by K. M. Liss
“Why was she looking for Raffaele?”
“She's a relative, they lost touch.”
“He never mentioned a Portia to me.”
“Did you talk about family much then?”
“Not a great deal. But he did mention he had a sister, who lived in Naples.”
“Portia lives in Naples.”
“Do you think it's her? His sister?”
“It could be.”
“Saba, this is wonderful news. If we find her she can help us. She will most definitely be looking for revenge for Raffaele, won't she?”
“We don't know that for sure.” He suddenly felt defeated. If this was Raffe's sister, he was pretty sure she'd be rampaging for revenge when Sevi told her all about his dreadful demise, as she surely would.
“We have to find her. It can't be that hard. We'll take Fro with us.” Sevi's eyes lit up with hope.
“You came here to find out about the Giannis.”
“Yes, of course. That is our main focus. But after that, Portia.”
Fro came strolling back, smiling, and almost his normal self, apart from the haunted look in his eyes. They sat and discussed their important things. Nico and Calista, Portia, and what they had been doing for the last four years in New York.
“Pay someone to find her,” Fro suggested. “It saves you going to Naples. You can stay with me, here.”
“Oh no, Fro my love, you are staying with us in a hotel we have already booked. No arguments! Gather all your belongings my dear.”
“Sevi, you can't order Fro around like a child. Leave him be.”
“He needs watching and I am not sleeping in here tonight.”
“I'll be fine,” Fro insisted unconvincingly.
“Get your stuff mister,” she growled in a deep and commanding voice.
“Okay, okay, I'm coming... the company will probably do me good... Look I need to speak to someone in here, before we go, about the Giannis. I'll just be a few minutes.” He opened the door and wandered off.
“I wanted to get you alone honey. I'm feeling so horny today. How can we get down to it with Fro there? I know about you and him...”
“He won't care will he? He has other things on his mind. Besides, he lives here, in the sex pit of the world! Honestly...”
She kissed him passionately and they were suddenly in a world of their own, their hands and tongues running feverishly over each other.
Fro returned, and coughed loudly, interrupting their heated intimate moment and began gathering up his bag of his few possessions. Shortly after that they left.
Michello was lying in the usual state of temporary unconsciousness on his bedroll in his small sleeping alcove, adjacent to the door, aided by a fretting Tara. Rocco was being circled by an even more fretful and hungry vampire cat. He kicked at it with one of his large trainers and it hissed loudly.
“He's not doing so good. Look, his eyes are so glazed and he's been sick, twice. I've never felt such heat when the fire took him. It burnt me to be close to him,” Tara said in a worried tone, dabbing his head with a piece of wet rag.
“You are right, he looks dreadful. What a nuisance. Take his hands and feet you two. He's coming with us. Rocco, you are now in charge of our hallowed door. An intelligent and helpful young man such as yourself should have no problem with a simple task as this. Take no nonsense from the house, treat them respectfully and firmly. Do you understand?”
“Sure, no problem, I know most of them already. Pop's gonna be okay, isn't he?”
“I do hope so. I shall look after him well Rocco. We will be back tomorrow with a much improved great grandfather.”
“It's kinda weird seeing him getting younger. I don't like it much.”
“He'll be a fine young man soon, as he was in his human youth. You'll be proud of him, I'm sure.”
“I like my old Pop better.”
She held his hand and spoke softly to him.
“Sadly your old 'Pop' was about to die. A dead Pop would be no comfort to you, would he? Things change all the time Rocco. You'll do well in life to be accepting and adaptable. It's a great skill to possess. Things can never remain the same in the human world. Even the vampire world has changes, we have to move with the times, and we have lives similar to yours. Well, those of us outside of the Refugio in any case.”
“Sevi he's too hot, it hurts to touch him,” Saba said rubbing his burnt fingers.
“We need to put him on something, and then we can move him to our car.”
“I've got a blanket. It's cold sitting by the door at night. Will that do?” Rocco stood and rummaged in his bag, pulling it out.
