Chapter 19

Sunday morning found them entwined on the couch with a quilt covering them. They had begun fooling around in the living room when the mood had taken them and they'd made love right there on the couch.

Afterward, Elaina fed from Rob, the languid atmosphere causing her to forget herself and take too much. She apologized profusely as he lay dizzy on the couch with his head in her lap. She stroked his hair as he drifted to sleep. By the time she was ready for sleep, Elaina had arranged him more comfortably and climbed on top with the quilt over them both. It was the growling of his stomach that woke them.

"How're you feeling, sweeting?" she asked anxiously.

Rob deliberately took stock of himself, wiggling fingers and toes, stretching and flexing his limbs. He realized that he actually felt pretty good and said as much. She frowned in puzzlement.

"Are you sure? I took a lot more than I should have last night. I haven't even processed it all; I'm still warm."

She placed her hand on his forehead and peered into his eyes. "You seem to be all right," she said doubtfully.

"What I'm feeling right now is that I could eat a horse," he answered. "And I gotta piss like one too. Come on, move."

He rose hurriedly and hustled off to the bathroom. Elaina chuckled when she heard the strength of his stream through the open door.

She prepared him four eggs and a small pile of sausages, then watched in amazement as he stuffed them all down, using a piece of buttered toast to wipe the plate clean. When she caught him glancing at the refrigerator, she fried up four more eggs and toasted more bread.

When he'd finished that, she was further amazed when he threw some peanut butter and jelly on toast to top it off. He'd also consumed three cups of coffee while eating.

Finally sated, Rob sat back sipping contemplatively at his fourth cup.

"I don't think I've ever eaten that much at a morning meal in ... well, forever. It was like I couldn't get enough. I think I would have eaten that horse if you'd found a way to cook it."

"You shouldn't have recovered this well after last night. I took almost as much as I did the first time I fed on you." She closed her eyes, thinking hard. "Could you be adapting to me feeding from you?"

Thinking equally hard, Rob responded, "If you can believe the folklore, vampires reputedly kept thralls. It could be that humans can adapt to being regular 'donors' to a vampire. That stable you joked about might be a reality."

"That's not funny, Rob," Elaina retorted in a mild panic. "I could never keep humans as 'pets' or whatever." She looked truly concerned.

"No, love, that's not how I meant it." He gathered his thoughts. "Folklore and mythology usually have some sort of basis in fact. Truth gets distorted over time and legends are born. I don't think thralls actually existed, but perhaps there were vampires in the past who retained willing humans as, I don't know, maybe employees. In trade for room and board, they kept the vampire fed. That way no one had to die, and the vampire's existence was kept hidden. I'd bet those humans knew they were onto a good thing and would resist being 'rescued' if the locals decided they needed saving from the evil monster."

They both stayed silent for a time, digesting the idea.

"You know, if someone did try to take me away from you, I would fight them to the bitter end. That might be the kernel of the thrall mythology. I mean, why else would I resist being saved from evil?"

"I understand what you're saying, but I'm still uncomfortable with the idea," Elaina said morosely.

"Elaina, I love you. Even if you never fed from me again, I would fight to be with you. All right?" he said reassuringly. "Of course, if you withheld yourself from me, I might have to reconsider our relationship."

She laughed happily and slapped his arm. Mission accomplished.

Moving away from the unsettling topic for now, Elaina asked, "So, did you remember my advice? Did you ask Dawn for another date?" Rob sighed and rolled his eyes.

"No," he answered, holding up his hand at her protest, "But I am expected to call soon for another date. Satisfied?"

"Yes," she said, sitting back with crossed arms and a gloating expression.

"So, what about us?" he asked off-handedly.

Her expression changed quickly to puzzlement. "What about us?"

"Will you go out with me?" he asked with a serious expression. "I know we did things kind of backwards here, but I would like to be seen escorting you around and doing things together in public."

"You want to date me?" she squeaked.

"Well, sure. Why not?" he asked, puzzled in turn.

"I ... don't know," she finally answered. "I don't think I've ever been on a date. We did things differently back when I was human. And after, well, I just never did."

Rob was nonplussed. Here he was with the most worldly woman he had ever known, and in this one thing, he was the experienced one. He shook it off and continued with his thoughts.

"I've got season tickets through work to a local theatre group. They're doing a presentation of the play 'Chicago.' How about we go see that together?"

"A play?" she said wonderingly. "I've never been to a play."

"I didn't think taking you to dinner would work out so well, so I figured this would be good. What do you say? The tickets are good for any Saturday night during the season."

"Okay. Yes, that could be fun." She smiled widely up at him. "A date. Fancy that."

He laughed at her childish enthusiasm.

"What's it about, anyway?" she asked.

"I have no idea, but I heard it won awards when it was on Broadway. It's got to be good."

She nodded thoughtfully while he took a sip of his coffee, grimacing at the tepid liquid. He took the cup to the sink and rinsed it out, placing it in the rack to dry, then he turned back to Elaina.

"Let's get dressed. I want to get my Sunday paper."

He led the way to the bedroom, stopping at the darkened windows in the living room.

"How are we to know if it's safe if we can't see out?" he groused.

"You're just going for a paper, right?" Rob nodded. "So go without me. I'll clean up the dishes while you're gone." She stretched languidly, various parts of her body showing enticingly as she moved. "I don't really feel like dressing anyway. In fact–" she pulled the pajama top up over her head "– I don't feel like being dressed at all."

"Why am I going out again?" he growled, watching her nipples as they spiked.

By the time he'd finished donning jeans and a sweatshirt, she had most of the kitchen cleaned and was loading the dishwasher with what would fit. He ogled her ass as she leaned over to place the last few dishes, seeing the edges of her pussy winking in and out of view. She stood, leisurely arching her back and demonstrating that she was well aware of where he was looking.

"Hurry back, lover," she said smokily. "Don't make me wait or there will be trouble."

Rob snapped his fingers as her words reminded him of something.

"I meant to ask ... Dawn said something at the end of our date." He concentrated on recalling her words. "Something about being in trouble. No, that's not it. She said 'I am in so much trouble, '" getting the inflection just right.

The Cheshire's grin reappeared on Elaina's face, and she replied knowingly. "It means, lover, that she will never refuse you a date, or maybe anything, if you just ask."

He got his paper and the two of them enjoyed their time together. Elaina went on her way before it was time for Rob to prepare dinner.

"Bring the car around sometime," Rob said at the door. "I really would like to try it."

"I will, sweeting, I will," Elaina replied, stroking his face.

She had on her cloak and was ready to go. They embraced, sharing a long, warm kiss. Elaina had fed one more time with Rob experiencing no harmful after-effects due to blood loss.

"Get some food," she advised. "I want you strong and healthy for me."

They finally parted, Rob watching as she strode down the hall. He closed the door, missing her already.