his guest at the door, but he welcome her.

“Hello, darling.” She replied. “Aren’t you going to invite me in? I’ve got a present for you...” Ellis went to push open the door fully, and although Warren let go of the handle, he didn’t step aside to allow her entry. Her eyes locked onto Karou, and her expression changed instantly. “I thought we would be alone... Didn’t she have other plans?”

“I doubt it; Karou never makes plans,” Warren informed Ellis.

Karou couldn’t help but find it heart-warming that he’d remembered how she preferred to live spontaneously. She recalled telling him the day they’d spent at the lake together. Suddenly Karou was playing back their day in her mind, and soon enough, she’d rewound her memories to the morning and how he’d kissed her in his bed. Maybe he’d been about to kiss her like that again before they were interrupted.

I thought people only kissed like that in movies. Ugh, I can’t believe I was going to stop him.

Karou left the seclusion of her mind in time to hear Warren say, “As you can see, now isn’t a good time. We’re about to go to bed. It’s late; you should go back to bed too.”

“That’s why I’m here, Warren,” Ellis muttered through gritted teeth. Least of all, Ellis wasn’t accustomed to being rejected and especially by her fledgeling.

“I meant go back to your husband’s bed, Ellis.” Warren insisted with equal conviction and laid his hand back on the door.

“I sincerely hope I’m reading this whole situation wrong.” She gestured with her hand dramatically to Karou on the couch.

“Do I even want to guess what’s going through your head?” Warren asked sarcastically.

“Are you sleeping with her?” Ellis glared over Warren’s shoulder at Karou. The disgust Ellis put into her question made her wince back into the couch.

In reply, Warren simply sighed; to his mind, Ellis was just her usual irksome and jealous self. He glanced back at Karou briefly with a glimmer of an apology in his eyes before he attacked his Sire with an answer. “And what if I am?”

The instant the question left his lips, a bright amber blush came to Karou’s cheeks while she stared hard at her knees with wide eyes. Of course, she knew it was just a game, a play to get Ellis to leave, but it was shocking that he’d insinuated there was that level of intimacy between them. Just then, a thought zapped through Karou’s mind when a brave inner voice muttered; Maybe if you hadn’t been interrupted.

Meanwhile, Ellis glowered. “Uck, I didn’t think you’d sink so low. You can have your fun with her when I’m not here, but when I am, I expect a little loyalty.”

“As does Magnus,” Warren had the last word and shut the door on his Sire abruptly.

He didn’t come away from the door immediately; he wasn’t able. His face contorted into a grimace as he squeezed his eyes closed, with his back pressed against the vault-like unit door.

“A-Are you okay?”

“Yes. Ellis is just angry, and she’s making sure I can feel it.”

“You can feel it?”

“Mhmm, in here.” Warren tapped his temple to indicate their telepathic connection as Sire and fledgeling. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll pass. It’s just like a bad headache.”

Once he’d centred himself, he sighed out a deep breath he’d taken to combat the discomfort that came with having Ellis’ angry thoughts in his head. Refocused on Karou, he asked, “Are you ready for bed?”

“Uhm, no, not yet; I’m wide awake now.”

Warren nodded in acknowledgement. Still massaging his temples, he wandered to his bedroom. For a second, Karou thought maybe he’d decided to let her stay up alone and go to bed, but it was unusual for him not to say goodnight. All that was happening was that he’d decided to change into something more comfortable. Before long, he’d sunk back down onto the couch dressed in pyjama pants and a t-shirt.

Looking at his face intently, Karou couldn’t stop herself from asking the question because she couldn’t get it off her mind. “Warren, why did you say what you said when Ellis asked if you were... y’know?”

“To get her to leave, I hope I didn’t offend you.” With his head resting against the couch, his eyes had fallen closed, giving the impression that the drama had taken something out of him. Karou had previously observed how socialising drained his energy much faster than a twelve-hour shift working in his office.

Though he knew he could’ve dismissed himself and just gone to bed, he wasn’t often in such an amicable mood, so he didn’t want to deprive Karou of it. Most of the time they spent together ‘trying to be friends’, he’d remain almost silent, which he knew was no fun for her, but it was his nature. With a belly full of wine, his inhibitions were small enough for him to attempt to entertain her with conversation.