“Perfect Rocco!”
They all helped to move the hot and limp body of Michello onto the blanket and picked him up by the four corners leaving quickly with a farewell to Rocco and Tara.
After placing him in the luggage compartment, and a short drive to the Rome Hilton, they made their way to the hotel basement car park. Saba left to request the use of a wheelchair and they wrapped his white glowing form with the blanket and wheeled him to the lift and up to the sanctuary of their suite.
They lay him in their bath and Sevi ran some water to cool his raging immortal fire. She swished the cool water over him, soaking his clothes so that they stuck to his half changed body. He was looking very unattractive at the moment. Although he was much younger in the face, as his skin had improved dramatically, his body had yet to catch up. His dark hair was patchy, having not yet fully covered his head, and his lips were parted, showing his still toothless gums. His painfully thin body was even more evident in his wet clothes.
Sevi sat at his side, on a chair talking absentmindedly to his unconscious person now and then to ease the silence. She read her latest and much loved book, Anna Karenina, aloud, to while away the hours. Saba and Fro slept and amused themselves, talking and watching television in their sitting room, occasionally dropping in on her to see how things were progressing.
God help me for involving myself with this wretched creature. I do hope he doesn't die on me. What a tiresome pleasant person I am becoming. I need to address my need for kindness. I am not comfortable with it at all.
The white glow of the immortal fire suddenly abated and she removed him from the bath and dried him on her lap and laid him on their bed. She sat next to him reading some more for a while and then, satisfied he was out of danger, she finally drifted off to sleep while the vampire DNA did its best work yet.
She heard a moan and her eyes flicked open. The newly turned form of Michello lay beside her and what a sight he was. She sat up and looked in wonder at the transformation. His thick short dark brown hair stuck out in all directions in a sexy ruffled mess. His eyes opened and she stared into their golden depths. His lashes were thick and luscious, and his mouth a perfect male pout. In truth, his face could only be described as gloriously masculine and so handsome it took her breath away. Her eyes devoured his body, skimming over his broad shoulders and down his stomach, pausing a little to take in the large swell at his groin. She continued down over his strongly muscled thighs which stretched his old ruined clothing to its limits.
Saba is equally beautiful, but in a more slender way, as befits a top male fashion model, but Michello... Now what was the word her fellow models used to describe men such as he....Ah yes... Fit!
She felt a sudden tightness in her chest. An ache she couldn't explain. She quickly tried to dismiss it, with difficulty. Taking a deep breath she managed to speak coherently.
“Michello, at last! We were so concerned about you.”
“Concerned about me, pretty lady?” His deep raspy voice made her tingle all over.
“Yes we were, and please call me Sevi.”
“That was no fun at all, I can tell you, and I feel so odd. Do I need a cigarette?... MY GOD!” He suddenly exclaimed loudly catching sight of his young hand as he lifted it up from the bed.
“Yes, it's you! Isn't it exciting? Come see.” She took his hand and pulled him
up slowly. He stood for a moment, gaining his balance and then she pulled him towards the mirror.
“God, no! I just don't believe it. I look even better than when I was a young man. Had all the girls after me then... It's crazy, a mad dream. I'll wake up soon.” He rambled in his deep sexy voice as he looked at his reflection in awe. He stood up straight and smoothed his mad bed hair into a neat and even sexier style that suited him beautifully. Sevi couldn't contain the groaning sigh which slipped out suddenly. She felt her eyes burning and tried to control herself.
Jesus he's such a hot one. I'd never, ever have believed it either! So tall and so very well built, everywhere...
“It's no dream. This is the new you. Take it easy for a while. You'll need to become used to yourself and feed often to become strong. Come, let's see the others now.”
She put her arm around his waist and proudly led the tall and exceptionally handsome vampire out to the living area.
“Where are we?” he asked taking in the unbelievably plush surroundings.
“The Hilton Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria. This is the Napoleon Suite. We travel in style, Saba and I. We are famous models in the world of fashion, you see.”
