like father, like son

As Andrei had mentioned, things did begin to get easier. There was still a lot of water under the bridge that was the relationship between he and Kaia but there were also a lot of things that had been cleared away, too. The truth behind his father, though not all of it, had helped ease the tension they had felt between each other. Nykolae understood, to an extent, why she kept him around, even if it wasn't all of it, but that didn't mean he liked it. She still didn't allow him fresh human blood which had diminished his strength but the bottles that were regularly supplied in the fridge were enough to suffice. He'd managed to fill the rest of his hunger by eating human food, no thanks to Alex who had gotten him to eat a cheeseburger not more than a month ago. Since then, he'd found that it was a quick and easy fix to sooth his ever craving hunger. And all he had to do was order something from the staff that kept up with her penthouse. He even managed to be able to sleep at night and it wasn't for lack of trying. His room was up to date on all the luxuries money could buy and he found himself becoming spoiled with them. Even his bed was the most comfortable thing he'd ever laid his head down on. But since the fateful day he'd been forced into Kaia's services, he'd been unable to sleep at night. Most of it was anger, while the other part was fear. But lately, his lack of proper blood had made him tired and he was able to close his eyes at night and sleep. 

Of course, tonight would be the exception. He'd wandered from his room, yawning as he ran his hand through his hair. He'd come to the conclusion that if dumb and dumber weren't standing guard outside his room, then Kaia must be home. Tonight was just such a night and he had a rather peaceful walk to the kitchen where he opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of blood. He was in the middle of downing it when he heard the crash. He acted instinctively, dropping the bottle and leaving the fridge open, he pelted back towards the hallway. However, when he got there, he froze. Kaia was on the floor and she certainly wasn't up to her standards. Normally, she was calm and collected around him, a true Queen. But, there on the floor, she appeared like any other woman. Nykolae even noticed she had bright red streaks down her face as if she was crying. 

Every part of his being screamed for him to leave her there to whatever misery she'd put herself through but something in the back of his mind won him over and he felt himself moving forward and bending down to her. He gently grabbed her shoulders and tried to help her sit up. "Whoa there!" he said, green eyes full of concern as he tried to meet her gaze. "What's going on? Are you okay?" Since the blood connection he'd experienced with her had only been temporary, he had no way of knowing what was wrong. He assumed since dumb and dumber weren't thrashing about the penthouse with the looks of killer bees, that she wasn't being attacked but this certainly wasn't like Kaia. She had always done a marvelous job of keeping her emotions in check, not that he hadn't tried to rouse her since their first meeting when she'd sort of lost control. He wasn't good with these type of things. Any time a woman had gotten emotional around him, he'd either kicked them out or left. It always aroused a part of him that he didn't like to be. His human side was caring and sensitive but his vampire side was cold and uncaring. Sometimes, he almost envied vampires and their ability to shut off their emotions. Having human emotions only seemed to complicate things. 

Almost as soon as he spoke to Kaia, he regretted his decision to help her. He immediately felt awkward and quickly took his hands from her shoulders as he looked around. "Want me to get your guards?" Was that really all he could say to her? He silently cursed himself. He hated these kind of situations. Why were women's emotions so damn fragile! Sure, since the truth of her and his father had come to light, things had eased between them in a way he couldn't explain but this was past that particular level they were on. This was a step ahead and they hadn't crossed the bridges to this yet. There was still so much unsaid between them. 

This was completely unexpected. Mostly because the women he'd ever approached, he'd been the one to attack. Her sudden ravenous intentions certainly gave him the shock that allowed her to overtake him, his back hitting the floor quicker then he could blink. And never had he felt fear when being with a women. The last time she'd attacked him came rushing back like a tsunami and he felt his heart beat speed up, rushing adrenaline into his limbs, preparing himself to fight back. She'd very nearly killed him the last time between drinking his blood and inflicting wounds. He was already low on blood himself from not feeding and he wasn't up to his usual strength. There was a brief moment when she hovered above him and her predatory eyes looked straight through him, as though she were seeing something else, proving to Nykolae that this certainly wasn't Kaia at all. 