“You must think I’m a creepy old man for even thinking something like that.” His face, which had been still and sleepy, now smirked.

“You’ve thought about it?”

“I might’ve shown Ellis a few of the things I’ve thought about... It was convincing enough to persuade her to leave us alone. I’m sorry if I tarnished your dignity by doing that.” Against the leather cushion, his head lulled to the side, and when he opened his deep ocean-coloured eyes to gaze at her, she picked up on how thirsty he was.

“I don’t care what she thinks of me.” Karou kept her eyes focused on Warren’s, despite the peach blush blossoming on her cheeks. She figured it wasn’t so bad that he’d thought about it. She already knew that just because he gave something thought didn’t mean he was inclined to do it. Being a contemplator rather than a doer had held him back from his impulses many times since the lessons he’d learned in personal discipline back in his fledgeling days.

“How about what I think?”

“Oh, I probably care about that more than I should,” Karou admitted with a slight eye roll. Unwrapping her arms from about her legs, Karou crossed them beneath her though she couldn’t stop fidgeting anxiously. “What do you think?” She asked sheepishly.

“I didn’t think I’d spend my evening talking about this -”

“W- we don’t have to! We can talk about anything… or nothing.” Karou cut him off, realising it would probably get awkward if he answered. As always, her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

“- Ha, you’re not the only one dying to know. Magnus would love to dig around in my head to find my opinion of you.” Warren chuckled, “I think I’m fighting the good fight so far. At least I haven’t done anything too rash… But I would’ve kissed you earlier if you hadn’t stopped me.”

“Must be all the wine blurring your judgement,” Karou muttered dismissively, embarrassed by his point-blank admission. Her nerves weren’t staying at bay by any means. Though, for once, she didn’t pick her nails. Instead, she took her anxiety out on the drawstrings of her pyjama shorts and twiddled them between her fingers.

“You’re doing it again…” Warren noted, and Karou’s curious eyes gleamed up at him, big and blue and beautiful.

“Doing what?”

“Acting shy.” Reaching out to hook a finger under her chin, Warren lifted it, so she had to look at him. He lent nearer, closing the gap between them almost entirely. “Does it matter if it’s the wine?”

“You might regret it.” Even if she couldn’t stop him from lifting her face in his direction, she could avert her eyes. But when her willpower gave out, and she dared to meet his hungry eyes… That was her undoing. It was too late to think of any more reasons not to because he was kissing her.

Warren gently kept hold of her chin, but the pull she felt in the pit of her stomach to be close to him caused her to whine desperately against his lips. The consequences were quickly, completely disregarded. Karou grabbed his wrist to move his hand from her face and autonomously climbed over Warren’s thighs to straddle his lap. Had she gone too far? Would this make him stop?

It didn’t. Warren reciprocated her yearning for closeness and welcomed her onto his lap. With his arms wound about her waist, he enveloped her possessively against him - the way his hands fit the proportions of her body felt like they belonged there. He made sure their lips parted only momentarily while she moved, and just as she had, he groaned into her - hopeful that that would put any doubts about how much he enjoyed kissing her to rest.

Karou couldn’t keep her hands to herself either and held onto the fist full’s of his shirt. In her flustered state, she could feel the heat of her excitement spreading over her skin. I feel so hot! Although Karou had jumped in headlong, as was her character, unfortunately, her gumption would run out quickly. Soon the doubts Warren had hoped she wouldn’t have filled her head.

How can this be anything extraordinary for him? He must’ve kissed dozens of women.

Wouldn’t he rather be kissing Ellis? Why did he make her leave when he could be getting so much more from her? Oh, God! He isn’t priming me for that, is he?

Ugh, stupid girl, of course not! He doesn’t like you that much. It must be the wine making him do this.

But he’s taking it all in his stride. How can he be so calm?

It was all getting too much for Karou. She couldn’t focus on what was happening in the physical realm when her thoughts were so distracting and negative. That made her back up, and when she tugged her lips from his, he made a noise she’d never imagined he’d be capable of. It was a whimper, desperate and vulnerable; it held so much meaning but mostly was a question as to why she had stopped.

