[Caligrace] Perfect Illusion

[Bjorn]

As the redhead spoke, Bjorn feigned interest in their surroundings, glancing away just long enough to tame his amusement. He cleared his throat and looked back down at Caligrace, fighting the urge to comment on the ridiculous nature of her own name. She brought up a good point that shut him up. They had just met, which was reason enough for her to give him a fake name. Considering what he was about to do to her, there was no doubt in his mind that the paranoia of women was valid. Never had he overstepped as a human, and while he wasn’t always comfortable with the violating nature of feeding on unsuspecting victims, he usually tried to lead up to it with some semblance of grace. The whole debacle at the Lancaster’s had made him a tad more aware of how important impressions were, even if he’d be forgotten by morning.

“Well, if you need help warming up,” he offered suggestively, the smirk on his face suggesting he was (at least in part) joking. “I know a place just up ahead. Very comfortable tree. I make a 10/10 wind shield.”

Bjorn didn’t take his hands out of his pockets, didn’t veer off the direct line they were going in. The illusion of choice was important. The need for there to be some willingness on behalf of his victim made the idea of feeding on them a little less monstrous. Then again, he knew they walked away fine more often than not. At least he wasn’t dropping bodies the way he’d once done. By morning, she’d have no recollection of him, of the feeding. Part of him felt sad at the prospect, for he might have enjoyed waking up next to a girl like her come dawn.

The corner of his mouth quirked into a bitter smile at the thought of it.
Clearing his throat, he turned back to her and offered her a broad, if a little forced, smile.

[Caligrace]

In the back of her mind, she began to wonder if she had taken this too far. The man at her side seemed genuine, his charm oozing from every pore. He was the type of man that someone would miss, should she take a step too far out of line - should she lose control. As he turned his attention from her, his gaze distant and his lips quirking into an amused sort of grin, she studied him. He was tall, strong - the type of man that women would kill for. Did he have someone waiting for him at home, someone that cooked him dinner while she listened to his day? Did he have a child, a mother, or even a brother - a family that would be up waiting for his call? The questions spun through her mind as her gaze swept over him, her thoughts lingering on this imagined woman.


Would she notice if her boyfriend - perhaps even husband - came home with a bite mark on his neck? Would she question him, demand that he tell her where he’d been? Pressing her hand to her stomach, she curled her fingers until they dug into the soft flesh of her abdomen, the biting pain enough to center her - for now. The thought of what she was about to do weighed heavily on her mind, and for a second, she felt her steps slow. She couldn’t do this - she couldn’t ruin his life. There wasn’t a way in hell that she was going to finish this--


“Well, someone seems to think highly of themselves,” she teased, the words whispered before she could swallow them. The second he turned that smile on her, she knew what she had to do. She had to taste him. Be it the hunger - or her own attraction to the man - guiding her hand, her choice was made. Brushing her hair behind her ear, she lifted her hand to place it on his bicep, fingers gently squeezing the muscle as she smiled.


“It is pretty cold, and my feet are killing me. If you wouldn’t mind showing me this tree of yours, I could rest. Just long enough to get my heels off. I don’t want to keep you too long. I’m sure you have someone waiting for you.”

[Bjorn]

Bjorn knew of some choice words his former friends might have used to describe this woman. It sure was easy to lead her astray, but that did not particularly make her easy. He had played his best angle—charm, and was simply going to reap the rewards of a role well enacted.

Never mind how cringeworthy he found her trustfulness. If anything, her naivety made him all the more determined to put in some extra mileage to ensure it didn’t end in disaster. It would be soon over and put out of his mind entirely.

“Alright then, Miss Caligrace. Step into my office.”

The vampire shifted his elbow, silently offering his arm for purchase.

The tree he was referring to was non-existent, of course. Any tree would do as long as there was a certain degree of privacy. Shrouded in shadow and away from the gravel footpath, a large oak tree with most of its reddened leaves still attached loomed over a grassy patch and cluster of shrubs. Bjorn led towards it, careful to guide her through the trees they passed and steer clear from the various roots rising from the ground.

[Caligrace]

Freyja taught me well.


Shaking her head, she tried to hide her smile at the thought as she ran her tongue over her lower lip, her eyes moving from his to the line of trees off the beaten path. Had she been a human, someone unable to protect herself, the mere thought of following him into the shadows would have terrified her. As it was, it made her nervous, her fingers digging into his jacket as she wrapped her hand around his arm. It was ironic, the thought of him doing her harm when she was about to change his world - at least for the night. Blowing out a breath of air between her lips, she turned her attention to the moon, the dim light bringing out the specs of green.


“Whatever you say, handsome.” Her smile was warm, her eyes inviting, making up for the lack of flirtatious commentary as she allowed him to guide her. Each step he took seemed precise, and though there was that familiar nagging in the back of her mind, she thought nothing more of it. If this was, indeed, his ‘tree’, there was a high chance that he ventured out here more than once in a blue moon. It made sense that he knew the path as well as a seasoned veteran.