But he wasn't given any more time to wonder. With lightening reflexes, she bent and bit into his neck. A rush of euphoria overtook him, causing him to gasp. His neck blazed in pain at her needle sharp teeth but just as quickly, was replaced with a feeling of pleasure that only intensified when her body began to react differently towards him. A moan of pleasure vibrated against his neck and she moved her hands from a predator stance to that of someone who wanted more from him. He would hate himself later, he was sure but he couldn't ignore the signs or his own feelings. His own hunger kicking in from being drank from, he allowed himself to react back to her and as soon as she released his neck, he raised himself slightly and, with one hand, brought her neck down towards him where he quickly released his own fangs and sank them deep into her neck. Her emotions flooded into him like a drug and he let out another moan of pleasure. He worked off of her feelings of being exhilarated, using them to his advantage. He could feel his strength returning and he was suddenly watching himself from the sidelines, as though his human side split off from his vampire side. He let go of her neck, eyes blazing with a red ring and a trickle of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He reached both hands up to her face, moving the hair from her face. He was breathing heavily, his heart beating frantically. He was flooded with emotions he couldn't understand; both his and hers and the overwhelming result was to become closer to her. It was her pain that hurt him the most. He could feel it, bringing forth memories of his own loss of his father's blood connection. It was a time in his life he couldn't remember much of. He'd gone on a drinking binge to erase the memory or, at least, lessen the pain and to finally feel Kaia's own pain and loss broke something in Nykolae and instead of going for her neck once more, he connected with her lips, slow at first and then more demanding, not even caring that he could taste his own blood on her lips. 

He'd never felt such heat of passion. Mostly because the women he'd been with had never truly committed to the moment, or he for that matter. Their intimate interaction was on a much deeper level then Nykolae had ever been on and was surprised that with each kiss, with each tender touch, the hole in his soul from where his father's connection had been severed, was slowly filling, and not temporarily. Was she what he had been searching for to fill his emptiness? It seemed she had had a bit of emptiness herself and by her own response to him, deeply wished to fill it as well. He didn't take into consideration that her actions might have been spawned because he looked like his father. He was far past caring at this point. When she pulled him up into sitting position, their kisses growing deeper and their bodies fitting together, he fully committed to what they were doing. It was the way she held him, the way she kissed him, that told him she truly wanted him and that was the most important to Nykolae; to feel needed. 

He didn't wait for her permission. He reached around her sides, fingers brushing the smooth skin of her waist before he pulled her shirt up, hoping to remove it completely, to feel her skin against his own. He moved his kisses from her mouth to make a line down her neck, her collar bone and eventually, bit into her shoulder, letting her blood fill his senses. He kept his hands on her hips, holding her against him. He could feel her holding back, allowing him control and excitement flooded through him. Since he come under her control, she had done just that; controlled him. Kaia struck him as someone who had to control every aspect of her life to remain happy and didn't much like surprises. The fact that he could completely change who she was by a single touch excited him and with a single motion, hoisted her up so she had her back against the cool floor. He didn't give her time to catch her breath. He was above her, chest touching hers as he kissed her again. Covered in each other's blood and immersed in the heat of the moment, Nykolae came to a realization; he wanted to be her plaything. 

He hadn't wanted to fall asleep. In fact, when they finally collapsed onto their backs, breathing heavily, he had every intention of getting a shower. But it was the way she immediately rolled over and brought him into her embrace that he felt it unnecessary to move. Against his burning skin, her icy touch was soothing and as his heart beat slowed, he found himself falling asleep. It was probably the best night's sleep he'd ever had. His whole life, he'd always slept with one eye open, so to speak. He was always on edge and ready to sit up and move if he needed to. Never had he felt so protected and safe. With her fresh blood thrumming through his veins, he fell asleep with her gentle satisfaction warming him. 

With dawn, however, he woke with a jolt, sitting straight up, hair mused and eyes wide. It took him a whole few seconds till he turned his head and looked down at her. She was only half covered and her pale skin was smeared with blood. Nykolae could see several puncture marks on her porcelain skin and he followed the tangle of the sheet as it wrapped around his own naked waist. It took a whole few more seconds till he put the pieces together of what exactly had happened. Surprisingly, he didn't feel disturbed. In fact, he felt a warmth spread through him and he smiled down at her, green eyes shining with life. 

"Well, hello there." His voice was cool and low, almost like a sexy growl. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before leaning down on his elbow. "This is quite the meeting place so early in the morning." There were so many things he wanted to ask her, starting with the most important, what had happened to her the night before to the feelings he was getting from her, feelings he also felt. Only a few hours ago, he had still felt a strong dislike towards her and now these feelings he felt were on the opposite side of the spectrum. 

During their wild night, they had become as one, in more ways than one. Nykolae had been intimately in-tune with her every feelings, making their final moments all the more glorifying. In fact, practically being inside her body had become so natural for Nykolae by morning, that when she abruptly cut herself off from him, he felt as though someone had dropped a bucket of cold water over his head. However, it only changed his emotions, not the expressions on his face. He continued to give her a mischievous smile but it quickly faded when she brought up the locket. There was worry in her voice and Nykolae immediately misunderstood her feelings, thinking she wanted to pretend he was his father. It all came rushing back then, her strange behavior when he'd found her the night before and the distant look in her face as though she hadn't really seen him. He felt anger rise up inside him like a volcano and surprised himself with feeling jealous. How could he possibly believe she wanted him when she had been so clearly wrecked over his father's death. 