In response, Karou gasped and blinked open her eyes to see the expression on his face. From inches away, she watched as he altered; his cold front was rising to cut him off from her. She’d have to think fast if she didn’t want to lose the Warren she had in front of her to the iceberg she’d chipped away at so fervently to get to him. Karou let her hands ask the question; words might’ve sullied the moment, so lightly she tugged at the bottom of his t-shirt. Let me be closer to you.

The boldness of her silent request took Warren by surprise, and his left eye narrowed to question her. Karou had successfully kept his mood from taking a turn for the wintry, though. He didn’t see any harm in obliging her because he wasn’t ready for whatever this was to be over, either.

Even though he wasn’t looking for a casual fling, he was willing to simply ‘give in’, especially now that he couldn’t deny that the tension between them had come to a head.

Cooperatively, Warren lifted his arms, insinuating she could remove his shirt from him. That prospect caused Karou to bite her lip; this was more than she had bargained for. Tonight, she decided to be brave and take advantage of his agreeable mood. So, tentatively her dainty fingers negotiated the shirt off over his head.

When the back of her fingers grazed over the side of his ribs, he actually giggled quietly and explained, “I’m a little ticklish just there.”

Karou had grinned childishly at his admission; he never ceased to surprise her and what he did next only confirmed that.

As soon as he was relieved of his shirt and found his face parallel to Karou’s collarbones, he was quick to exploit her new position and moved in to kiss the skin over the low neckline of her top before Karou had the chance to sit back down. Now he was in dangerous territory. Bloodthirst was creeping up on him, and his inner predator had noticed the proximity of her jugular.

Grasping onto his broad shoulders, Karou nuzzled into his hair as she enjoyed the new sensation of where he was placing his kisses. Danger never occurred to her as he slowly edged closer to the side of her neck, but the hushed growl that escaped past his lips when he got there hit her with a hard dose of reality. What if he does it? What if he bites me? But… haven’t I wanted him to?

Her heart rate sped up as if it might beat its way right out of her chest, and Warren couldn’t overlook how that excited him. When his hand reached up, and his fingertips rested just shy of her breast, he could feel her heart pumping hard behind her ribs. That rhythm spurred on the movements his lips made until they both heard the faint sound his fangs made as they bared themselves. It was almost embarrassing to him how easily she aroused his thirst, but she smelled so good he could practically taste how delicious she was through the surface of her skin.

“Give me a reason to stop?” He whispered beneath her ear; his question was full of yearning and a sense of his moral turmoil.

A decent but admittedly small part of him wanted her to scream, recoil in fear and run away from him, but the rest of him desired her to succumb. And seeing as she was likely to, he intended to follow through and yield to her curiosity. Right now, despite his promise not to, he would gladly show her what it felt like to be bitten. He’d kept his thirst at bay for so long; it was a wonder to him that he hadn’t already ravaged her tender neck and ripped her pretty throat asunder to sup straight from her pulsing veins. That thought was fleeting, though; inflicting such violence on someone so delicate was too gruesome to consider.

“I- I can’t. I don’t want you to.” Karou managed breathlessly. “Will it hurt?”

“Mmm, probably. If that puts you off -” Warren had to be honest. The tone of his voice revealed that it would have been painful if she’d admitted she wanted him to stop, especially after he’d already gotten so worked up. “- If you want it to stop, Karou, you should run.”

“No, I won’t run.” Accepting momentary pain when given a chance to gain something in exchange was a concept Karou found easy to get her head around. She’d done many things in her life that hurt her initially, but she did so with confidence that the outcome would be worth it. She hoped that this would be one of those times. Putting her trust in Warren allowed her heart rate to steady as she relaxed in his hands.

Warren needed no more prompting and enacted a series of movements that disarmed Karou. Moving her was no task at all; she felt so light and docile in his arms. In seconds she found herself laid back against the cold leather couch, which caused her shoulders to twitch in response to the temperature.

For months he’d been eyeing a particular spot on her neck - on her right side, between her tendons, was an ideal fleshy part where her skin looked supple. On all fours over her, Warren coiled his left arm under her neck - so he could cradle her head so that she was comfortably close to him and so his fingers could weave into her hair to keep her still once he was in situ.

Be gentle. He warned himself at the last moment when his lips laid agape about her throat. His fangs set against her skin, and while simultaneously praying she wouldn’t stop him, he prayed he’d find it within himself to stop when the time came. One small contraction of his jaw sunk his fangs into her until his mouth locked around her neck.

