“Because of saltwater?”
“It was the last time I ever swam in the ocean. When my skin first started reacting, my Aunt Sulie and Grandmother would massage me, so I had already known how soothing a woman’s touch could be. I had been desperate to stop the itching that night. It was late and no one was out anymore. I walked down the beach and discovered a … cathouse. I had money, and I was in agony, so I went in.”
Sterling thought about the tiny shack of a home where the three prostitutes had lived. The place had smelled of liquor and sex. The place had been dusty and unkempt. A woman had greeted him at the door. She had said that for the right price she’d take him upstairs. He could still hear the creaking of the steps as he walked up to the second floor bedroom. He had to hold tightly to the banister railing since he had become dizzy, but touching the railing had aggravated the pain of his skin. He had managed though. He had tripped on the small, tattered rug in the hall and had stumbled into the room. It was a small, dirty room with only a brass bed in the center. The bedding had been filthy and heavily used.
“The prostitute’s name was Michelle. I told her I only wanted her to touch my body – that I didn’t want to have sex.” He thought back to the older prostitute. Her blond hair had been matted and unwashed. Some of her teeth had been missing and her breath had stunk. She had had bruises on her body from dissatisfied customers and her clothes had been stained with God only knew what.
“My headache pounded so badly I could barely walk and she thought I had been drunk. She said she’d give me alcohol if I paid her more, but I said no. I removed my shirt and asked her to touch me. I lay on the filthy bed like a dead body. Her touch made me feel worse, and …” Sterling closed his eyes, “… she touched me all over. I begged her to stop.”
Kate’s eyes widened and she looked over to Sterling. “She didn’t stop?”
His eyes met Kate’s compassionate and understanding eyes. It made telling the story easier for him. “No. Much of what happened next is a blur. But keep in mind I was a fourteen year old boy with hormones. I could hear the other women of the house with their customers through the thin walls. I could hear the noises they made and the rhythmic creaking of bedsprings. Let’s just say, my body responded. Before I realized what had happened, my pants were down and the creaky bed sounds were from the bed I was lying on. The two of us were bread and buttered, the act completed.”
“Bread and buttered?”
It was an older term, one that Sterling now guessed was outdated, but he didn’t know a better way of saying it. He placed his hands together and held them flat. “We were together. She was on top of me … You know, it really doesn’t matter,” he said putting his hands back down, not wanting to go into details.
Kate gently rubbed his chest with her hand as she scooted closer to him. “Did you even know what was happening?”
“All I remember was me begging her to stop. But, I have only myself to blame. I was the one who had walked into a cathouse and had paid for a prostitute. I could have guessed the ending.” He let out a nervous little laugh. “You could say I flopped on my back due to curiosity. It was all new to me. To be honest, I guess I had been curious what sex would be like.”
“Sterling, she took advantage of you,” Kate said sternly. “You were a sick fourteen year old boy in pain that she victimized. She was the adult and you were only a child.”
He sighed heavily. He had never thought about it quite like that before since he had paid the prostitute to touch him. He always assumed responsibility for that night as being what he had deserved for seeking out a whore. “After the act was done, I felt worse. The bedding was like lying on a bed of nails. She told me to leave unless I had more money to spend, but I could barely stand since my headache had transformed into a raging migraine.”
Kate now held Sterling’s hand and gave it a gentle kiss. “What did you do?”
“I stumbled and almost fell down the stairs. She told me not to come back until …” Shame washed over Sterling, but he continued. “Not to come back until I could perform better. So I felt used and then humiliated.” Sterling could still hear the prostitutes laugh in the back of his mind and her crude critique of how bad he had performed sexually.
“The fact that you felt that way afterward should have been a sign to you that what she did wasn’t right. I’m so sorry you went through that.” She leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. A sad smile crossed her face as she looked at him.
“Thanks. But the story isn’t over yet. I staggered back over the pier and headed towards my bungalow. I remember having prayed to God for death to end my suffering. At some point I remember throwing up, but then I must have passed out from the pain.”
Kate stroked his hair to comfort him. “That sounds horrible. Are your sensory integration issues always that bad?”
“No. Fortunately it’s only been that bad a few times. I’ve never been strong enough to commit suicide, so I have prayed many times for God to kill me.”
Kate’s hand slid up his chest and touched the gold medallion he wore.
Stroking Kate’s hair, an image of the young victim Alicia entered Sterling’s mind, and of other young girls just like her over the years. He thought back to when he had been his sickest. Each time he had worked on a case where a minor had been raped. He never realized that before.
Sterling continued with his story. “So I had passed out. The next thing I knew, I was lying in a ditch by the side of the dirt road and rain began falling. The rain had felt so good.” He sighed, “God, the raindrops had felt amazing. They cleansed my body of all aches. Like heaven itself was taking care of me. I had managed to remove my shirt so I could feel the rain more. I felt each raindrop as if it were kissing my skin. I lay in the mud until the morning when my friends found me. Rain came down for two more days, and I loved it. The other boys decided to go back home since the beach trip had been ruined by the rain, so we cut our vacation short.”
