I take one last look at her and her painting and I realize the entire night had been quite the illuminating and intriguing experience. I continued to observe until the last few people were leaving. I joined a group of four who were on their way out; I could smell their intoxication so I knew my presence would go unnoticed. As I got just outside the door I heard Babet turn to her mother and say, “You know; I got the strangest feeling tonight….” She trailed off, “like I was being watched.” She looked at her mother worriedly.

“Oh honey, of course you were being watched! You were public speaking.” Her mother said laughing as she was busy gathering glasses and plates off of the mantle and staircase.

“No, I mean like…stalked…watched.” She said while her mother scurried around the room disregarding her daughter’s comments.

“Babe, help me clean up, it’s late and I have to be back here in,” she stopped to look at her watch, the time had reached one a.m. “Oh, my Lord, five hours!” Her mother’s pace quickened and Babet gets right to work.

I made my way back to the city and perched inconspicuously in the Quarter observing the night life of this great place. I was immersed in the sounds of the accordion, banjo, fiddle and drums’ weaving a zydeco soundtrack to couple’s conversations.

Hand in hand amongst rowdy frat bothers and giggly sorority sisters roaming the cobblestone streets occupied by horse-drawn carriages and the raucousness trailing out into the night from the surrounding bars and restaurants; their French doors open. I left the area and wandered toward that place, hoping to get one last glimpse of her.

The light radiating from her gallery like an invitation in the night. I slowly walked down the alley toward the back side of the building to make sure she arrived home safe, she had. Her black Audi A6 sat parked at the back door. I placed my hand on the hood of her car, her arrival was recent as the hood of the car was warm and the engine clicked in cool down mode. The front of the building became dark aside from the Quarter lamps, she had gone to bed and my desire for confirmation of her physical presence was not satisfied by her car.
Peering in the window my curiosity began to plan a course for entering her dwelling without an invitation; I had officially lost my mind over this woman.

I had to leave this place and exceed my best ability to stay at a safe distance since I couldn’t stay away. I wanted more than just to envelop her, I wanted to help her, find her husband, anything to possibly warrant a meeting with her. I couldn’t understand my fascination with her until I reached my haven.

I threw up the elevator gate to find Estella sitting demurely on my box, like an ironic painting. It was two hours until dawn and Morte’s doors would be locked by then. I threw the newspaper I picked up on the way home on the pile I had intended to discard earlier.
“Estella? What are you doing in here?” I asked walking toward her, a hint of humor in my voice. The closer I got I could see she had been crying and I quickly changed my demeanor. Her cheeks were stained pink and her makeup was no longer existent. The paleness of her nature makes her look as though she were a porcelain doll. “This is no place for someone like you. You stand out like a sore thumb.” I said again jokingly, stroking her face then angling it to meet my eyes.

She smiled and I leaned in to kiss her forehead. Her eyes closed and she let out a long deep sigh. Vampires are very passionate creatures and I could feel the desire radiate off of Estella now. She was brokenhearted, vulnerable and hurt after the reminiscence of her intended. She wanted attention, and she knew that at home the attention she drew was unwarranted. But I knew it was the painful emotions of the evening fueling her desires. She was here because she knew I would eventually come back, she came here because she knows I’ve always wanted her and tonight she needed me to want her.

As I held her head in my hands, I leaned down, caressing my face against hers taking in her scent. Magnolia and lime filled me and my primitive nature took hold as did hers. She was on me before I could react wrapping her arms around me, one hand worked through my thick raven hair as the nails of her other hand dug into the flesh of my shoulder. We kiss passionately and she pulls at the handful of my hair. I let out a low growl, she sighs pleasantly and wraps her legs around my waist. I followed her lead and grabbed her to hold her there, my hands gripping the underside of her thighs and I could feel my nails digging into her flesh, she took a deep breath and pulled her face away from mine to look into my eyes, her fangs completely run out.
Her skirt worked itself up her thighs to reveal she didn’t bother with panties. I could feel myself rising, her tongue rolling against mine, I propped her on one arm while I broke the clasp on my belt and unbuttoned my slacks with my free hand. I also don’t bother with underwear. I slid myself inside her hard and deep, she gasped quickly letting the air out in a pleasing moan. I moved with her as she continued to hold herself using my hair as leverage and I didn’t disapprove. With my free hand I began to gently open her jacket when she protested.