As promised, it did hurt. All at once, Karou yelped and grew ridged against him fleetingly. She already had her hands clung onto Warren’s upper arms but dug her fingertips into his skin when she felt the pressure behind his fangs pierce her skin. Still, she found comfort in holding onto him and with him looming over her, she felt paradoxically safe.

Karou’s small outcry excited the predator at her neck. It caused him to purr against her skin, which, in turn, excited her. Something about the primal nature of becoming Warren’s prey was hot. Subconsciously, her body surrendered itself to him. It was then that she realised that she’d bound her legs about his thigh that had come to rest between hers. The way her hips had pushed up against one side of his pelvis was enough to leave her flustered, but it’d been so instinctual and unintentional. Now she understood what Warren meant about vampiric feeding, sometimes taking a turn for the sexual. Had her actions revealed her secret - that she wanted him?

In all of the books she’d read, there was minimal mention of sexual relations. It was so biased either way; if a knowledgeable mortal had written the book, it all sounded so animalistic and brutal. Yet, in contrast, if the author was vampiric, the act was merely dissected and clinically described. From that, she had gathered that the only accurate way to know what it was like was to do it. For all she knew, it might’ve always been sexually charged.

Karou’s analytical thoughts had been a mere flash through the back of her mind; what she focused on were the more minor details. How being intimate like that with Warren was all-consuming. Despite being aware that it was likely bloodlust that had moved him, she felt so wanted when he clung to her as if his life depended on it. It was easy to let go and allow herself to be overwhelmed by the warmth she felt - her chest swelled, and her eyes watered. Warren was so close and so gentle and almost sensual.

Once he’d composed himself, after the first initial bite, he’d retracted his fangs so there would be no more pain. There was no need to drive them deeper when the wounds he’d made on her neck were sufficient. That way, he could drink from her as if he were kissing her; Warren hoped she would enjoy that part - he certainly was. The cold pallor of his skin dissipated as Karou’s hot blood ran down his throat and warmed his chest from the inside out.

Karou’s heart rate had lulled, and Warren sensed she was starting to feel light-headed, so he knew it was time for the hard part - stopping. The moment she laid incapacitated beneath him, he had felt dizzy with power and hungry for her in a way that he’d never felt thirst since he’d been a starved and feral fledgeling. But with training and age, he had amassed a fair amount of control, enough control to enact his savagery as gently as was possible, at least. The moment her blood touched his tongue was the beginning of his fight. Calming the feeding frenzy that threatened to take him over was all that filled his mind - how dizzyingly delicious she tasted felt like he was swallowing great mouthfuls of warm summer evenings. Karou was just as mouth-watering as she looked, but he wouldn’t dare admit that aloud. How someone could taste like sunshine, he couldn’t fathom… but Karou did, unquestionably. How sinfully pleasant it felt that she trusted him enough to sacrifice herself to him, but not letting that notion go to his head was another battle. Yet he felt like he wanted her closer - so badly, but perhaps even under his skin wouldn’t have been near enough.

With one hand combed into the tresses of her dark brown hair, his other rested over her ribs again, but this time, his thumb reached to cup just under her breast, rather daringly. Fortunately, Warren was neither reckless nor ungentlemanly enough to grope her blatantly, but the presence of his hand in that area teased at the possibility that he wanted to. Just as Warren had found it practically impossible to keep innuendo out of how he touched her, he’d noticed how Karou had bound her legs about his thigh. In her dazed state, she’d subconsciously writhed against him a few times, making it difficult for him not to reciprocate and consequently reveal just how riled up he truly was.

Isn’t it enough that I’m giving in to this urge? He thought.

His internal voice only threatened to get whinier when he realised; Her heart rate is labouring; damn it! It’s already time.

Warren took his last sup wistfully. The only way he could reason his way back from her neck was to tell himself that if he stopped now, he might get to taste her again. If he didn’t, he’d kill her, and she’d be lost to him forever.

Simultaneously they exhaled a sigh as they parted. Due to the blood loss, Karou was content, if not slightly sleepy. Warren was satisfied but quite the opposite of Karou; he was vitalised. Irrespective of the buzz he felt, the steady flow and heat of the new blood he’d taken had warmed him into a cosy state of tranquillity.