“You are?”
“Yes... Saba, Fro, look, Michello's change is complete.”
They both woke from their nap at the sound of her voice and smiled in greeting.
“Welcome Michello, to our beautiful world,” Fro said warmly.
“Thank you Alfredo, I'm still trying to believe it's true.”
“How are you feeling?” Saba asked, giving him a good, overly long and not too friendly look.
“A touch wobbly on my old legs. I also feel a need for something to eat.”
“I shall take you outside to feed. But first... Saba, find him some of your clothes.”
“I don't think I have anything big enough, he's not exactly male model size, is he?” He said a touch sarcastically. “I have a t-shirt that might stretch, just about.”
“Well get it then, I shall have to take you shopping Michello, for some new clothes which will fit your very, ummm, ample muscular proportions. But we shall arrange a feed for you first.”
Saba entered their bedroom for a t-shirt and returned a moment later.
“Here.” He threw the t-shirt at Michello. “I should take him out Sevi,” Saba said firmly.
“No, I insist, he is my protégé. Aren't you Miche my dear? Come along, get that on and we can go.” She ignored Saba's dark look, and watched openly as he bared his top half and slipped on the pale grey top. She took his hand and led him out, picking up her bag and the car keys on the way.
“I am so going to enjoy this, especially fitting you out with a new wardrobe. You are somewhat hunky my dear. We shall find you some clothes which accent your fine and pleasing form.” Her eyes travelled over him and she licked her lips in lust as she pushed the lift button.
What a divine man. I'm having trouble keeping my hands off him. That voice of his, it makes me shiver all over with desire. How dreadfully naughty of me, I'm almost mated to Saba...! Still, a little mental flirtation won't hurt. It might sharpen Saba's attentions too...
The lift arrived and they stepped inside it, facing and admiring each other.
“Speaking of fine forms, you have the most beautiful one yourself. Such exquisite bone structure and what a generous helping of female attributes you possess,” he said politely, his eyes raking her up and down in a fever.
“Why thank you, Miche... How sweet.”
“I'm not thinking sweet things just now.” His eyes lit up brightly and a beautiful white smile graced his handsome face.
“I'm sure you're not. Not many men do in my presence, but I am quite used to it.”
“If I get any harder it'll hurt.”
“You can find some eager pretty thing in the Refugio later. Then you'll have to manage your sex drive somehow. It does calm a little after the bloodlust wears off. You won't feel this rampant all the time.”
“There's no way I'm bedding one of those lousy females. Even the clean ones are filthy and such whores. I have much higher standards.” He gave her a smouldering look, his meaning very clear.
“That is entirely your choice, where you take your pleasure is up to you. Now then, my old and ancient doorkeeper friend let us find your first human meal. Oh, I almost forgot, let me see your fangs. Open your mouth.”
She touched her fingers to his canines and watched them descend to long sharp points.
“Oh my, what gorgeous long fangs! You are blessed with such amazing looks, all over, it would seem.”
His tongue snaked out and flicked at her fingers. “Naughty... Behave yourself Miche. Saba will become jealous and angry with you if he sees such suggestive behaviour.”
“We'll have to make sure he doesn't see it then, won't we?”
“Oh ha ha... Really! So you're a bad boy, are you?”
“Only around you, I'm sure,” he replied, hooking her neck with his hand and pulling her towards him.
“Do try to keep your hands and tongue to yourself.” She pushed against his chest half-heartedly, smiling widely at their flirtatious banter.
“They're not the parts you should be worried about.”
“What? Believe me I'm not worried about you in the slightest Miche!”
“Oh no? Then tell me pretty lady, why are your eyes burning so brightly, your cheeks so pink and flushed and why do you lick your lips in that way when you look at me? I think I worry you quite a lot...” He leaned closer and sniffed up and down her neck, inhaling her scent erotically and touching his warm lips to the curve of her neck and shoulder.
