Dream Lover

Nikki Katt’s eyes shot open as the cold breeze rushed throughout the room, billowing the old lace curtains, and snuffing out the candles. She yawned and picked the book she’d been perusing out of her lap, book marked the page and set the book down on the end table. She tossed aside the blanket she’d curled up in and slipped out of the chair she’d been reading in. The sheer fabric of the nightgown clung to her frame and hid nothing. She shivered, the thin garment giving little protection from the cold. Normally, such things didn’t matter and she liked the nightgown for its look, especially with the lace running along the neckline. With how thin it was though, she might as well have slept naked.

She stretched, mildly annoyed with the darkness and the fact that she’d fallen asleep reading again. “What if someone had seen the candlelight?” she chided herself. “The last thing you want is a prowler of any kind.” The loss of the candles mattered little to her eyes as she easily made her way in the darkness. Their light had been for ambience as they helped her relax. She cringed as her bare feet met the frigid wooden floor. It was colder in the library than she expected in the early fall.

She came to the window, intending to close it and not allow the heavy winds from outside in, but she was shocked to find the window shut tight and locked. She frowned, a little confused. She stared out onto the expansive yard, her catlike eyes searching for signs of life. The wind whipped around some fallen leaves, sending them skittering along the stone path. The howling made an eerie sound that screeched up her spine. Branches from a tree tapped on a window in another room and the sound echoed from outside the library door, causing her to jump. She squinted, looking for any sign of movement. Even with the moon darting in and out of the intermittent clouds, she could see the lawn clearly enough for her tastes.

Nothing. She doubted that even with the overgrown lawn and the weeds that anyone would be hiding out there. She shook her head, doubting anyone would have been foolish enough to climb the tree near her window anyway. Blinking once and yawning, she cursed herself for being suspicious and walked over to the old fashioned desk near a chest of drawers with a similar look to them. She pulled out a drawer and began fumbling for a matchbook.

“Nikki...”

Nikki straightened up, the whisper sending a shock to her system. She glanced around the room, her green eyes moving from place to place without resting. Nothing was in the room. The wind is playing tricks on my ears. She dismissed her fancies, found the matchbox and struck a match. She watched for a moment as the flame danced along the top.

Another gust of wind came along, the flame dying out in the wind. The air swirled around her feet, rushing up her legs and under her nightgown, tickling her flesh and causing goose bumps along her pale skin. She heard her name again, closer now. She thought she felt a soft caress along her arm. And then, it was gone.

Nikki ran a hand through her blonde hair, then began twirling a finger in her pink bangs in frustration. Something felt wrong and it was creeping her out. Her miniature fangs bit into her lip as she quickly lit another match. She used it to light the candle in the holder and picked it up, shining the light around the room, trying to find her intruder. It couldn’t be Grey. Though she wouldn’t have put these childish actions beyond him, the ghost was tied to the haunt for as long as his urn remained there. She covered her chest anyway, wanting to hide her body as much as she could from any prying eyes.

For the first time, she wished she’d installed electricity. Even though it would have been odd for any passerby to see lights on in an old and supposedly abandoned house, right now it would have been welcome. “He...hello?” No one responded to her question save her echo. She mentally cursed the quaver in her voice. She’d faced down worse things without flinching, but was shaking like some schoolgirl over some weird sounds and wind in her own home.

Caution kept her still, however. There had been too many things in her life already since she’d joined the haunted house. Between the Hunters and the lunatics that wanted her dead and the nosy people who just couldn’t keep out of her business, the vampiress was seeing danger around every corner. The eeriness of what had just happened was not helping matters either. Even if it was just someone harmless, the fear of being exposed to people for what she was worried her greatly.

After a few long minutes of nothing, Nikki began to feel silly. The only noises she heard were of the house settling and the wind outside. She slowed her breathing, trying to calm down. All her problems had made her jumpy and tense. She also reminded herself that not all the people she’d met were out to get her. Carlos and Carla had accepted what she was. Even Grey, with all his annoyances, was turning into a good friend.

She also wished she could figure out where things stood between her and Damon. One minute, he was acting secluded and creepy. The next, he was friendly and almost enjoying himself. He switched attitudes more than others switched outfits. It was alluring and frustrating all rolled into one.

