There I sat upon the satin sheets of the divan, my hands flat and sinking into the mattress as they supported me. My composure was untouched by the flurry of emotions that racked my mind, but my eyes could not hide a dreary tilt as they focused on the sky through the glass panes of the window. Deep inside of my chest my heart beat in a nervous rhythm that was silent to my ears. I rose from my position on the draped bed and sauntered slowly across the room to set myself on the windowsill. With a knee pressed to my bare chest, I wrung my arms around my thigh and stared solemnly, unblinkingly out into the dark sky.

Are we chasing a dream? I asked myself softly, catching a glimpse of my reflection. My fair complexion reminded me of porcelain in the moonlight, and I caught the smirk of my lips through the locks of my platinum hair.

I think so… I sighed tiredly, brushing a lock away from my eyes. I will never be free to love you, Darren…

“Such dark thoughts from a ditzy blonde,” his sudden voice echoed from the room behind me, but I had grown used to his silent entrances and ability to hear my most private moments. “I’m beginning to think I’m the only one fighting for us.”

You know that’s not true, my mind whispered, my heartbeat already growing heavy. I tried my best to hide my sudden, wild reaction to his scent. I love you, I love you, I love you, came my unintelligible thought.

No matter how hard I tried to drown it out with random ideas or memories, I knew Darren had heard it when he chuckled from the far side of the room. At least he tried to spare me further embarrassment by continuing on without commenting on the thought.

“I was being followed,” Darren reported, and he gave me the courtesy of hearing his footsteps move closer to me.

I’m too afraid to ask what you did to them, I whispered, my thoughts supplying vivid images of gore and violence.

Darren chuckled at the images, but again, did not comment.

“I didn’t care that I was followed. I had to see you,” his throaty tone became low and I could feel his strong presence behind me now.

“Darren, I…” I started, but couldn’t finish. I don’t want you to die…

“More ditzy thoughts?” came his reply, and I dropped my head in defeat, a heavy sigh escaping my lips.

What you consider ditzy, I consider important, I growled.

“You worry too much,” murmured Darren, and I felt the warm, soothing palms of his hands rest on my biceps. It was only a second before I felt the tickle of his smooth, pouty lips against the crevice of my throat. I stopped breathing, relishing the feel of them.

At least I worry, Darren. You’re not indestructible, came a thought that I was sure Darren had to piece together, and it was times like these that I was happy he could hear me because I wasn’t sure I could speak.

“I’m not feeble either. I will never be an easy kill,” whispered Darren, his hot breath against my earlobe. “As long as I have you, I have a reason to live.”

With that, Darren’s stronger hands pulled me from the windowsill and forced me to stand on my unstable legs. He pulled me so close that my back was crushed to his chest, and his arms wrapped my slender body in a hold that was more powerful than any physical touch.

Five fingertips curved around my side while the others playfully outlined the button of my belly, one dipping intimately into the groove. Melting into him, my thoughts were rampant as I let my head fall back to rest on his shoulder.

I’m yours. I want you to have it, I whispered eagerly when I felt his lips brush the skin behind my ear and trail down my jugular.

Darren did not rush, he never did. Instead, he prolonged my agony by caressing every curve of my stomach, chest and back, outlining it slowly as though he were mapping it into his memory.

My hands were clenched into tight fists as I fought my own urges to grab him and have my own way with him.

He must have heard my impatient ideas and seen what I was imagining because I could hear the smile in his voice.

“We have all the time in the world,” he laughed huskily, pressing his lips to my neck once more.

I’m not so sure… I was beginning to think, when I felt the sharp, tearing sting of his teeth in my neck, and the light suction from his lips and tongue. Yes, yes, yes! Shouted my mind, not caring whether he heard or not, unable to grasp my feel of the world as I felt him take a part of me.

I felt his presence embalm my skin and engulf my mind as we became locked as one. Lightning struck my heart and bright lights glazed over my eyesight. My blood embodied Darren and the Emergence began, feeling the forbidden connection and comfort soothe my worrisome mind. Now that my blood flowed through him, I too could hear Darren’s thoughts, feel his emotions, and reminisce in his memories, which were all so empty and cold before he met me.

As Darren’s life emerged before my eyes, his most recent memory supplied the Rogues that had followed him, disemboweled and lying in pieces on the asphalt road just down the road. I then saw myself, set on the windowsill and looking away from him, and the power of the love he had for me exploded in his chest at the sight. I was being overcome by the power, relief and longing that Darren felt at the moment, now realizing the strength of his love for me.

Focused and direct, I quickly began to delve through his memories, seeking out specific scenes he had witnessed and emotions he had experienced over his long life. I saw graphic battles, violent wars he had taken part in. I felt the loneliness and misery during the times when he refused to take part in life. I saw many lovers, all ending in death, and the solitude Darren sought to grieve.

Are you satisfied? came a grumpy sounding thought from Darren, and I smiled.

It’s not much fun when someone knows everything, huh? I chuckled inwardly, and annoyance flashed through Darren’s mind before the warmth of his loving glow returned.

There were others, yes, his soft tone answered, and somewhere deep within me I felt the twang of disappointment that I wasn’t his first and only, like he was mine.

Sorry to disappoint, he murmured. Now let’s stop before I drain you dry, and in a split second, the Emergence connection was severed as he retracted his fangs from my throat and gasped in his own satisfaction. I then felt his tongue lap at the twin pricks which sent a buzz straight down to my groin.

I gave you what you wanted, now give me what I want, my thought was firm and strict.

“An angel… forcing me onto them?” came Darren’s humored whisper, and my cheeks tinged a bright pink.

I’m going to Hell, anyway, I whispered shyly, allowing him to delve into my own thoughts and show him how badly he was loved. For some reason, most likely the Emergence, I knew he desperately wanted to feel loved. It’s forbidden for an angel and vampire to Emerge, to love…

“Don’t think that…” he whispered, his hands around my hips once more. “If one of us is going to Hell, it’s me. Besides, you already made it into Heaven.”

No, no, no, no, no, if you went to Hell I would fall with you!

“Dylan…” he suddenly whispered to me in extreme sincerity, and I gradually turned to face him.

Our eyes met, and from our Emergence, I saw myself through his; a thin, fragile being with a determined gaze to my eyebrows. Within a flash, my world was righted and I was gazing up into Darren’s smoldering eyes, and I noticed a smile to his usually stern face.

“I love you, too.”