Spell Checked (26 page)

~~~***~~~

Beck sat down at the kitchen table where Gemma, Aidan, and Meredith kept Mae entertained during his teleconference with Nikola.  The evening meal consisted of soup and sandwiches set on platters in the middle of the table along with stacks of plates and bowls.  He fixed himself a plate then explained his plan to the others.

After hearing his plan, Mae was uncertain that allowing Nikola to turn Gemma was such a good idea.  “How do you know you can trust him not to bond with Gemma?”

“He has turned far more humans than I have and as you have noticed, he does not travel with an entourage of minions.  So, it is safe to say he knows what he is doing.  This is a big favor to ask of any vampire.  Most would insist I turn her myself, which even Nikola implied more than once,” Beck explained.

Mae looked to her best friend, “How do you feel about all of this, Gemma?”

“I am open to the idea of allowing Nikola to turn me.  But, I would like to meet him first...before making my final decision.”  Gemma had always been fascinated by the paranormal so she accepted the idea of being turned with open arms.  “Beck, I have only one request.  I know you intended for Dr. Thomas to draw my blood for you to feed,” she paused, building up the nerve to continue.

 “I want you to feed directly on me.  I want to know what it’s like to be bitten before I am turned.”  Ever since being bewitched that night in Dublin, her curiosity had been clinging to the idea.  She also knew that Beck’s love for Mae would not allow him to have such an erotic tryst with her, so she was willing to compromise.

“I will bewitch you and drink from you.  However, I cannot in good conscience lie with you…we will have to find another to fulfill that part.”  Beck said refusing to cave into Gemma’s request in full, not even at Mae’s insistence.  It seemed like too much of a betrayal to Mae’s trust since she would feel everything he and Gemma would experience because of their bond.

Gemma looked a bit disappointed, but understood his reasons.  “Maybe by tomorrow I can find some poor unsuspecting man to take advantage of,” she sighed dramatically as if fishing for volunteers.

Aidan laughed, “I have no doubt that you could seduce any of those guards out there to play along with your plan, Gemma,” He teased.

“Yes and after two unsatisfying tries with you.  I am most certain the outcome could be no worse,” Gemma laughed, reminding Aidan that he had been no better at sating her.

Everyone at the table was laughing, except Aidan.  Meredith even gave Gemma a high-five before Aidan elbowed her under the table for doing so.  As Mae’s laughter trailed off, she gave a big yawn.  It had been a long day and her body was still recovering.  Beck suggested they all call it an early night, he expected Nikola there first thing in the morning.  Then he wheeled Mae to her makeshift bedroom.

Mae took in her new surroundings, certain that just a few days ago it had been some sort of formal room for entertaining guests.  Now it was transformed into a stately bedroom for her, that way she did not have to go up the stairs.  She was glad the bed was large enough for the two of them and with the nursing staff now gone, she hoped it meant Beck intended to stay with her for the night.  She noticed that his toothbrush was in the bathroom next to hers as they got ready for bed. 

Beck folded the covers back, gently picked her up and placed her on the bed.  Digging in the dresser for her night-clothes, he pulled out the plaid flannel pants and t-shirt she had taken from him.  He helped her change then stripped down to his underwear and crawled into bed next to her.

She could feel his bare body against her back as he lay his arm over hers, clasping her hand in his.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he whispered back, before the both fell soundly asleep.

~~~***~~~

Nikola arrived just as everyone assembled at the kitchen table for breakfast.  Gemma couldn’t help but stare at the man in front of her.  Nikola was not as handsome or as tall as Beck or Aidan, but his charisma more than made up for it.  He was still a good looking man, with jet black hair perfectly swept away from his face, looking more rich playboy than god-like. His beautiful blue eyes were his most striking feature.  Unlike Beck’s pale ice blue ones, Nikola’s eyes were a deep blue that seem to reflect into his soul.

Beck stood up and gave Nikola a handshake, embracing him like a brother.  “Nikola, I am glad you made it here safely.  Let me introduce you to my fiancée, Mae,” he said, walking over to the wheelchair where Mae sat.