She sighed, deciding she should get downstairs. Holding the candle in front of her, she walked out into the hall, glancing around nervously before heading for the spiral staircase that led down toward the kitchen area. It was starting to get the feel of a real life horror movie and Nikki didn’t like feeling uncomfortable in her own home.

The kitchen was empty like it should be and she took the back stairs to the basement and her room. She took a hard look around, not seeing anything by the oval full-length mirror or her four-poster bed. She rubbed her temple with her free hand, tired and irritable. She set the candle holder down on the dresser, watching the flickering of the flame. Her breathing had calmed down most of the way and she made her way back to the bed. She sat down on the edge and picked up a hairbrush from the small night stand. She ran it through her hair over and over, like she used to before she was turned. Her eyes stared unfocused at the mirror, feeling the brush more than anything else right then.

A movement in the mirror caught her attention and she stopped brushing, standing up quickly. She saw nothing now, but she would have sworn under oath that she had before. She walked up to the mirror, examining it. She wondered if it could have been the candlelight, but she couldn’t see anything like that now.

Hands gripped her shoulders, massaging them momentarily and Nikki yelped. She spun around, finding it hard to breathe as she looked around, but no one was there. She felt like she was going out of her mind.

“Don’t be afraid…” a voice whispered in her ear. “Just…relax…”

“Yeah right,” she said, trembling. “Like it’s going to be that easy.”

Hands rubbed her shoulders again, soft and soothing, and Nikki didn’t turn away immediately. It did feel good. Eventually, she moved again. “Look, whoever you are. I don’t know what you…” She stopped, turning and looking in the mirror. Behind her stood Damon. She looked behind her and saw nothing. Once again, she watched the mirror. Damon was there for a moment, then his image vanished as his hands caressed her arms.

Nikki was confused, but it felt so real. She could see the nightgown moving in the mirror, bunching and shifting as his hands worked her arms. Lips met her neck, nibbling and biting at the soft flesh. Nikki couldn’t help but gasp at the touch, her fear and questions vanishing. It soon went to a soft moan as his hands moved to her breasts, the rubbing of the nightgown between his fingers adding a sensual feel to his touch.

Nikki could not believe the scene as it looked in the mirror. Her breasts looked to be moving on their own. Ghostly hands appeared again, the fingers twisting her nipples as he worked. The pain was electric in her, and she hadn’t felt this in so long she’d forgotten the pleasure it brought.

“Just relax…” he said again, his hands leaving her breasts as he pulled on the shoulders of the nightgown, amazingly not tearing it, until he could slip it down off her shoulders. The fabric fell to the floor, and a cool breeze ran around her bare body. While he could have seen her body regardless, she was now nervous without even a small garment between her body and him.

Damon seemed to sense this, his fingers dancing lightly along her arms, neck, and hips. Occasionally he’d touch her breasts or her ass, but he kept it light and gentle, waiting for her to relax into his touch.

He was expert enough for Nikki, putting her skin on fire with his touches. She was whimpering in his grasp after a short period of time, and Damon began to explore more. His hand caressed her bare ass cheeks, gripping them and kneading them in his hands. Her gasps came quicker and lustier as he pushed her. From there, he went up her sides, his fingers brushing along her smooth pale skin.

He cupped both her breasts, and Nikki leaned back, wanting to kiss him. Even with his translucent form, she wanted to see his face. He obliged her want, forcing his lips on hers, his tongue shoving in and mixing with hers. She went with his aggression, letting him do as he wanted to her.

Damon brought a hand up, running it in her hair, pulling it to lean her head further back. His mouth still attacked hers as he kneaded her breast in his free hand. Nikki squirmed in his grip, her body wanting so much more. Damon once again knew what to do as his hand left her breast and trailed down her stomach, running over her belly button and down into the blond curls of pubic hair, where his hand began to tease her mound.

Nikki pulled out of the kiss. “You’re so cruel…” she whined. He had none of it, pulling her lips back to his. He pushed one finger against her pussy lips, rubbing the swollen portion and dipping a finger into her. She moaned into his mouth, want filling her. He bit down on her tongue, pulling on it as he stroked his finger in and out. She pushed back into him, feeling his member now. She should have been surprised at his nudity, but it felt right at that moment. Her hand came down, stroking his dick.

Damon gave a pleased noise and Nikki kept stroking him. His manhood swelled in her hand as he dove another finger into her, then a third. His fingers filled her up, using her juices to slip in unhindered. Damon was also whispering several naughty things in her ear, causing her to blush even as the wondrous euphoria took hold. Nikki was moaning without any shame now. She wanted him inside her.