Sterling started to chuckle under his breath. “The humiliation I felt when the prostitute had made fun of me was nothing to the shame I endured when I got home.” He looked at Kate as he explained. “My mother died after my birth and my Aunt Sulie helped raise me. She has a gift. She can detect ailments in humans and vampires. She had taken one look at me and knew I had had a sexual disease. As you know, we can contract human diseases before our Jahrling Year. Sulie had studied medicine back then, although could not become a doctor at the time since it wasn’t a woman’s profession. She’s a doctor with many degrees now though. Anyway, she told my father I was diseased.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I can’t imagine the news went over well.”
“It didn’t.”
“Did you ever tell them what happened?” she asked in a soothing tone.
Sterling shrugged his shoulders and waved a hand dismissively. “They already knew the result. I had a sexual disease and there was only one way to get one. He had asked me who I was with, and I said a prostitute. I didn’t think they needed any of the details. You’re the only other person I’ve told the full story to.”
“How did they react to you being with a prostitute?”
“Sulie was quiet. She never said anything about the incident. She treated me and made sure the disease went away. My father was shocked at first, but also angry with me for being such a sexual deviant.”
“What?”
“His words. Sexual deviant. He’s always been disappointed by my sex life, but I guess I didn’t start with the bar being held that high to begin with.”
Kate lifted her head and gazed deep into his eyes. “You didn’t set the bar. That horrible woman did when she took advantage of you.”
“You’re sweet, Kate. But I wasn’t naive. I knew what happened in those cathouses. I walked into the house and paid like any other customer.”
“If an adult woman slept with a fourteen year old boy today, she would be in jail for being a child molester. You told her to stop, and she didn’t. It doesn’t matter whet
her you paid her or not. You said no. Just because you’re male doesn’t mean a crime wasn’t committed against you. If your father and aunt love you, then they will understand. They would want to know what happened.”
Sterling ran his hand down along Kate’s arm as he turned his body more into hers. “If I had waited 24 hours I would have gone down a different route because the rain would have healed me. The difference of just a single day.” His hand caressed Kate’s chin and neck. “Wait 24 hours and tell me if you want me then.”
“Seriously?”
Nodding, Sterling said, “I would feel better if you spent a day thinking about it. Please.”
She took a moment as if considering his proposal. “Ok. I’ll wear a virtual purity ring for you for 12 hours.”
“Twenty–four.”
“Eight.”
Sterling smiled at her haggling. He then watched as she used her hand to wipe her face. Next she wiped her arms.
“You feel something landing on you, don’t you?”
She stopped examining her hands. “Yes. What is it?”
“Dust.” When she looked puzzled he added, “You’ve been touching me for a while now, Kate, and the window is opened. You can feel the breeze and the dust in the room. Everything is more heightened.”
She inspected her hands. “It’s tingly.” She lay across him so her nearly bare chest touched his. “And you – you feel fantastic.” She reached her head up so she could nuzzle into his neck.
Her hair brushed against his cheeks and he smelled sweet peaches once again. He took a deep breath to enjoy the scent. Instinctively his hands sought out her soft body. When he felt her breath on his neck he asked, “What are you doing?” His body stiffened as he already knew the answer. She planned to bite him.
Lovers always bit each other, which was the only reason human women were somewhat of a blessing to him. If he couldn’t handle a feeding syringe needle being poked into his flesh, how was he going to handle two fangs ripping in? He didn’t want to deny Kate this, so he leaned his head over to expose more of his neck to her. He bit his lip and waited for the pain.
She used her tongue and prepared his skin for the bite by licking him. He felt the lick right between his legs. When her fangs penetrated him, his body tightened, but not with fear. He closed his eyes. His lips parted and he gasped. He had never felt such a glorious sensation before in his life. He never thought a bite would feel this good. His hands reached out to her and he held her tightly.
While biting Sterling the second time, she maneuvered her leg across his legs. As she nibbled down his bare chest, she moved more on top of him. His erection grew even more as she completely straddled him. He reached for her lips and kissed her hard, all the while grabbing her bottom and positioning her directly over his manhood.
He wanted to roll her over and take her, but she was a virgin. He gave himself exactly one more minute and then planned to stop touching her. When several minutes passed, and he was quite literally ready to explode, he realized he had to stop.
He threw his hands up in the air, not in surrender, but in an effort to stop touching her. “Kate. No more. Twenty–four hours, remember? Please wait 24 hours. It’s important to me.”
She gave him a pouty look as she sank her body into his. “You said stop. I’m going to respect you, Sterling.” She sighed as she added, “I just don’t want to stop. I want more touching.”
He took in a deep breath to steady himself. “This, by the way,” he said gesturing at how Kate’s body lay flat upon him, her legs straddling and entwined with his, “this is bread and buttered.”
Her soft giggle caused a ripple of pleasure to course through him. Her body lay flushed against his. Her hair splayed across the pillow he lay upon, with only a few tresses touching his cheek. Her body’s delicate frame rested completely on his, which allowed him to feel her heart beat against his own chest as he lay in the more submissive of the two positions. When her soft breath brushed against his neck, it caused his heart to pound and he had an increased need to take her.