Nikola took her hand and kissed it.  “Pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, offering her a slight bow.

“The pleasure is all mine,” she replied.

“And her friend, Gemma,” Beck continued, gesturing towards her.

Nikola turned to Gemma and nodded, “Madame.”

Beck motioned for Nikola to sit. “Will you join us for breakfast?  We whipped up a full Irish breakfast this morning and I know how much you love black pudding.”

Nikola sat down in the chair between Beck and Meredith.  “I would be delighted. It has been a long time since I have indulged myself with such a meal.  In China it is difficult to find a cook that will cater to western cuisine.”

“I am surprised you have stayed there so long.  I figured once you faked your death in New York, you would have taken a short respite in the Far East, then return to a place like California.” Beck wondered why Nikola had remained hidden for so long.

“I suppose I got too wrapped up in machining advancements to even notice how long I was there.  Besides, after all the ridicule I exposed myself to in the states, I was in no a hurry to return,” Nikola explained, grinning as he ate his breakfast.

Gemma was intrigued by Nikola’s past.  There was something about him that captivated her.  “Before we proceed, I would like a chance to get to know you better, Nikola.”

“As do I, Gemma.  I am still a bit reluctant to turn you, I feel it Beck’s place to do so and not mine.” His words were not meant to be unkind, but truthful, yet even as he spoke them he knew Gemma’s beauty could certainly persuade him to change his mind about that.

“If you care to talk in private, I suggest moving your conversation to the drawing room.  I can show you where it is after we finish breakfast,” Beck said to Nikola, wanting to give them as much space as possible to confer.

Once everyone had finished their meal, Nikola walked around the table then pulled Gemma’s chair out for her.  They followed Beck through the living room and down a long hallway that ended at a set of French doors.  Behind the doors sat a large circular conservatory.  The pale bluish-gray walls harmonized with the white sheer curtains that ran the length of the two-story windows and puddled on the stone floor below.  White ornate woodwork covered almost every inch of wall, meandering into the taupe-colored ceiling that splayed into carved cherubs.  In the center of the room sat a white granite table and beautifully cushioned, high-backed chairs of the same color taupe as the ceiling. In the center of the table was a large glass vase containing long cherry branches, their green leaves and pink flowers a perfect contrast to the white wood and pale walls.  Gemma and Nikola sat down at the table as Beck closed the doors behind him on his way out.

They talked for the rest of the morning and half the afternoon.  It wasn’t until Beck knocked on the door with a tray of food, that they realized they had been talking so long. They also hatched a plan that they felt would accomplish everyone’s needs and wants.

The idea was simple; Nikola would bewitch Gemma so Beck could drink what he needed.  They figured he wouldn’t need much since he had just fed at the hospital a couple of nights before.  When Beck was done, Nikola would feed and stay with Gemma until the bewitchment wore off, then he would turn her.  In the meantime, Mae could feed on Beck, satisfying everyone’s requirements...or so it seemed.  However, one thing was omitted and could have possibly been the deal breaker…Gemma would have to spend time with Nikola in China.  He would train her to be a vampire.  They both felt Beck had too much on his plate to train her properly.

“I am not sure Mae will be happy about Gemma moving to China,” Beck said, voicing his concern which was not without merit since it was Mae’s idea to turn Gemma so they could be together.

Gemma walked over to Beck and touched his wrist lightly, “Don’t worry.  I’ll explain to her that it’s necessary.  I feel as strongly about this as Nik.”

Beck was amazed that Nikola allowed Gemma to call him Nik.  Nikola had always corrected anyone else who ever tried.  He was glad that Gemma and Nikola were getting along so well and had come up with a solution of their own.  Their plan would commence shortly after dinner.  Beck wanted to wait for the staff to go home that evening, in case things got loud and bloody.  He preferred not having to explain or risk rumors flying about.  Aidan and Meredith were now occupying the cottage together and Alexis made plans to stay with her men at the guest house.  She reluctantly invited Aaron to tag along, but only for Beck’s sake and had no intention on encouraging Aaron to think otherwise.