Damon took the hint, carrying her to the wall, turning her so her back was to it. He lifted her up, something Nikki thought he was too fragile to do. Holding her up, he positioned himself and thrust her down onto him, fucking her up against the wall. Nikki reveled in the way he took command and she loved the feel of him in her. He thrust hard, burying himself as deep as possible as he began to nip at her skin. His face showed a little strain, but he plowed forward. She wrapped her legs around him, holding his shoulders to try and stay up for him.

Nikki threw her head back. She thought about biting him right then, ghostly form or not. It had been so long, and she was getting very lonely without a mate. Damon had intrigued her when she first met him at the auditions, and now she was giving herself to him. She did not do so only because she’d promised herself not to turn anyone who did not want it.

Her body was screaming in pleasure as he pounded her, her breasts bouncing in front of him with each thrust. He took one in his mouth, rolling the nipple along his tongue. That added to her pleasure even more. “Oh Damon!” she cried, gripping his shoulders even tighter and leaving red marks where she did. Damon began to fade out again, the effort of holding his form vanishing as he spent more of himself on his own pleasure.

She was trying to hold on as she rode him. He gripped her tight, his hands planted firmly on her ass as he lifted her up and brought her back down. She in turn was trying to help him reach a climax by moving her hips in time with his thrusts. She became lost in the pleasure, screaming his name out over and over as he began to push harder and harder. There was an overwhelming feeling of pleasure flooding her, pressure against a dam that was waiting to burst. “Cum with me Damon,” she cried, her legs losing feeling.

“Yes, Nikki. Let’s cum together!” He pressed her against the wall, his chest glistening in sweat. His body was so warm against hers and he began calling her name as well in time to his thrusts. Suddenly, she felt warmth fill her as he came, and her own pleasure washed over her. She screamed out in ecstasy, slumping against him and panting heavily. His form faded from view again, but she still felt him as the two fell to the floor.

Nikki felt the sweat all over now and was certain a shower was in order after this. Moving was not an option for a little bit. She wondered if she’d get the feeling back at all after that. She wished Damon would come back into view. She didn’t know what had happened to cause him to act like a ghost, but she wanted to look down on the lover in her arms. She contented herself with running a finger on the skin she felt near her as she listened to him try and catch his breath.

He finally had calmed enough to gradually come back into view. “That was…wonderful Nikki.”

Nikki nodded, a contented smile on her face. “You’re telling me. How did you get so talented?”

Damon wagged a finger at her. “That’s a secret for another day.” He ran a hand through her hair and down her cheek, trailing his fingers along her jaw.

Nikki rubbed into his hand like a cat. “But how are you doing the Invisible Man routine?”

Damon put a finger to her lips. “Hush.” He smiled. “You ask too many questions. Just enjoy the moment.” He removed the finger long enough to kiss her again. “I can’t stay much longer, but I will explain later. However, I have a favor to ask.”

Nikki cocked her head, a little confused. She watched as he held up his hands and a collar appeared held between them. It was black leather with silver sections along it that held four different gems: a pearl, a ruby, an emerald, and a sapphire. He held it out to her. “Will you wear this…for me?”

Nikki held it in her hand, examining it. She then shook her head. “Damon…it wouldn’t be right…”

Damon took it, looking disappointed, but he held her close anyway and kissed her deeply. “Do you think I could get you to try it on at least? I’d like to see you in it…”

She paused, but what harm could it do? She nodded, and he came around behind her. He pulled the collar against her neck, clipping it in the back as he pressed against her. The feel of his body faded as he did, and she was feeling dizzy, falling…

Nikki woke, sweating and clutching her sheets. Her fingers came shakily to her lips, brushing against them. She could swear she could still feel the touch of his lips on hers. The candles in the sconces had burned down and the few remaining flames were burning weakly. She shivered.

Her hand went to her neck instinctively, but it was bare. She wasn’t sure why she’d let him do that in the first place. It wasn’t something she normally did. She remembered reading on dreams and subtle meanings some time ago. Were they really clues to one’s subconscious? Did she really feel that way about Damon? Would she really let him get that much that fast?

She curled back up, intending to get some more sleep, but the questions that danced in her head would follow her deep into the morning. This was one night she would not forget.