Morning had risen and Lucian had spent another night staring at the ceiling. The night of dancing with her had consumed him, thoughts of winning her over were still building. He was getting there, dancing with her all night had made for some seriously tense moments. She was tired from a very long night and he left her to sleep alone, promising that if any demons happened to show, he would call for her. Something struck him as he laid on the bed, her guitar was still hidden in the cavity above the fire place. He quickly moved out of his room, trying to pass her room with as little noise as possible. When he made it past her door, he ran down the hall to the stairs and into the lounge. The main door was locked, Lucian quickly pulled the painting back and opened the door. One guitar in hand, everything back in place and out of the room in under a minute.

Lucian stood at her door, wondering if he should knock first. What if she was dressing? As much as he craved to see all of her, he knew it would be rude to just barge in. He knocked quietly and opened the door a crack, calling to her lowly. When he didn't get a response he opened the door a little more, he couldn't hear the shower going so he prayed that she was still asleep. He moved so that he could look around the room, there she was, still in bed. Her long black hair was splayed out over the pillow, the sheet low over her body. Lucian thanked the stars that she was at least on her side, facing away from him. He quietly crept to the lounge and put the guitar on it and then crept along the soft carpet to the door. His body tensed when he heard the sheets ruffle with movement.

'Lucian?'

'Oh hey. I um...' he turned hoping that she had covered herself.

His body relaxed when he saw that she held the sheet over her body. She was temptation and as much as she had her usual singlet bed shirt, it was far too tight for him. It clung to her curves and was cut low, to Lucian it was a wonderful sight but he had to behave himself. He wanted her to be at ease with him before the ventured down that path, and he knew she was not completely at ease with him.

'I brought your uh...' he gestured to the lounge but couldn't help but stare at her.

Danika saw her guitar on the lounge and smiled.

'Thanks.'

Lucian could feel the lust building and he hadn't fed since last night. This was dangerous territory and he knew that he couldn't be near her without feeding first.

'I'll leave you to it.'

Regretfully he left the room and moved quickly to the kitchen before blood lust took hold of him. Danika pulled her dressing gown on quickly and searched Lucian out. She found him in the kitchen with his fangs in a bag of blood, several empty packets on the bench around him.

'Hungry?'

He nodded as he drained the bag.

'Is that why you left in a hurry?'

Lucian nodded again.

'Have you had sufficient now?'

Again he nodded, the bag almost empty.

'Would you do something for me?'

Danika pulled her hair from one side of her neck, baring the skin to the light.

'Bite me.'

Lucian's eyes widened at her request. He pulled the empty bag from his fangs and stared at her.

'I've never been bitten; I was wondering what it felt like.'

Danika shrugged at her explanation, she didn't know why she was doing it. She had heard people say it hurt, others said it was a real turn on, a dark perverse pleasure for some. Lucian moved to her slowly, hoping not to scare her.

'Don't tense up, it will only make it hurt.'

She nodded as he wrapped his arms around her waist, her hands on his bare chest. Lucian hoped that he could make this as pleasurable for her as possible and started with a kiss, deep and needful. One hand made its way up her back, firmly caressing her through the dressing gown. When he reached her neck, he took her by the base of the head, the soft hair caressing his fingertips. She closed her eyes as he kissed along her jaw, slowly making his way to her neck. Her body was pressed to his as he passionately kissed her jaw and neck, she let out a low moan, unable to contain the pleasure that had begun to course through her. Lucian inhaled the smell of her blood, a heady scent of sweet liquid sustenance. His fangs lowered and pressed against her delicate skin, she moaned again as he slowly sunk them in. Waves of pleasure rolled through her body as he slowly took her in. The hand that was on her lower back moved to her backside, pushing him against his ever growing need. As he pulled her leg around his waist, she lifted the other one. Lucian pressed her against the kitchen bench, nestling in between her legs. As he pressed himself against her she moaned again, the waves rolling continuously and out of nowhere a peak of ecstasy rocketed through her, shooting through her body.

'Oh god.' she moaned loudly as the waves crashed through her, causing her to orgasm.