As the evening rolled around, they all met in the formal dining room to eat.  Mae was still in a wheelchair, but could now move her feet, giving her hope that after tonight she would make a full recovery.  Nikola was seated next to Gemma.  It was obvious there was something more than mere acquaintanceship going on between the two of them.  Alexis kept rolling her eyes every time someone would remind her that Aaron was spending the night at the guesthouse with her.  It had become the running joke of the evening, everyone but Aaron was aware of her disdain for the kind doctor.

“Mae, when you are ready, Aidan and I would like to start your training again.  We are making new lesson plans, ones that it will be easier for you to understand, which is a little ironic because it entails a whole lot of confusing scientific terminology being added to our usual simple plans,” said Meredith with a small laugh.

Mae smiled in appreciation of Meredith and Aidan’s effort to train her.  “Once I get back on my feet, I will be more than ready to start training again.”

Alexis chimed in, “Good, because your defense sucks, I plan to work your ass off.”

Mae shook her head and laughed, “Somehow I knew that was coming.”

Gemma's nerves were getting the best of her during the meal as was evident by her unusual silence.  Nikola reached over, taking her hand in his, he whispered to her, "How do you get a vampire do the dishes?"

Gemma gave him quizzical look before he replied, "You don’t…They always lick the platelet clean.”

Gemma laughed, turning her head to Nikola and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, before relaxing back in her chair.  She was glad that Beck had chosen Nikola to turn her.  To her relief, she found him far from the serious, uptight vampire that Beck had painted him to be.  She found him not only attractive, but her intellectual equal and very witty.  It was not hard to believe that Nikola had a flair for getting what he wanted.  It was hard to say no to his charm.

~~~***~~~

The meal was over and the house was empty of any unnecessary persons.  Alexis was not comfortable with Beck allowing the entire staff to go for the evening, because they had provided extra eyes and ears within and around the house.  She insisted that she and one of the guards maintain a close perimeter around the outside of the house on top of the already heavily guarded outer perimeter.  Careful to pick a guard that was part witch, Alexis did not want to deal with having to explain all the noise soon to be coming from the house.

Gemma was ready to be bewitched by Nikola.  Beck brought Mae upstairs via the newly installed elevator and took her to her room, where she settled on the chaise lounge with a Sudoku book, awaiting Beck's return.  Nikola and Gemma picked a room with a large bathroom, far from Beck's, ensuring their privacy for the night.

By the time Beck arrived at Nikola's room, he had already bewitched Gemma, who was sitting on a cushioned vanity chair in the bathroom.  Beck approached her with much trepidation, since the whole situation made him uncomfortable.  He would only take what he needed from her wrist, since the neck was a far more intimate place to feed.  Kneeling on the floor next to Gemma, he tried hard to fight his instincts to ravish her while clutching her arm and sinking his teeth into her wrist.  Gemma gasped in pleasure, wrapping one of her legs around Beck, drawing him closer.  He fought to maintain control, while Nikola stood behind her, whispering in her ear his promises to fulfill her sexual desires when Beck was done.  Moving her long blond hair away from her neck, he ran his tongue down its length, diverting Gemma's attention to him and away from Beck.  By the time Beck was done, Nikola had his tongue down Gemma's throat.  She sat on the chair with her robe half off, fully ignoring the fact that Beck was still there.  He licked the wound on her wrist, so it could heal, then got up and cleaned the blood from his lips, before leaving them alone.

When he returned to Mae's room, she was still sitting where he left her.  She looked exhausted, the Sudoku book lying on her lap closed, struggling to keep her eyes open.  He walked over to where she sat, giving her a kiss on the forehead before sitting down next to her. “You shall not be so tired, my love, after you have fed.”

Mae looked to him, holding his hand.  “I am scared Beck, I don’t know how to feed and I don’t want to hurt you.”

Beck laughed, “Rest assured my love, pain is the last thing I will feel and do not worry.  I will walk you through it.  If you are ready, I think it is time for you to learn what it is like to be a vampire.”

