Night Ride

Tracy pulled her light blue Ford Taurus into its parking spot outside her apartment. She got out of the car and reached into the back seat to retrieve her two bags of groceries. She looked over and saw a familiar motorcycle. Tracy's heart started to speed up. A smile played on her lips. She picked up her pace and put her long legs to use. She was breathless with anticipation by the time she got to her door. She leaned against the wall to catch her breath. Tracy took a couple steadying breaths and unlocked her door.

She was expecting to see him sitting on the couch waiting for her but she didn't see him. She walked in and she heard the shower being turned off. She silently cursed herself for not getting home sooner. If she had drove just a bit faster maybe she could have joined him. She blushed at the thought. Delicious thoughts came to mind of hot steamy water over taut male muscles, water rivulets trailing down his broad chest and over his stomach. Down, down to his… The bathroom door suddenly opened and she was startled out of her reverie. Vachon was lounging in the doorway. When he came out Tracy looked like she had something on her mind, something that caused her to smile. She looked like she was about to drop her groceries on the floor.

"Tracy, you all right?"

She wondered if he knew how good he looked right then with his black raven hair curling wetly around his face. His shirt was hanging open to reveal a glistening chest and his black pants fit him like a second skin. She vaguely heard him say, "If you don't breathe soon, you're gonna faint." Her eyes trailed back up to his face; he was grinning wickedly at her. Oh yes, he knew. She took a slow ragged breath and headed for the kitchen so he wouldn't see her blush. She could feel his eyes on her back which sent little shivers down her spine. She set her groceries on the counter. When she regained some control she turned back to him. She slipped off her leather jacket and flopped it over a chair.

"I think you like me just for my convenient shower, I should start charging."

"What's your price?" He crossed the room and stood close to her. She pretended to think about it.

"A kiss," she said finally.

"Done." Vachon took her in his arms and kissed her thoroughly using his centuries of experiences and his Spanish passion. Breathlessly he whispered. "Am I all paid up?"

Her voice came out a squeak. "Working on it."

She backed away and started putting her groceries away, it didn't take long. Being a cop and single doesn't require a lot of food. Tracy opened the refrigerator and took out a soda; her mouth suddenly felt like cotton. She made a face and brought out his wine bottle filled with blood. She handed it to him.

"I believe this is yours. Are you going to start using my fridge too?"

"I had to keep it cold and if you'll notice I put it in the 'B' section. I know how you like to keep your refrigerator alphabetized."

She popped the top on her can of soda and took a drink. She smiled. "Are you mocking me?"

He held up his hands to ward her off. "No, never." He had a cocky grin on his face.

She pulled one last thing out of her grocery bag; it was a comic book featuring rats. "Here, when you see Screed, give him this. I saw it and thought of him."

"I thought you didn't like him?"

"I'm not committing to like yet. Tolerate is more the word I'd use. He's one of your friends," she said with a shrug.

"I'll give it to him. I'm sure he'll love it." He rolled the book up and stuck it in the inside pocket of his battered leather jacket.

"So did you come by to shower and leave or are you going to stay awhile?"

"I was thinking we could go out. My motorcycle's out front."

"I know, I saw and no I don't think so. I wouldn't want Nick to have to identify my body."

"I brought you a helmet so we could go on a long night drive, tear up the city till dawn."

"Ok, ok, I'll go for a bike ride. Just remember you have a mortal with you."

"How could I forget?"

Vachon buttoned up his shirt and slipped on his jacket. Tracy put her own jacket back on and grabbed the helmet that was sitting on the couch. She locked the door behind them.

Tracy eyed the red Triumph with trepidation. Deep down she knew Vachon wouldn't let anything happen to her. Vachon straddled the bike, his thighs gripped the bike holding it in place for her to hop on. She jammed the helmet on her head and said a quick prayer that she'd come home in one piece. She got on behind him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. The motorcycle roared to life and they took off. Tracy felt the thrust of the bike between her legs. The night air was cool on her face and the city lights were shining brightly. After she got over her initial fear she started to enjoy herself. It felt like she was flying.

Vachon took pleasure in having Tracy's arms wrapped around him; he felt her heat envelop him. All around him the night smelled of apricots and calla lilies, her scent. He started to feel his teeth ache and his fangs come down but he suppressed the need. He drove around the city with no destination in mind. Vachon's long hair blew into her face tickling and teasing her; it was soft and luxurious. She let a sigh escape her lips and looked up at the stars. She wished it could always be like this. Vachon was the first man that made her feel alive even though he himself was not. All too soon the ride was over and they were pulling up to her apartment. She reluctantly got off and gave him the helmet.

"That was amazing."

He didn't take the helmet. "Keep it; that way you can ride with me again." With that he rode off into the night. She watched him go until the only thing she could see was the red tail lights.

^^^^^^^

Vachon decided to visit Screed before he sought sanctuary in his church. Screed's place wasn't that big, it was more like a hole in the wall where no one ever dared to go willingly. Screed was a rat sucking Carouche and those were his good qualities. The other vampires didn't tolerate him so he made it a point to check up on him and see if he needed anything. In all the time that he knew him he was just starting to understand the sailor's speech. Cockney isn't the easiest thing to understand. Vachon made his way down the cellar steps. He saw Screed lying on a dirty mattress stroking one of his rats intimately.

"Am I interrupting?"

Screed looked up to see Vachon leaning in the doorway. " 'Ey v- man make yar self at 'ome. I was jus' 'avin' a lil nip is all. Sink my fangies into this 'ear squeaker." Screed expertly bit the rat's neck and sucked out the blood. He tossed it onto a small decomposing rat pile. Vachon looked quickly away. Screed could be so disgusting. He pulled out the comic book and handed it to him.

"Tracy told me to give this to you. She thought you'd like it."

" 'Ey, wot's this?" Screed looked at the giant rat on the cover chasing people through a city. He laughed with delight and eagerly started paging through it. "Baby Jane's nowt so bad after all. Giv' 'er a kiss for me."

"I will."

"Tha' partner of 'er's, Defective Knight, I don't like's 'im. Nickie an ol' La Crow go a pumpin in the backroom at the Raven. Gives themselves a lil' pleasure an poor Nat ain't none the wiser."

Vachon sighed, "That's more than I needed to know."

"When ya see a purple like thong on the door I wouldn't go near if I was yew."

"Ok, I'm leaving now." Vachon pulled out some crumpled bills and dropped it on Screed's bed. "Go buy yourself some air freshener." He left and went back to the sanctuary of his abandoned church. He made it back well before the first rays lit up the sky.

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