Lucian could feel her body shudder with the erotic feelings that had just made her climax rather loudly. He withdrew his fangs, not only was he happy with the way that it had went but he found out something that he was desperate to know, how she tasted. It was perfect, her blood was sweet, it left him wanting more. Lucian had his confirmation, in his arms was his life mate, his soul, his love.

Her body went limp in his arms and Lucian panicked, thinking he had taken too much. He had been mindful to drink slow, to not take too much while she built the sensations, but now he was worried.

'Danika?' he gently shook her body.

She fluttered her eyelashes as her body roused, a grin slowly forming across her pretty pink lips.

'Wow.' she whispered 'I'll take one every day thanks.'

Lucian chuckled, he knew that for some live feeding was arousing.

'Ah, there are my stars.'

Bill entered the room and then stopped, looking at Danika in Lucian's arms and two little puncture marks on her neck. He would have been worried except the look on Danika's face wasn't fear. In fact, Bill thought that if he had entered the room a few minutes later, he would have a whole different scene in front of him.

'We are going to begin the next scene, you two need to get dressed quickly.'

********************************

Danika gasped as Rosa tightened the dress around her torso, the bone crushing corset had returned. She still felt light headed from the amazing orgasm. Danika grinned at the thought, if him sinking his fangs in was that much fun, imagine what being in bed with him would be like. Her cheeks flushed with thoughts of his body, she closed her eyes as Rosa tightened the lacing on her back. When she was done and her hair was complete, they went down stairs to find Bill. Lucian was waiting with him, back to his handsome outfit. She liked the look of that suit on him, it made him look rather dashing, very sexy. His eyes locked with hers as she descended down the stairs, he thought she looked radiant. She seemed to be glowing and she had a very defined smile plastered across her face. It made Lucian smile.

'Ok, so we are going to use those marks to our advantage.' he said to Danika as he moved her to the wall near the lounge doors.

'Lucian will pretend to feed from that...' he gestured to the marks, now beginning to heal. 'And then he'll put the choker on to hide them.'

Bill moved Lucian closer, positioning him to the best angle.

'When you're ready Lucian.' he nestled into his chair, watching the scene unfold.

He knew it would be best to give little direction to these two, he knew that these two would make this work without his help.

'Maybe if you could make them bleed again too.' he mentioned as he stared at his little screen.

Danika liked the thought of another mind blowing orgasm but then realised that there was a whole room full of people watching, including her brother who had just walked in.

'Lucian, I don't want them watching if it's like before.'

'It's alright, I'll just draw blood, ok?'

'Ok.' she grinned.

Still feeling light head from earlier on Danika begged for the doors or windows to be opened, fanning herself because she was so flushed. Lucian thought it was odd, he hadn't seen a feeding orgasm to linger so long. Bill called action and Lucian tried to hide his amusement as he pressed Danika gently into the wall, taking to her neck again to re-open the wound. It wasn't much, he barely drank at all, this was for effect – to have blood dribble down her neck. He could hear her heart beat faster and faster, her breathing ragged and heavy. Her body loosened as her head rolled with pure ecstasy. Lucian felt it and thought it odd, he entered her mind and found the barriers were down. He knew something was wrong, in her mind he found that she hadn't eaten breakfast, her blood was low because he had fed from her and that the corset was making breathing difficult. Instantly he pulled out of her mind and turned her, facing her to the wall.

'Lucian?' Bill worried.

'Get the nurse for her quick.'

He began to panic as she groaned, the lacing was taking too long to undo. Lucian knew he had no choice. It didn't matter that this was his grandmother's dress, it had to come off, fast. With one loud rip the corset was pulled from her frame, relieving the pressure. He held it to her chest to keep her covered and lifted her up into his arms. Now she was passed out. A woman burst through the front door, a heavy leather bag in one hand.

'On the lounge.'

Lucian took Danika into the lounge, laying her gently down as the woman began to check her over. He decided to wait outside, Brendan pacing nervously, Bill was in the kitchen cursing at someone and then there was Rosa. Lucian could see that she was blaming herself for it.

'A series of mistakes, not your fault.'

She was about to say something when he stopped her.

'No more on the subject please, now if you don't mind, I am sure that Danika would like a change of clothes.'

'Of course your highness.'