Mae nodded her head in agreement. Beck lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom, placing her on a wooden chair that sat in the middle of the shower.  He removed her clothes, and then his, before turning the shower and steam on.  Once it was warm, he kneeled on a folded towel on the floor in front of her, gently taking her hand in his then moved her legs to straddle his hips. “Mae, look at the side of my neck,” he placed her fingers on his jugular.  “Feel the pulse…breathe in the metallic smell of the blood running under my skin.”

She inhaled deeply, allowing the tin-like smell of his blood to permeate her nostrils…its intoxicating scent making her heart run wild.  The heat of his blood appeared like an aura around his neck as she started to hear the drumming of his pulse in her ear, beckoning to be shared.

Beck noticed her eyes dilating as if to bewitch, a telltale sign she was ready to feed.  He put his arms around her, pressing his body against hers.  His lips eagerly met hers for a brief moment before he moved over to her ear and whispered, “Mae, you are ready to drink.  All you have to do is move your lips to my neck and do what comes natural.”

She made a trail of kisses down his jaw and neck until she got to the point where his pulse was the strongest.  Her canines extended to long points, impaling his jugular without hesitation, and burying her fangs under his skin.

Beck couldn’t help but cry out as her teeth sank into his neck. It was an experience unlike anything he had ever felt, having never been fed on before.  Any pain he might have felt paled in comparison to the overwhelming excitement growing across his body and deep inside his core.  His blood sprayed across Mae’s body and face, adding to his excitement as she fed with added vigor.  Soon she gained enough strength to wrap her legs around his waist, causing him to lose all control.  Picking her up and carrying her to one of the wooden benches that lined the wall of the shower.  He laid her on her back while she continued to feed, their bodies becoming one in an unbridled frenzy, neither of them aware of anything but fulfilling a primal need.  Beck cried out as Mae arched her back in pleasure, her orgasm pulsing around his shaft so hard he could not control his unbound release.  His tears began to run down his face from being overwhelmed with ecstasy.

Mae withdrew from Beck’s neck.  She shuddered with the last wave of pleasure that left her body.  The whole event had become a blur and neither of them had a clue how long they had been in the shower with Beck’s body still looming over hers.  She released her legs which had been wrapped around his hips and he pulled away still breathing heavy from their coupling.  Mae looked around the shower, horrified and turned on at the same time by the blood that was everywhere.  It looked like some terrible murder scene instead of the site of the most intense love making she had ever experienced.

Beck could read Mae’s face while they sat on the bench together.  “That was the most incredible thing I have ever felt in my life.” He pulled Mae close and kissed her. “Do not worry about all the blood.  We can shower it off.”

“I hope I didn’t hurt you, my love.”  She kissed him once more before getting up and realizing her legs could hold her weight.  “Beck!  Look, I can walk!”  She took a couple of steps forward and threw her arms around his neck in excitement.

He lifted her from her waist and swung her around, smiling in delight.  “Being able to walk should be just the tip of the iceberg of the things you can do,” he said, putting her feet back on the ground and letting go.

Mae raised her brow, curious as to what he meant.  “What else can I do?”

“If you listen really hard you can hear Gemma and Nikola on the other side of the house.”

Mae strained to listen.  At first, the sounds were faint but when she concentrated, it was like listening to a radio. “Oh my God, I can hear them,” Mae blushed before tuning them out. “That was way more than I wanted to hear!” Mae exclaimed, still blushing at the noise Gemma and Nikola were making down the hall.

Beck laughed at her reaction, “As you already know from our little sai fight, you are about as strong and as fast as I am.  Only now you should be able to control it at will.”

“Well as much as it turns me on, I think we need to use some of that speed to clean up this bloody mess,” she laughed.