“I’m going to take that as a no on the girlfriend, then?” She wasn’t sure why she was so adamant on knowing the truth of his status. In a few minutes, it wouldn’t matter - but she wanted to hear him say it. Shaking the odd feeling from her soul, she slid her hand down his arm until her fingers touched the palm of his hand. Her skin was chilled, but she thought nothing of it as she laced their fingers. It was, after all, one of the reasons she had played up her abhorrence to the cold, Canadian night.

[Bjorn]

On any other occasion the spot might —might—have been borderline romantic. In the summer, with a warm breeze flitting through the treetops overhead, the rustling canopy and thriving nightlife blocks away a perfect backdrop to his body pressing hers against the bark of ‘his’ tree. The mere thought of them in such a position brought warmth and colour to his skin.

Ever since he’d begun the long journey down the path Berlion had directed him to, his body was in a constant state of change. He would’ve twisted his fingers away from her light grip if this moment had taken place months earlier. Now, he curled his fingers around her hand, practically engulfing it. His skin was almost as cold to the touch as hers. She hadn’t been lying when she’d claimed to be cold.

“Why? You looking for a boyfriend?” he asked, his free arm sliding around her waist as a broad smile put his dimples into evidence. He gingerly stroked up her flank, fingers splaying over the soft fabric of her sweater. Her ribs were a snug fit for his hand. So fragile. Probably weightless too. He tilted his head to the side, cocking a brow down at her.

[Caligrace]

The size of his hand shouldn’t have shocked her. After all, he was easily a foot taller than her, with strength in his form that could crush her, should she have been mortal - but it still hadn’t prepared her for the weight of his touch. Twisting her hand in his, she slid her thumb over the side of his, feeling the texture of his skin. It wasn’t smooth, but it wasn’t calloused, either. It was the right amount of rough, and she couldn’t help but imagine what it would feel like sliding over her skin. Girl, no. He’s food, nothing more. He could be a criminal!


Finding herself after the warning, she stopped the slow caress as her back found the bark of his tree, her gaze lifting up to meet his as he ducked his head. Standing as they were, it would be hard to mistake them as anything but lovers. His body crowded hers in, the breadth of his shoulders shielding her from the wind - and prying eyes. She had always known that she was tiny, but feeling herself against him, the way she had to lift her hands to his chest to find some semblance of power over the situation, left her reeling. She had known the moment she laid eyes on him that he possessed power, power that she could take, power that she could revel in - but in her wildest dreams, she had never anticipated this. It felt way too good, which only meant she needed to get a grip.


“Why, do you want me to be?” She whispered, her fingers lifting to brush along the line of his jaw as she gave him a cheshire grin. It wouldn’t be long now, and none of this would matter. He would forget her by morning, and there wasn’t anything she could do to change it - and she wasn’t sure why the thought bothered her for more reasons than just guilt.

[Bjorn]

When her hands found his chest and her back was pressed against the trunk, he crowded her. The spread of his legs allowed him to shave a few inches from their height difference, his face a mere inches from hers. A quip about her heels coming in handy was silence by the chuckle her retort elicited. It would be such a shame to put an end to this charade this soon. Surely he had the right to indulge a bit? How long had it been since he’d last kissed a girl? Let alone with such pillowy lips.

Dragging his tongue across his lips, Bjorn chased away the remaining space between them. He gingerly pressed his mouth to hers, hand ghosting over her neck to brush away her hair. She wasn't as soft as he had imagined, and she was colder too, but he wasn’t particularly concerned with the details. He closed his eyes, the weight of his intent palpable as he shifted the angle to plant a second kiss, this time on the corner of her mouth.

His free hand cupped her hip, the grip tightening only just. Perhaps she’d confuse his possessiveness for eagerness, and in a way, he was eager. If he wasn’t so taken by the thought of blood, he would have been incredibly keen to pursue this without foreseeable end. Once her neck was fully exposed, he cupped her shoulder and slid his hand down her arm. If needed, he’d restrain her by the elbow should she fight back.

“You’re stunning,” he crooned, pulling away just enough to exhale the excess air through his nose.

[Caligrace]

The shift in his stance made it easier for her to look into his eyes, and for a brief lapse in time, she wasn’t certain it had been a good thing. She could read the soul there, and though she couldn’t put into words what she saw, it caused this entire night to feel more suffocating. He was human, he was pure. She had no right to use him as she was. He thought he was going a quick romp in the park with a beautiful, perhaps easy, girl. He had no idea that she was far from a normal girl. Tipping her head back, she rested her skull against the trunk with more pressure than needed. As the bark bit into her skin, she ran her tongue along her fang, the edge sharp and prepped.


You can do this.