“I … I don’t lay like this with women, Kate,” he confessed, mentally noting how much he enjoyed her weight on him. She began to lift her body off of his when he held her back down. Her eyes showed her confusion, but as his mouth claimed hers, the butter melted. She formed her body around his, her skin firmly next to him. Sterling’s hands sought out her firm flesh. He reveled in the touch of her naked skin pressed against his in a manner he never allowed from his past lovers. His hips bucked up and he felt the imminent release building. He released a loud predatory growl, as if to say she was his and his alone. He began to roll her over, but noticed the startled look in her eyes. Her hands now still on his body.
A school girl expression of innocence crossed her face. “That was really loud.”
His laughter echoed in the room. “I’m sorry. You probably weren’t expecting that.” She shook her head and he remembered all of this was so new to her. He took his hands off her silky skin. “I don’t think my ability just allows you to feel. I think it intensifies the feelings you have, as well as your senses. My growl really wasn’t that loud.” He gazed into her eyes. “Think about it. You can feel dust landing on you. I’ve never known anyone but myself who can sense that.”
“It is amazing. They’re so tiny and light, but at the same time each one is unique as it touches you.”
“You have to admit, that’s pretty heightened sensitivity. Right?”
“Of course.”
He ran his hand through his hair and tried not to look at her full lips which were still swollen with passion. “I have a theory. I think my ability intensifies your feelings. So you will not just receive pleasure from me, but intense pleasure as I make love to you.”
She smiled, “Intense pleasure sounds good.” She slid her body down his so she could kiss him on his chest.
He stopped the kissing by putting his hand against her lips. “But, I’m worried the opposite will be true as well. Any pain you have will be excruciatingly painful if I’m touching you. I haven’t wanted to make love to a woman in a very long time, if ever. I would kill or die to make love to you tonight. But this is the first time you’ve felt anything, joy or pain, in a long time. Right?”
“Yes, but I’m not frail.”
“Twenty–four hours.” He was saying the words more for himself than for her at the moment. He realized if she had not reacted to his growl that they would have been … well, he didn’t need to be thinking of the possibilities right now.
“Six hours,” she countered with a soft giggle.
He kissed her and let a smile slowly grow across his face. “I understand you want to continue feeling good. So I’d like to test the theory tonight about intense pleasure.”
One eyebrow quickly rose. “Really? Like what?”
Sterling rolled her over placing Kate under him, which allowed him to be the butter. “I’m betting you’ve never had an orgasm before.”
“I don’t think so. But I believe I have an article in a magazine about that very topic,” she said chuckling.
“Well, if you don’t know if you’ve ever had one, then the answer would be no. You don’t need to read the article. I’ll show your body how good it can feel.” He leaned in and kissed her. Then as he kissed her neck he added, “I want you to relax and enjoy your body.” He held her close and her legs curved around his hips. He held her tightly for a moment, but he knew his eyes were blacker than midnight and his arousal was still a force to be reckoned with. He pulled himself away. “You need more clothes off, and my pants are staying on. Plus, try not to touch me. One way or the other, your virtue is staying until tomorrow.”
Sterling watched as she bit her lower lip and her brows furrowed. “What’s the matter, Kate?”
Kate blushed and gave him a dismissive smile, which turned into a giggle.
“Is it about me not wanting you to touch me? Because I do want your touch, it’s just that …” He paused when she shook her head th
at wasn’t it.
“How can I experience an orgasm,” she blushed at the word, “if we don’t do it?”
He smiled at her innocence. Not wanting to ruin the surprise, he licked his lips and replied, “You can. Trust me.”
Once he was properly dressed and she was completely undressed, he started by biting her neck. The night ended after she screamed his name out in ecstasy several times and proved his theory right.
CHAPTER THIRTY–THREE
Sunlight crept through the curtains and onto the two slumbering vampires. Sterling lay on his back, with Kate lying partially on top of him with her head nestled against his neck. He lay somewhat awake as her breath brushed against his skin and sent a chill of pleasure through his body. He reached over and touched Kate’s naked flesh. His hands glided over her thin waist and settled on her firm backside. In response, her limbs entwined around his as she nestled closer to him. Her soft and delicate skin caused his fingertips to tingle. Her breath brushed against his neck again as he held her bottom firmly.
He loved the feel of her skin, and the taste of her lips and blood. She smelled of sweet peaches and he took a deep breath to drown in her precious scent. Splaying his fingers across her round and firm bottom, his heart rate sped up. He rolled over and kissed her passionately, waking her up. He continued kissing her as his hands explored her body. Her legs curved around his hips and her hands urged him on. He heard his name, but it wasn’t until he ejaculated that he woke up.
Her wide eyes and blanched white face brought him back to reality while his body still shook with the aftershock of his climax. He jumped off her faster than lightning and moved to the corner of the bed. He took in the situation. Kate, naked and covering herself up with a sheet; he was, thank goodness, still wearing his pants. Morning had arrived, and they were still in the hotel room.
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