When Warren backed away enough to see the state of her wounds, he was pleased to see that the bleeding had almost slowed to a stop, but to make sure they healed as seamlessly as he desired, he shifted his hand from her ribs and sliced open the pad of this thumb over the tip of one fang.

Karou’s eyes fluttered open just in time to catch Warren’s act of self-harm. “Mmm, what’re you doing?” She asked in a docile voice, seeming content to lay in his arms a little longer.

With a feather-light touch so as not to further bruise the traumatised skin around the punctures, he rubbed his blood that pooled into the wound pits and watched as her skin knitted together to leave fresh scars that were barely noticeable. Lending her a small part of his vampiric regeneration via his blood was the least he could do.

“Making sure the bite wounds heal,” Warren explained briefly before bowing his head back to her neck to lap up any blood that remained on her skin. Karou closed her eyes and sighed again when she felt his lips return to her skin and even craned her neck back into the cradle of his hand to facilitate him.

“Did it feel like you thought it would?” Warren asked in a hushed voice so as not to disturb the mood.

“I don’t know how I thought it would feel... But it only hurt for a couple of seconds.” Flickering opens her eyes again to focus on Warren’s face despite how sleepy she looked; they suddenly widened, alarmed, “Oh my God, your eyes!” She exclaimed, reaching up to trace her fingertip over the skin beneath his eye.

“They’re blue?” Warren asked, a little confused; she’d noted how they changed colour after feeding before… Why was she so surprised now?

“No, they’re almost silver. Do they always look like this when you feed on a live host?”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that.” Warren frowned. He found her comment distasteful; he didn’t view her as a host. “But I wouldn’t know; I’ve never taken any notice of what colour my eyes are afterwards. My so-called ‘host’ has never informed me before.”

“Uhm, okay. But, really, the colour, it’s incredible…” She said and nibbled at her lip shyly. Her lack of confidence made her inch her hands back from his bare shoulders and where she had previously clung onto him, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. “Uh, how was it for you?” Karou asked, being consistently sheepish.

“You’re as delicious as you look.”

“You mean smell?” Karou remembered how he’d asked why she smelled the way she did before, but he’d never mentioned how she looked other than when he admitted she was ‘attractive’. In weighing up other things Warren had said in passing, she’d figured he meant attractive in general terms, having implied that she was appealing to others, which he’d noticed when she hadn’t.

“That too, but haven’t I made my opinion on both obvious already?”

“Don’t ruin tonight by making fun of me, Warren,” Karou whined, genuinely in disbelief.

“I’m not, but I’ll desist, seeing as it upsets you so much.”

To hide her face from him, she closed her eyes and dipped her head but due to their position; it came to be that her head rested against his chest. Her objective to distance herself had failed because she’d only gotten closer, but now it was too late to move and keep face.

“Y-you’re warmer than usual,” Karou mumbled, having noticed now that her face was practically nuzzled against him. When Warren didn’t reply, she pulled back to look at him and found him yawning. “I’ll stop talking... I’m boring you.”

“Not at all, but it is nearly three am.”

Mimicking him, Karou yawned too and agreed, “Alright, it’s bedtime then.” Although she could have laid there on the couch with him all night, sleep beckoned them both, and as much as she’d enjoyed their interaction and closeness, she knew it would have to end eventually.

Without another word, Warren pried himself away. When he stood up, he took a moment to steady himself. However, Karou abruptly got to her feet and stumbled after being relieved of a significant amount of blood. She staggered a few steps around the coffee table before Warren rescued her from an inevitable accident.

“You can remember how to walk in the morning when your body has replenished what I’ve taken from you.” He kindly insisted and scooped her into his arms to carry her to her bedroom.

When Warren set her down on her bed, and before he’d turned to leave, she said, “Warren, thank you for tonight. I know you’ll sober up in the morning, and it won’t be the same but thank you anyway,”

He watched her curl up in her tiny bed, she looked so meek, but her expression was peaceful. She would go to sleep happy, yet what she said pained him. It hurt because he knew that it was true. He could give her short periods of warmth, but ultimately, he’d deflect back to his usual self once he settled into his daily routine.

“Goodnight, Karou. You should know… I wasn’t drunk.”