by K. Aten
“The dogs have struck again. Someone broke into my studio sometime after I was here yesterday. The door and lock were both destroyed and they wrote the word ‘WHORE’ in red paint across my back wall. I have the shades down in the front window so it can’t be seen and I’ve cancelled my lessons for the day. Should I call the police?”
Keller sighed. “Yeah, call the police and get the incident reported. I need to spend a few hours here with Lissa before I can turn her loose on her own for the night. We can go get some paint for the back wall and I’ll give John a call and see if he can take care of your door. We can make a night of it. I’ll swing by the condo and get some of our old clothes that we don’t mind ruining. Once you’re finished with the police, you can run to the hardware store for paint and supplies, and I’ll stop and pick up dinner.”
Sarah laughed wryly, “It’s not exactly a romantic evening but I’ll take it. Keep me posted on when you’re going to get here. I’ll call the cops now.”
Keller frowned, knowing that Sarah was more upset than she was letting on. “Stay strong, my love. We’ll get them.” Before her girlfriend could ask, she answered the singer’s next question. “Annie is fine. She’s busy working with Bruce to finalize the stage shows. They’re also coordinating with volunteers to get the posters up all around the city. Bruce’s boyfriend Rico did an amazing job designing them. He was just volunteering his time but I think I’m going to cut him a check out of my discretionary budget anyway. He’s talented and I know he’s not making much over at the coffee shop.”
The singer let her lover ramble for a minute, understanding that she had a lot of things going on at once right now. “Okay, fang babe, I’ll let you get to that. I’m going to say goodbye and report this, if one of my neighbors haven’t already. Text me later!”
Keller ran a hand through her spikey blonde hair. “Will do.” She hung up and dialed John, her favorite contractor, and made arrangements for one of his guys to repair Sarah’s door and lock. As soon as she finished the last call, the office door opened. Lissa poked her head in.
“Everyone is here, are you finished with your call? Is everything okay?”
Keller nodded. “Ah, nothing too terrible. My girlfriend’s music studio was vandalized so I’m afraid I’ll need to cut out of here in a few hours. Annie, the assistant manager of Voodoo Pony is on until close so she can help you with anything you need, or answer any questions that come up. I really am sorry.”
Lissa raised her hands. “Hey, it’s okay, I completely understand. You gotta do what you gotta do, right? Let’s get this meeting over with and then we go over some of the most important items before you take off.”
“Sounds good, and thank you.” The meeting went smoothly. Most everyone knew at that point that Keller was leaving. Some recognized Lissa from her time as the manager of Tully’s and most were excited to hear some of her new ideas. A few would always be resistant to change, and everyone was sad to see Keller go. But overall it was a productive and positive meeting. Keller filled Annie in on the latest incident involving the rogue wolves, then spent some time with her and Lissa going over the essentials. After that, she left the new manager in Annie’s capable hands.
Over the past few months, Keller had noticed Annie’s second, Bruce, taking on more and more responsibility on the Voodoo Pony side, filling in for Sip and Chug work whenever Annie wasn’t available. The young man had a great head on his shoulders and a knack for pointing great bands in Annie’s direction. She’d have to remember to mention it to Joanne and Lissa if Annie ever decided to move on to something new as well.
By the time Sarah and Keller finished cleaning up the mess in the studio and repainting the back wall it was well past sunset. Luckily Sarah had saved an old paint swatch from when she originally remodeled the place the previous year, so the new paint was a perfect match to what she had before. Keller was busy washing brushes in the small bathroom while Sarah pulled up the drop cloth. The singer called out to her girlfriend from the main room. “Did I tell you that the police think this is related to my sister’s vandalized car?”
Keller laughed from the other room. “You don’t say? They’re very astute, the Columbus PD.” Sarah snorted as her girlfriend walked out carrying the clean-ish tools. “I don’t think these are salvageable.”
Sarah looked from Keller to the gunky paintbrushes. “Just toss them out with the used rollers. Hopefully we won’t be doing this again any time soon.” Once they finished cleaning up, Sarah looked at the time on her phone. “This took a lot longer than I anticipated.”