In the span of a second, her choice no longer mattered. The intent she had read in his eyes was clear, and before she could stop him [not that she wanted to], he descended. The first brush of his lips stunned her, and she found herself curling her fingers into his shirt, the fabric strained beneath her grasp. It had been a while since she had been kissed - in fact, she could remember the last man with ease. This kiss was different, though. He seemed hungry - starved, actually - and she lifted herself up to meet his embrace before she could think it through. This hadn’t been part of the plan - she had been intent on feeding, but this indulgence was too delicious to pass up.


When he broke the kiss, only to land a second one to her skin, she closed her eyes. The scent of him filled her senses, and her lips still tingled from the taste of him. The hunger hadn’t ebbed, but her guilt had increased. She couldn’t do this - nor could she just walk away from him. Even as she thought of running, his lips and hand trailed along her skin, chasing away any ability to protest. “Thank you,” she replied, voice breathless as she tilted her head further, gaze moving to the smooth skin of his throat. So close.

“And you are an excellent kisser. Remind me to do that again,” she chuckled.

[Bjorn]

“I’m excellent at many things,” the telepath whispered, closing the distance between them yet again. This time he sought to lick into her mouth, the tip of his tongue dragging across her lower lip. He could taste the worn makeup, which was chemical and unpleasant. He bumped his nose into hers, urging her to tilt her head back as he dominated the kiss. There was something about her taste that was not entirely expected, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Instead, he retreated back and kissed her lower lip before nipping a line down to her chin and throat.

His grip tightened on her hip, his thumb stroking the hem of her printed skirt. In another setting, at another time, Bjorn would have tugged at her black shirt to reveal the soft skin of her belly. With his mouth on her, breath ghosting neck and his fangs extending, he had little concern for any other body part.


He mumbled incoherently into her neck, lukewarm breath ghosting over her cold skin. It'd have been so much nicer for the skin to be flush, pulse erratic. Part of him wished that Caligrace be lost to blinding pleasure when his teeth sunk into her flesh, but he’d been shortsighted and played his cards this way. There was no point in taking it any further, not tonight. Bjorn dragged his tongue across the line of her throat, nosing the red strands gathered behind her ear. He had always been a biter, but never like this.

Without preamble, he sunk his fangs in.

[Caligrace]

In another moment, his egotistical comment would have elicited one of her own. There would have been a toss of her hair, a curve of her lips, perhaps even a slight roll of her eyes as she took control of the situation - but not tonight. Tonight wasn't about finding a connection as they put themselves on display beneath the warm glow of the moon. It didn't matter that he looked at her with hunger, or that his hands roaming along her slender form drove her to the point of insanity. He was a means to an end, a source to cure her hunger, to make her feel whole - real - again. It didn't matter that she allowed herself just a moment to think of him as someone else, someone that could matter. He wasn't. He couldn't be.

He was only human.

The thoughts were harder to expel than the others, though he waste no time in trying. It was if he could read her mind, as if he knew that she needed him to make her forget. As he ducked back down for another go, she found herself pressing into him, her body fitting against his in an almost perfect union. Tipping her head back so that her skull rested against the weathered tree, she tried to shake off his hold so that she could slide her hands along his stomach, her fingers finding the soft cotton of his shirt. Would his chest be as cool to touch as his hands? Would he look as magnificent underneath that jacket as he did now? Her thoughts replaced with something far more pleasure, she allowed herself to get lost in the feel of him as he took control of her body, his tongue fighting for dominance as her own danced with his. His taste was something she couldn't explain. There was nothing bad about it - in fact, it was kind of addicting. It was definitely not something she expected.

No man, human or otherwise, should taste as good as he did. It was as he had stepped right off the pages of one of Elin's trashy romance novels that she left scattered about the apartment. Only, he wasn't some cliche cowboy with a hero complex. He was something else, something... darker. Something better.

Snap out of it, Caligrace. You're losing yourself to your fantasies. Remember what he is, not what he could be. Damn, girl. It's a wonder you've lived this long without me. Oh, right... you haven't.

The sudden whisper brought her crashing back to reality, and for a moment, she forgot where she was. She could still feel his lips against her skin, his teeth nipping at her as he hurried a path along her throat, but she couldn't remember her hunger. That is, until he found a spot that caused her to tremble. Running her tongue along her lower lip, she arched her head for him, allowing him more access to her throat as she felt the monster inside of her rear its head - and she new that she was out of time. Riding the high from his kiss, she adjusted her frame so that she could reach the crook of his neck, her tongue tasting the cool skin - a warning - before she sank her teeth in - just at the second that she felt the blinding pain of his own bite.

At first, she couldn't think straight. Shock kept her still, the bitter taste of his own blood filling her mouth. How could one man, one human do this to her? Because he's not human, moron! The frantic screech in her ear had her attempting to jump back, but his hold on her kept her pinned to his form. Retracting her fangs, she managed to turn her head enough to gag, a full second before she spoke, voice shaking. "I knew you weren't a Brian."

Caligrace Another PC Very difficult Physically demanding Bjorn Breaking free Failed