He wrenched himself out of her grasp and stood up, letting the blanket fall from his waist as he grabbed his clothes. He chose not to say anything, letting his anger boil around inside him, forgetting that she would be able to feel and understand every ounce of his anger and jealousy. Slipping his pants back on around his waist, he turned his back towards her as he headed for the bathroom. "I'm going to get a shower." Only about a month ago, he'd been exhilarated to know something about his father, something he'd been trying to do for five hundred years but now, this moment in particular, he regretted learning any of it, especially the part where he and Kaia had had a past. It was just like Kaia said, he'd been a cold an inconsiderate man and Nykolae was beginning to see the signs even from beyond the grave.

He took his time in the shower. Wasn't necessarily that he needed. Hell, he'd had worse things on him than blood, but it was more for the thought process that everyone seemed to gain when under the hot water and steam. Not to mention, it gave him a chance to calm down. If everything Kaia had done had truly been because she craved his father, would she not have been bat shit crazy when she'd woken up? He doubted he would have been standing there at the moment otherwise. This single thought alone was enough to still the jealousy he was feeling. His anger, however, switched from anger at his father and Kaia to himself. He was so stupid for overreacting. Damn human emotions! They got in the way of other things! He should have been treating Kaia like a Queen, not coldly turning his back on her for something so damn petty! 

When the water no longer ran brown with old blood, Nykolae switched the water off and grabbed a towel, musing his hair first before he wrapped it around his waist. It was at that particular moment, the door opened and like an ancient Goddess, Kaia appeared in the doorway, her night gown catching every curve and shape of her body. He was immediately glad to see she hadn't reverted to her closed off self because of his actions. In fact, she hardly seemed to care. He watched the way her hungry eyes wandered over him and he immediately felt a hunger for her. He smirked at her as she approached him. "Normally I don't allow myself to be owned by one single person." he told her. "But it seems as though you've forced me into your slavery and I really have no choice." He hadn't meant for the comment to be vindictive. In fact, now that they'd crossed a few more bridges and got to understand each other, he felt the idea rather...exciting. 

When she brought up his anger and jealousy, his smirk faded and he felt guilty. "Last night... What happened?" he asked her, meeting her eyes with his own.

"Sir, are you okay? Do I need to fetch a doctor?" Nykolae barely heard the man. He was laying exactly where he'd fallen, knees pulled up to his chest and fists clenching the ground beneath him. He coughed, splattering more blood onto the already soaked ground. The man gave  a weird sound and quickly backed away, back down the road, his horse stirring up more dust as he disappeared. But Nykolae didn't care. He'd never felt pain like this before. He'd been stabbed, drained and beaten up but this, this was something different. It was as though his very soul was being stripped from his body, piece by piece. Another flash of pain radiated through his body and he found himself screaming out in pain. At first, the initial pain had confused him. It felt as though his heart had been ripped from his very body and he collapsed onto the ground like a stone but it didn't take long for him to realize just what had been taken from him. The blood connection that tied him to his father was gone, leaving him utterly empty. It had been something he'd constantly been aware of as a child and to suddenly have it gone... Nykolae felt tears slide down his cheeks and he didn't know if it was from pain or from actual sadness. His father was dead and he was left alone. He managed to lift himself to his knees and he screamed his anger and hatred to the world. 

Nykolae froze as the memory washed over him and the phantom memory pounded away at his own heart. He had thought he'd suppressed that memory but here it was, overcoming him like blood hunger. If he had felt utterly destroyed with only one death, he couldn't imagine what she had gone through feeling the death of each Coven member. Not understanding his own emotions from hers, he acted without thinking and reached his arms out, gently touching her face, his green eyes getting lost in her own. His body was mere inches from hers, teasing her. The steam in the room had made small droplets of water on her hair and, for the first time, Nykolae could see just how beautiful Kaia was, especially when she laid bare her emotions. He was, perhaps, the first person to witness her naked emotions. He didn't even care at that moment that he was her slave or that she might not care for him the way he suddenly did but all he knew was that he suddenly wanted to be the one to make her smile. "I can't even begin to imagine the pain you would have gone through but I just want you to know that when I bound myself to you, I meant what I said. I am yours until you release me. I'll be yours until you've had enough of me..." he leaned forward and gently brought his lips to hers. It wasn't the passionate kiss they'd encountered just that night but one filled with raw emotions and sincerity. It was hard for Nykolae to wrap his head around the idea that only a few days ago, he had been lying in bed hating his life and Kaia and now here he was, pledging to always be there for her when she needed it. Had he truly been that alone that he'd seek comfort and companionship with the most dangerous? He hadn't thought his father's death had destroyed him that much.