Lucian decided to get some fresh air, knowing that he wasn't welcome in the room where the nurse was fussing over Danika. She was awake but still rather dazed. Lucian also thought that it could be some time before Bill would want to start filming again. He wandered out the front doors and along the path that ran alongside the castle. The breeze was cool as he stepped into the shade of an old tree, one that by some miracle had survived the drought that had begun to encroach on the nearby land. Lucian found himself looking at the swing that hung from a sturdy branch, gently moving in the breeze. It was a swing that his grandfather had made, upon hearing that his wife was finally pregnant he set about making things for their child. It didn't matter that it would be years before the child could play on the swings or in the cubby house or any of it, his grandfather was as happy as a pig in mud. Of course neither of them got the pleasure of watching his mother play on these things. Over the years the rope had begun to disintegrate and when he was a child, his mother requested the gardener to replace the rope. She also asked him to make sure that the branch would hold and ensure that the rope did not wear against the branch. It was now a sturdy swing that he had spent much time on. That was until his mother couldn't bare living in the place anymore.

Lucian tugged on the rope to make sure it was still safe and then sat on it. His shoes kicked up the dust as he slowly dragged the swing back and forth, his gaze cast down. For some time, he watched the ants scurry around, going about their duties, carrying things to their nest.

'Well, that there is a mighty big swing.'

Lucian looked up from the ground, Danika standing before him. She had changed into her usual clothes, a short skirt and tight top.

'Why are you up and walking around?'

'Ssh! The nurse doesn't know.' she giggled.

He scowled at her blatant disregard for her wellbeing.

'I came to say thanks for trashing your grandmother's dress to save me.'

Lucian shrugged as if it meant nothing.

'Better than having you passed out.'

'Aww you're so sweet.'

She climbed onto his lap, putting her legs onto the other side of the swing. As they kissed Lucian's hands found her legs, moving up under the tiny skirt. His fingers danced across her soft skin, occasionally playing with the edge of her panties. He definitely liked her change of clothes, much better than the far too long skirts.

'I think this makes us equal, does it not?' Lucian said smugly.

'Says you.' Danika scoffed.

'Three days now.'

'You are doing well.' she grinned 'Reward time?'

Danika pulled him closer, feeling flushed as the palms of his hands flattened over her backside. Skin on skin as he pressed her harder against him. As he kissed over her neck he could smell her blood, it was heightened at the puncture wounds. He craved to taste her again, to taste the sweetness of the woman that was his mate. But he couldn't, she was still unwell even though she was walking around. Then there was the other fear, the fear that he would create an addiction to her blood, replacing his other addictions. Lucian knew he had to fight his demons, beat them and then he could taste her again. Baby steps.

'As tempting as you are I think you are too unwell to be doing that again so soon. Another day?'

'You are no fun.'

'I think you might find that I am fun, that is why you tried to drown me in the shower.'

Danika playfully scowled at his cheeky grin.

'Being that Lucian is not fun, I want this Lucian.' she pointed her finger into his sternum 'This Lucian is fun, not the other one. The other one couldn't remember what he said to me, where is the fun in that?'

'What did I say to you?'

'Lots of things.'

Lucian sighed sadly as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him hard.

'You want me?' he mumbled against the fabric of her shirt.

Danika grinned trying not to giggle like an idiot.

'Yes but it's conditional.'

She pulled him out and held him below the ears, looking down into those brilliant blue eyes.

'No drugs, no women except me, social drinking only. Can you give me those things?'

'Without a doubt.' he whispered.

Danika leaned down and kissed him softly, barely scraping her lips over his. His hands pressed into the soft flesh as he tightened his grip on her. As their kiss escalated her hands travelled down his firm chest, reaching the waistband of his pants. She popped the button to his pants, readying to slide her hand down.

'There you are!' the nurse called out from the edge of the path.

Danika stared into his eyes, one playful grin washed over his face as they stopped kissing.

'Busted.' Lucian smirked as Danika groaned.

'Come on young lady back to bed.' she called out.

'Keep me company?'

'Sure but you realise she won't leave us be.'

'I know.' she groaned and rolled her eyes.

She stood from the swing and took his hands, lifting him up. Danika couldn't help but smile back at the happy man in front of her, wondering when the perfect world was going to crumble. She thought it was inevitable, her luck would run out. Something was going to get in the way of their happy ever after. Something always did.