To her horror, Sevi felt herself moaning loudly and melting against him, sighing with desire at his touch and close proximity. Heat was building all over her body at his wonderful way with words. He released her suddenly and leaned against the wall of the lift as the doors opened in the car park basement.
“I was simply admiring your very attractive male presence,” she squeaked. She cleared her throat, embarrassed by her obvious arousal, and trying to recover her almost non-existent voice as she exited the lift.
He's far too 'male' and obviously determined to have me. I need to be strong to keep him at arms reach. Being around him is like playing with fire.
His fangs sunk in fast and deep and he sucked with passion and pure lust at his first bloody meal. She watched as his eyes closed in rapture, his long dark lashes curving upwards beautifully. She couldn't help herself. She lifted her hand and brushed his divine cheek with her finger and he snarled at her a little, his eyes fluttering open and closed again. She let him feed for a while longer and then took a deep breath and pushed her finger into his mouth to break his suction. He growled and snarled wildly and dropped his feed unceremoniously to the floor. In an instant he had her up against the wall, pushing her hard against it with his strong body, licking her neck in a blaze of blood frenzy and sexual arousal.
“Well I say… How you seemed to enjoy that meal!” she joked with a gulp.
“Mmmm, I'm finding a few things more than enjoyable at the moment.”
She pushed him away.
“I'm off limits. I'm with Saba. Get used to it. Now, behave yourself and let's go and get your wardrobe sorted out,” she said with force and self determination pushing his far too appealing body away.
“Limits are there to be broken and the attraction is on both sides, I feel. But I have a deep respect for you Sevi. I'll try and behave myself, if that is your desire.” He cocked an eyebrow at her suggestively and flashed his razor sharp fangs. “What a piece of equipment these teeth are. Absolutely lethal,” he chuckled from deep within his body, a sexy rumbling that left her feeling weak.
Oh damn, fuck, and everything else. He turns me on so much I could pass out at his feet.
She led him unprotestingly around the stores for hours as he purchased his new wardrobe. Half a dozen jackets, pants, and pairs of shoes later he started to look worried and overwhelmed.
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“Sevi, this is most generous of you, but I insist... enough is enough. I have cost you far too much. Thousands of euro on clothing? This is quite beyond my needs.”
“I have so much money I don't know what to do with it. You are welcome to a few thousand more. It is spare change to me.”
“Well if you're sure. I am quite enjoying it. I haven't had anything new to wear for at least five years.”
They stopped outside Hugo Boss, their arms laden with bags.
“In you go Miche. Let's have some fun. I do so love this store.”
He marched ahead and picked up a dozen items, grinning at her happily. She chose a very large leather holdall for him to carry all his new clothes in and she also picked up some Hugo Boss cologne so that he could douse himself with a lovely scent. The store assistant hovered around them, his eyes growing wider as the pile of clothes on Michello's arm grew taller and taller.
“Now go try them on and this time I am coming in the changing rooms with you,” she giggled naughtily.
“You are most welcome to watch,” he replied with a bright yellow flash of his eyes.
They flounced off to the changing rooms with their mountain of clothes, ignoring the attendant who stood open mouthed and staring at the world famous model who was actually visiting their humble store. She swished the curtain shut behind them, dumped all their bags in a heap, and sat on the chair in the corner of the large cubicle to watch the show.
“Do begin,” she said licking her lips in anticipation.
He stripped off Saba's t-shirt and she stared at his muscular torso with open desire. How she wanted to run her hands over those firm broad shoulders. The muscular definition in his chest and stomach was so perfect, she was dying to feel him so badly. He started to try on the half a dozen tops he had chosen.
“Oh yes!” She enthused at the first one, which fit his large arms and frame so snugly. “Yes again!” At the second wonderful garment. “Oh my, yes, yes!” at the third. “Is there anything you don't look good in, I wonder?”
“How complimentary you are!” His eyes flashed at her brightly and he took her hand and kissed it very amorously, sweeping his mouth over her hand and fingers.