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Taste me in the night

She never said a word until her cousin had hauled her through heavy doors and brought her into her embrace. A sob filled her throat as what tonight had wrought.

"Sh Amelia dont waste your tears." Mira crooned softly.

"I always thought finding my pair bond would be horrible but I never could have guessed it would have been this tragic." she cried into her cousins shoulders.

"Nyk choose you both as pair bonds. Try not to think so badly of it." she pushed her shoulders until they were gazing into each others eyes.

"Now let's get you ready for what is to come."

A bath was waiting along with a robe in the style of the Argent clan. Black with silver oleanders around it. Amelia was coaxed into the warm depths of the tub by Mira. She sat as she bathed simply allowing her time to relax. She was grateful for her cousins consideration.

"Tonight may be awkward. Most males will immediately want to complete the ceremony by the joining of bodies. It will hurt at first but he will undoubtedly prepare you so that after a moment of pain it will be pleasant. Let him touch you and prepare you." Mira paused reasoning out a logical reason to allow a stranger to touch her. " it will not be enjoyable if you do not allow this."

"I don't want to lay with him." she said crossing her arms about herself.

"Perhaps he will listen to you. It is a part of this ceremony. Tomorrow you both will go to the temple and give your vows to each other before the clans and the gods. After your new name will be given and your mating marks will be tattooed upon both of you." Mira reached her the drying cloth and helped her step out of the tub.

"Is there no way to postpone this joining of bodies ?" she asked one last time.

"There is no way unless both of you can come to an agreement that it would be better to wait." Mira moved about behind her as she helped remove the braids and pins. "And besides you may find you enjoy his touch."

The creaking opening of the door caused them both to turn to find the male of their discussion entering followed by servants to remove the bath.

"My queen your mate wishes you to return to his side. Do not worry the young dame will be taken good care of, no harm will befall her tonight or any other " he bowed respectfully.

"Very well see that it doesn't or I promise you Prince argent you will not want to see me angry." Mira promised softly.

"It is understood." Mira left and the servants left soon after. He sauntered into the room going towards the blood filled bottle.

"Would you like a glass of blood." he glanced over his shoulder at her those silvery eyes cutting through the dimness of the room.

"No thank you." she said turning to see to her hair and get away from those simmering eyes.

"Very well." his voice elegant and deep resonated the same as his eyes.

A moment of silence continued before a long fingered hand picked up the oleander pin up. The tinkling of the blossoms filled the silence.

"Here allow me " he lay down the pin and pulled her hands away from her task. His long fingered elegant hands unbraided the intricate up do easily.

"My rooms lack a woman's touch. No mirrors or pleasantries of any sort. Simple and usable things reside here." he commented softly.

"Yes I have noticed that as well as the dimness here " she added.

"That is for my eyes. I apologize if it is bothersome. My eyes are sensitive to light I am an old vampire, my senses are more sensitive to stimuli" his fingers massaged her scalp.

"How do you handle the lights in council?" she said ignoring the tingles from his caressing fingers.

"It is all about hiding small bothers." he gathered her hair up into his hands and began braiding it over her shoulder.

"What a good mask you have to hide behind Argent." the slight pull on her hair in reprimand made her wince.

"Call me Gideon. This is no place for formality. And I shall call you Amelia." he tsked softly.

"You have no mask my lady. Soon enough you will realize life is a series of masquerades and a mask is required. Soon enough you will find your own." he tied the end of the braid.

"Come let us get this over with." he held out his hand and she took it as he led her toward the bed.

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

Gideon sat the beautiful creature down upon his bed. Never could he have dreamed she would be the one his soul had crowd for so ardently for so many centuries. The golden sapphire eyes held doubt and vulnerability. He wished he was a man of many words to explain her fears away. Alas he was not that man. He prayed she could forgive him for it.

"Gideon could we. . . " she broke off as he placed his finger upon her lips.

"Trust me Amelia tonight will not be what you fear. I promise to Amaranth that there is no need to be concerned."

He bid her scoot back and lay down as he gathered what was needed. The white cloth to prove her innocence with and another glass of blood to steal his excitement from him. He needed no encouragement for tonight. He was already wanton for her. The crisp smell of citrus invaded his senses.

He removed his over robe and his boots. Noting the whiteness of her knuckles as she gripped and released the seam of her robe. Fear doubt and worry. He prayed she would find that calm center he could sense within her. He moved to rest on his knees beside her cupping her cheek softly before setting to his task.

"Raise your legs and bend them." he said moving to help and rest between them. "Raise your hips for me little one. I must place this underneath you." she complied her heart rate spiking.

"Tonight we will not be doing any other than what is needed to continue on with the ceremonies tomorrow" he said pushing the edge of her robe up her thighs.

He rested between the cradle of her legs pulling up his own garment. How he wished to take her completely. He wished to strip her and love her, to hold her the night through.

His ridged member touched her delicately before he thrust home. Groaning at the tightness of her untouched sheath. Her cry of pain brought his head up from gazing at his completed task to her face.

Those beautiful eyes were closed tightly. Tears leaked from beneath closed lids. Her face was turned away from him as if she could block out what was happening.

"Sh little one it is over. Amelia. Look at me" she did with a moment of hesitation.

"Now I will bite you and you will bite me and this will be over." he leaned down to where she bared her neck to him.

His gangs bit into the soft flesh and her potent blood flooded his system. Powerful and pure with age her blood would be a delicacy. He felt her own tentative lick and then the puncture of her fangs. His hips involuntarily thrust a few times as his need rose.

He stilled himself begrudgingly and then licked the wounds on her neck. He allowed her to finish her tasting of him and then rose from her. He removed the cloth and pulled down her robe. He placed it beside his garment for tomorrow and then moved to the bathroom to clean himself of her maiden blood.

Reentering the bed chamber he handed her a cloth and she rose to clean herself in privacy. He readied the bed for them drawing back the covers and laying down listening as she sobbed softly. He would ignore it for he knew not what to say to comfort her. He didn't even know what had upset her. He didn't dare ask either.

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

The longest most awkward moment of her life had just happened. She cleaned herself of her blood and even wiped what little excess of blood remained on her neck. Her pair bond hadn't taken her as she had expected and in a way it was what she wanted and yet it was worse still.

Did he even want her in that way? Was something wrong with her? What was she to tell her cousin if she asked tomorrow? That her pair bond did nothing less than what was required of him. She sighed and dried her tears as her emotions quietened. She walked back toward the bed seeing him already asleep.

She rolled her eyes heavenward at this display. Of coarse he wanted no more to do with her. After he obviously got what he wanted he didn't need to talk to her or comfort her. More tears gathered in her eyes as she slipped under the covers and lay facing away from him.

'Is this what the rest of eternity will be like with him' she wondered 'No words of comfort or a warm embrace.'

She closed her eyes and prayed it wasn't so. Her first night as a pair bond only left her more confused and feeling more awkward than ever. She prayed tomorrow would be better.