Beck and Mae helped each other get clean between touches and kisses.  When they were done, they started to clean the blood off the walls and floor of the shower.  At first Mae started humming, but before long she was singing.  Beck smiled as he cleaned, it was the first time she had knowingly sung in front of him.  It was her way of showing him that she was comfortable with him in all things, even the ones that embarrassed her.  Beck turned off the water and brought her a towel.  When he had his back turned, she snapped him in the ass with the wet towel she was using to clean the walls and ran out the door into the bedroom, laughing.

“I will get you for that!” Beck yelled, taking off after her.

Mae was halfway down the hall by the time he made it out of the room.  She turned the corner to a small hall that Beck knew was a dead end.  Running full speed, he turned the corner only to run face first into one of Mae’s rubber walls.  He lay naked on the floor, trying to catch the breath that had just been knocked out of him.

Mae ran over to where Beck lay and offered her hand to help him get up, instead he pulled her down on top of him, rolled over and pinned her to the floor.  “That was very naughty, Mae; now I am going to punish you,” he threatened playfully.

“And how do you plan on doing that?  I’m as strong as you, fast as you and obviously smarter than you,” she smiled.

Beck laughed at her remark, with her witch’s powers, she certainly had the upper hand, something he would have to keep in mind in the future.  He let his hard body settle on top of her, his lips gently touching hers.  She raised her head to meet his kiss and he pulled away from her, just far enough so she could still feel his warm breath on her skin, but too far to touch.  She just fed and he knew her sexual libido was running high, his torture would be to tease her.  He moved his tongue up her neck ‘til he reached the lobe of her ear, where he bit and tugged gently, then whispered.  “Do you like that, Mae?”  Then he began moving his hips so that his hard shaft was rubbing just the right spot, but not entering.  “Do you want more?” he cooed with his lips lightly kissing her neck as she moaned.  He sucked on her neck using his mouth, bringing the blood to the surface, she struggled to move her hips to meet his.  He released his mouth from her neck leaving a large purple mark that started to heal itself. “I know you can feel my hardness against you.  You want me to fuck you so hard, that I make you shudder all the way to your womb,” he whispered in her ear.

Mae screamed out, “Yes!” she yelled, struggling to get out of his grasp.

All of a sudden, Beck stopped what he was doing, got up, and walked away.  Mae yelled at him down the hall as she ran towards him.  “Oh no you don’t, Beckett Worthington!  You are going to finish what you started.”  Right before she got to him he disappeared, then reappeared behind her, pulling her arm behind her back and bending her over the rail by the stairs.  He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back.  She could feel his hardness grinding into her backside.

“Is this what you want, Mae?  For me to fuck you like some wild animal?” he said through gritted teeth.

She cried, “Yes! God yes! Fuck me!”

Once again, he let go of her and walked away.  She’d enough of his games; she followed him down the hall until he got to the doors of his room where she set a veil that would prevent him from passing through.

When he got to the doorway, her magic stopped him from walking through.  He looked back at her and smiled.  Then, right before she caught up with him, he materialized into the room and she let out a scream in utter frustration.  She walked up to where he stood at the foot of his bed; her eyes dilated as she attempted to bewitch him.

He looked at her and gave a loud laugh.  “My love, you have a lot to learn about being a vampire.”

Fangs were showing, she hissed like some wild animal at him and started to walk away.

He clasped her hand and drew her close. “Do not let the monster overtake Mae, I was just kidding.”

Mae sat at the edge of the bed and took a couple of deep breaths before she said anything.  “I don’t know what got into me.  I’m sorry,” she whispered, hanging her head down in shame.

“This is part of what we are.  When we feed, our primal urge to have sex takes over and sometimes it can be overwhelming.  I should not have taken my game so far.”  He sat on the bed and put his arm around her, kissing her cheek.  “Now if you are done snapping me with towels and trying to break my neck with those damn rubber walls of yours, would you mind crawling into bed next to me, so I can make love to you the rest of the night?”

“As you wish,” Mae smiled and kissed him, before climbing into bed.