Keller grinned. “What’s the issue, do you have a hot date?”
“Maybe.” Sarah walked toward Keller and backed the shorter woman up until she was against one of the unpainted walls. Then she dropped her shields so Keller could feel exactly what her intentions were. “What do you say we cut out of here and spend some time getting this paint off in the Jacuzzi?” Not losing eye contact, she slowly ran a finger along Keller’s cheek and swiped a bit of pale orange paint down the smooth skin.
“Why wait until we get home?” Keller grabbed Sarah’s hand and spun them both around until the brunette’s back was against the wall. Before Sarah could respond, Keller pulled her down into a kiss. The doors were all locked, John’s employee had finished the repair a few hours earlier. There was no one there to interrupt. As the kiss deepened Keller ran both hands up underneath Sarah’s shirt.
Sarah broke away panting and Keller continued to run lips along her neck. “Wait, we have to let Duke out—” She moaned when talented fingers danced across her nipples.
Keller spoke between kisses. “It’s a good thing I let him out on my way over here, isn’t it?”
Sarah’s breath caught when one hand wandered down her body. Before Keller could wander too far, Sarah caught her wrist. The other hand took a firm hold of Keller’s blonde hair. She abruptly pulled the other woman’s mouth away from her neck. “I have a couch in my office.”
Her proclamation was met with another grin. “Well then, to prevent you from getting rug burn, lead the way.”
The singer laughed and reached down to pick up her lover. Keller was quick to wrap legs around the taller woman’s waist. “Who says I’m going to be on the bottom?” They started kissing again before Sarah could even take a step. If it hadn’t been for her hyper-enhanced strength, they would have both been on the floor. But Sarah managed to hold tight all the way to the couch in the back room. They hit the worn cool leather with a muffled whump. She impatiently unbuttoned Keller’s jeans and tugged them down her legs. There was a brief scuffle when Keller’s shoes wouldn’t come off. Both women laughed at the absurdity of the moment. Sarah’s clothes went much faster, if only because her shoes were slip-ons. Naked, Keller quickly flipped them around so Sarah’s back was against the cool leather. The woman on the bottom flinched and arched away from it. “Jesus, that’s cold!”
Keller smirked. “I know.” Then with her mouth, she took the singer’s mind off the chilly couch.
Lips wrapped around Sarah’s very hard nipple and the singer grabbed her lover’s shaggy blonde hair. Both women had their shields wide open to each other. Their link was solid and their soul mate bond complete. It had been complete for quite some time now. Every single thing that Keller did to her, the bar manager could feel the echo of it on her own body. Just as the tugging of Keller’s hair was echoed back to Sarah. Sarah moaned when her lover switched to the other nipple and pressed a knee against her wet center. “Oh fuck!” She writhed against the well-placed leg and Keller could feel her fast approaching the edge of release.
She pulled her mouth away, ignoring the tugging on her hair that begged otherwise. “It’s a good thing your couch is leather.” Sarah moaned again as Keller’s fingers wandered down between her legs. Keller whispered in the singer’s ear as she teased the taller woman’s opening. “You’re so wet, so hot. You want me inside don’t you; you want all of me inside?”
Sarah grabbed her head and pul
led it farther down to her neck. She hissed her desperate reply. “Yesssss!”
Keller pierced her with fangs and fingers at the exact same moment and Sarah shuddered with the sensations coursing through her body. When Keller’s thumb began rubbing Sarah’s clit on each stroke inside, she could feel her lover’s muscles clench around her fingers. Just as she sensed Sarah tipping over the edge into orgasm, Keller entered her with the last thing at her disposal. The vampire’s aura seemed to swell and pulse deep inside the singer. The pleasurable explosion ripped through both of them and their cries continued for a handful of minutes. Suddenly, Keller’s aura pulled back inside her body as she released Sarah’s neck. She left her fingers inside, in deference to the aftershocks that continued unabated through her unconscious lover. By now, Keller was used to Sarah losing consciousness after her most powerful orgasms. When Sarah started to come around again, Keller removed her hand. Even though the action was slow, Sarah still shuddered.