“Rip it.” She begs lustfully.

I obliged, slamming her down on top of my box our bodies still connected, with one hand I tore the jacket open to reveal her perfectly pale breasts. Her bare neck and chest littered with the necklaces she wore for the ceremony, I grabbed the chains and pearls in my hand to pull her face to mine, I felt my teeth running out; she noticed this and tipped her head back to give me passage, I yanked her back to meet my gaze. I then released the necklaces from my hand to replace them with her hair, the strawberry locks curling around my hand; I tug her head back further and sink my teeth in. While I drank she continued to move her hips against mine until I felt her heel dig into my side. My head rose and I growled fiercely looking down at her, her blood dripping from my mouth.
She smiles before kissing me hard, licking the moisture from around my lips “My turn.”

She pushes me off of her, tripped me and in one swift motion, removed every button from my shirt.

I land hard on the floor and she stands over me, one leg on each side of me. She stared intently at me while she removed the tattered jacket, dropping it to the floor; she then reached back behind her to unzip the skirt. Ripping it the rest of the way down, the ensemble a tattered pink and gray mess gathered beside me as the skirt joined it. Estella stands over me and I observe every inch of her stunning flesh, her mound completely shorn of hair.

I turn my head leaving the vision of her perfection and begin kissing her delicately around her ankles, removing one of her shoes and her stance gave me the added leverage to work my way north moving up her calf and around her knee. I licked and she moaned; continuing my ascension between her legs until my lips found her sex and her moan deepened as my hands reached around to grip her buttocks and push my face deeper. She enjoys it and grabs my hair again to grind me against her middle. I stay there, working my tongue against her clitoris, bringing my hand up to cup her; I slide my fingers inside, moving them in and out her breathing matching the rhythmic current, and I remained buried in her until I knew she was satisfied.

Estella’s body began to convulse as she pulled my face away, her hands firmly planted in my hair. She then stuck the remaining heel in my chest to flatten me again; I lay staring up at her when she lowers herself down to have me inside her, all of me. She drops to her knees holding my arms down by my sides and bent to me. Her necklaces gather between us, her teeth completely run out; she digs into the flesh of my neck and drinks as I feet her fingernails enter my shoulders, I attempt to reach up and caress her while she feeds but she does her damndest to prevent this.

I can’t determine if she wants my struggle as it is primal for your prey to fight but I felt she is enjoying the domination so I gladly submit. She pulls away from me her breathing increases and she begins to growl softly while rocking back and forth. She falls forward again onto my chest, her curls covering my face. Suddenly the mass of strawberry blonde flies from my neck to reveal her fierce green eyes and bloody smile.

She released my arms from below her knees and I swiftly sit up enough to reach the conglomeration of necklaces, ripping them from her pale neck. She continues to smile devilishly as I reposition her on my lap and we were face to face. I stare into her, until I get the impression she is remorseful about the entire accord, she finally begins to kiss me. Estella is easy at first; increasing her fervor with each passing second.

We stay locked together for what seems like eternity; the massive room echoing with low growls, soft moans and groans along with the occasional whimper. I didn’t know how long we are entangled in each other but I begin to feel my body stiffen; besides the obvious region. I glance at the glowing from Estella’s cell phone. The vampire cell phone application, “Nearly Dawn” was giving it’s warning. With Estella still feasting on me I reached to grab the key from my busted belt, she felt my movement and looked down, her mouth stained, still dripping with blood, “What’s wrong?”
“Dawn.” I said nodding toward her cell phone.

Estella leapt off of me as if I were daylight itself and began to gather her belongings. I already had the box unlocked.

“Don’t bother,” I said holding open the lid to my box, nodding to it. “You’ll never make it.”

She smiles, drops her torn clothing, removes her remaining shoe and climbs in. I can’t help but marvel at the way she moves, smiling to myself. She keeps her eyes on me as she lies down and I, after discarding my tattered clothes, climbed in and lay beside her. I close the lid and locked us in for the day. She hugged her body against mine and taking the hint I slid my arm underneath her neck, our wounds almost all healed.

It felt so natural and familiar, I hadn’t held a woman in my arms in centuries and while Estella lay next to me I was pleasantly engulfed in her Magnolia scented hair. Here she was, right here in my arms. I kissed her forehead where the hair met her skin, telling her “goodnight”.