Both women were now side by side on the couch, facing each other. Sarah looked at Keller with wide green eyes. “What the hell was that? What did you do to me, Keller?”
Despite the fact that it had been nearly a century since the last time it had happened, Keller remembered well what it felt like to have a vampire push their aura inside her. She laughed quietly. “That is something that only vampires can do with each other. It takes a lot of control, but as you found out, it’s highly erotic.”
Sarah leaned toward her lover and kissed her deeply. When she pulled back and spoke, her voice was serious and full of wonder. “Teach me, please.”
“Oh, you don’t have to beg. I’ve been waiting a long time to feel that again.” She sat up and offered her hand to the singer. “This will be easier with clothes on.”
Her lover cocked her head in confusion. “Why with clothes on?”
Keller laughed. “Because you’re distracting me, wench!” Once they were clothed again, Keller had them sit cross-legged on the couch, facing each other. “Okay, you’re familiar with your aura. It’s that part of you that merges with your power to become your mental shield.” Sarah nodded, and Keller continued with the lesson. “Now, just imagine that instead of merging it with your own power, inside your body, you send it into the body of another. Try it on me now. Sometimes it helps to close your eyes and envision it first…” Keller trailed off at the first metaphysical touch. It was like a warm wind at first, blowing through her. “Focus now, direct it into me instead of through or around me.”
Sarah’s eyes suddenly opened and she met the vivid blue of Keller’s. Sarah smiled and Keller felt the first directed touch of her lover. She could feel it entering her through the seven chakra points. It wasn’t that Sarah knew about such points, more that her aura knew the best way in. It was simply the path of least resistance. Before Keller could give any other pointers, she sensed Sarah’s aura rubbing along what felt like the inside of her entire body. The smaller woman shuddered and sucked in a breath. Sarah noticed every reaction Keller made and continued the motion of her numinous self, but she wanted to try something new. She didn’t know if it was possible but she was going to find out.
Starting small at first, she began trickling power in with her pulsing aura, creating a tingling sensation along with the rubbing feeling inside. Keller abruptly froze and her lips parted as her breathing increased. Sensing that she would be able to bring her lover to the edge and beyond simply by using her aura, Sarah added more power. At the same time, she swirled it all inside the smaller woman, focusing on the lowest point. She didn’t know that the lowest point of entry was Keller’s root chakra. In a matter of seconds Keller seemed to seize before throwing her head back in a primal scream, her entire body shaking with release. When it was done, she collapsed backward onto the couch, and Sarah pulled her aura back into herself. She followed her lover down, to be sure she was all right. “Love—Keller, are you okay? Did I do it wrong?”
Keller’s eyes fluttered open and she blew out a breath. “Crivvens! I forget how quick a study you are with the mental stuff. I’m fair puckled!”
Sarah slapped her arm. “I don’t know what that means but it sounds gross. So I didn’t do it wrong?”
“No lass. What you did was—I’ve never seen it before. I would have never thought to push power in with the aura.” Keller looked into her lover’s deep green eyes. “But you have to be careful with that, you could seriously hurt someone by forcing power into them if they don’t have the capacity for it.”
The singer nodded. “I understand.” Glancing at the clock on the wall, she was surprised to see it was near midnight. “Now we really have to go. Duke’s bladder can only wait so long, the poor guy!”
Keller laughed. “All right, let’s grab our stuff and get out of here. I parked next to you so we can walk out together.”
“Sounds good.” Sarah abruptly stopped. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Joe texted me earlier and asked if I wanted to do a gig this Saturday at Woodland. I told him I’d let him know tomorrow. What do you think?”
“I think I have plans on Saturday to watch my girlfriend play in a band.” The two women walked out to the parking lot arm in arm, happy in the moment.
KELLER AND SARAH arrived at seven to pick up Jesse and Annie for dinner, before the younger Colby had to go into work for the night. Annie was bummed that she would miss seeing Sarah play but work was work and she couldn’t skip out. When they pulled into Jill’s driveway, Annie was standing next to her own car looking irritated. The vampire couple got out and Sarah gave her a curious look. “What’s up, A? I thought you were riding with us?”
The younger woman sighed. “Julie just called and she’s got some sort of stomach virus and has to leave work, like, right now. So, it looks like I’m going to be eating there. Sorry I have to bail on you.”
Keller walked up to her. “Is she okay?”
The assistant manager’s face wrinkled in disgust. “Uh, probably. She said that she’s, and I’m quoting here, ‘Pissing out her ass.’ Apparently she’s spent more time in the bathroom than out of it since she got there at three. So yeah, I’m gonna hose the place down with disinfectant spray and send her home.”
Sarah made a nearly identical face. “Ick! Okay, well that sucks but I understand. We’ll have Jesse home by the time you’re there, and make sure Teddy walks you out to your car at the end of the night, okay?”
The younger woman rolled her eyes. “Yes, overprotective one!”
“And don’t forget that we’ll be meeting with Raph and his sons out at the farmhouse on Sunday. I’m assuming that you, Jesse, and Jill will all ride together so we’ll meet you there.”
Annie made a face. “Hello? I’m not ten, I got it already. I’ll see you Sunday, and Sarah?”
“Yeah?”
The younger woman smiled. “Blow them away tonight.”
Annie’s love and support of her music career always touched a special place in her heart. “Aww, thanks, A.”
Annie snorted. “Of course I want you to do well so you drum up a bigger following for your performance at Pride! Okay, gotta go now!” After that she hopped in her car and left for The Merge. Keller started laughing and Sarah just shook her head at her sibling’s antics.
As they approached the front door, Jesse opened it. “I thought I heard you and Annie talking. We’re going to be a little longer here. When Annie had to go into work, Jill suddenly decided that she’d like to come along. I figured the more the merrier, right?”
Sarah yelled up the stairs. “Jill! What the hell is taking so long, you’re a vampire for Christ’s sake. You can move faster than that, Red!”
Just then Jill came running down the stairs looking like she just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. “Sorry, I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
“What’s the big deal? We’re just going to Medea’s for dinner, then Woodland. It’s not like either place is five star.”
The tall veterinarian blushed. “Uh, well Louve texted me an
d said she was going to meet us tonight.”
Sarah looked at Keller. “Did you know about this?”
“Actually I did. I was the one who let Louve know what we had going on tonight and invited her out to see you perform. I assumed she would invite Jill, but I wasn’t sure.” Secretly, Keller was very pleased that Jill would be going with them. It meant a healthy step forward in her relationship with Louve. Base on her conversation with Louve, she knew the veterinarian still harbored some resistance to seeing the werewolf in person. The fact that Jill took so much care with her outfit was a good sign. It meant that she cared what Louve thought of her in a physical sense, and that she was ready to get closer to the Frenchwoman.
“I see. Well, okay then. If everyone is ready, let’s get out of here. I’m starving!”
Jesse laughed and headed for the door. “Now that sounds like a Colby!” The rest joined in her laughter as they headed out. Luckily, the tavern had saved a four top table for Sarah and her guests, otherwise they would have had to stand for the entire show. The place was packed. Jill said Louve was supposed to arrive around nine. Since Sarah would be on the stage by then, Louve would just take her chair.
After a half hour, Keller looked over at Jill. “There’s a lot of energy circulating tonight, how are you holding up?”
Jill shrugged. “I’m fine; I’ve got my shield up. It seems clean though, can I feed off it? Safely?”
Sarah smirked at her. “I am. I have been since we walked in. You just need to take it slow. You’d be surprised how much just a trickle can be from a crowd this size.”
Jill threw a wadded up napkin at her head. “Show off!” The other two at the table snickered.
Sarah laughed and batted the napkin away. “Oh I am, make no mistake about it!” She changed the subject, just to torment her ex a little. “So, Jill, have you actually seen Louve since the change?”
Jill blushed. “No, but we’ve spoken on the phone many times. Why?”