My Immortal Hunger

Fourteen

After their breakfast, Ava decided to give a grand tour of her pride and joy . She showed Thea all the rooms she had personally decorated. The library alone was the size of both Faye's and her apartment combined. Ava explained how the top portion belonged only to her. Christian had a boundary spell put in place for her, only the people they trusted could pass through. If anyone else, human or otherwise, tried to pass, they will be in excruciating pain for weeks. After passing endless rows of rooms, they came to their last stop, the home theater.

"Hey, if you aren't busy, you want to watch a movie, I have got a George Clooney movie I have been dying to watch" Ava said happily.

Thea wasn’t a big movie fan but she really didn't have much to do, anyway. It would get her mind off things.

"Sure, why not?"

"Ok, popcorn?" Ava asked.

"No, I am good, I am still kind of full from breakfast. Just want my refill of coffee. Why don't you set up the movie and I get a refill. Do you want anything?" she asked over her shoulder, heading for the door.

"Just a coke," Ava said, looking through the pile of movies. Thea nodded.

"Oh, can you get me some Funyuns from the pantry please" Ava said, stopping Thea before she could reach the doorway. Smiling, she nodded and was just about to exit the room, Ava stopping her yet again.

"Oh and there is chocolate. Could you get that too." Ava added hurriedly.

"Will that be all or will you like some ice cream also," Thea asked sarcastically.

"Hmmm, French silk does sound good, um nope that's all" Ava said thoughtfully. Thea smiled and left towards the kitchen.

She grabbed a small coke bottle and looked for the pantry. When she opened its door, her jaw fell open, the pantry was as big as her room in New Orleans, there was enough to feed an army. Did vampires need human food? She thought frowning. She really needed someone to tell her about this new-found world of hers. Shrugging, she started to look for the food. She found the big chocolate bar easily, but the bag of chips was out of her reach.

She was a genius, stepped up on the bottom shelf and pulled herself up to reach the bag. With the snap, the shelf broke, and she felt herself falling backwards. Before she could hit the floor, a strong pair of arms caught her around her waist. After getting her nerves under control, she looked up at her savoir. She expected blue eyes, but she found mischievous stormy grey ones.

"You OK there, Tarzan?"

Thea started at the smirking face in front of her. He wore only dark jeans, his hair was damp and disheveled. She couldn't help but stare. They were pressed against each other, with their faces inches away.

"If you continue starting at me like that, I am gonna end up kissing you" he said with a glint in his eyes that Thea couldn't figure out.

"What the hell is going on here?" Thea saw a very angry Lucius standing in the doorway, his fists balled. Thea pushed away fast, as if he burned her.

"Lucius, buddy, I thought you were asleep by now" the stranger said.

"I could say the same about you, Trehan," Lucius said through gritted teeth.

Lucius was trying to sleep but he couldn't stop thinking about Thea. Every now and then he would focus just a little and he would hear her sweet voice. If inhaled deep enough, he could smell her soft scent. He could hear Ava giving her the grand tour. His stomach tightened when he heard Thea ask about him and his room. He smiled when he heard Thea's nervous response to Ava's question, about why she wanted to know which room was his. He was finally falling asleep, when he heard something breaking and a soft gasp. He shot out of bed and followed Thea's scent to the kitchen. He stopped dead in his track as he saw Thea in Lucian's arms looking at him dreamily. He controlled his anger when he told her he would kiss her. Now she stood there looking guilty.

"Thea, what is taking you so long?" Ava said as she came into the kitchen.

"LUCIUS" she said, and flung herself at him, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back softly, his gaze never leaving the smirking Trehan and the guilty-looking Thea.

"I told Trehan to wake me when you got here but he never listens to me," she said, pouting.

"What did I miss?" Ava said as she noticed Lucius's ridged stance. She followed his death glare at Trehan.

"Oh no, what did you do" Ava asked him.

"Why is it that you always think I did something?"

"Because you usually do!" she said, placing her hands on her hips.

"USUALLY, not always, besides you should be thanking me for saving Tarzan here from breaking her neck" he said defensively. Everyone looked at Thea, making her uncomfortable.

"Thea what happened?" Ava said. Thea looked at Lucius, his gaze was intense.

"Nothing happened. I was just trying to grab the bag of chips and the shelf broke when I stepped on it to reach it. Trehan grabbed me before I could fall, that's all" Thea explained, more to Lucius than anyone else.

"SEEE, not my fault, in fact I am the victim. I came in here trying to get something for my sweet tooth and the next thing I know I am being attacked by a flying Tarzan", he said dramatically.

"My name is Thea not Tarzan," Thea said angrily, making Trehan smirk.

"There was a stepping stool in the corner. I bought it because he is evil. He likes to put my Funyuns on the very top. Thea you could have really gotten hurt", Ava said seriously. Thea apologized again.

"Hey, since you guys are up, want to join us for a movie?" Ava asked excitedly.

"Noooo, thanks I am feeling tried and I was just attacked, you know, so I need to rest up" he said teasingly at Thea who was now glaring at him.

"Fine, Lucius, are you in?"

"I would like to rest as well, we have an early start tonight" he said, still not looking away from Thea.

"Party poopers, fine Thea let's go. The movie is all set" Ava said, grabbing her coke.

Thea nodded, as soon as she took a step. A shot of pain went through her right ankle, making her hiss in pain and stumble. In the blink of an eye she was wrapped in Lucius's arms.

"Are you alright?" Lucius asked softly.

"I think I twisted my ankle."

Lucius picked Thea up in his arms carrying her bridal style and headed out of the kitchen.

"Lucius, it's not that bad, I can walk. Please put me down" she said, squirming in his arms.

Lucius cut off her protests by giving her a hiss and a soft squeeze. Ava and Trehan followed them to Lucius's room. Gently, he put Thea on his bed and sat down by her feet.

"Which ankle is it?"

"Right"

Lucius gently took her foot in his hands and softly probed the area.

"It doesn't look too bad but it's still going to swell, Ava, do you have an ice pack?"

"I will go get it" she said, leaving the room, and Trehan followed.

"Do you believe me now?" he whispered to Ava.

"Fine, yes there is something between those two."

"So you gonna help me now?"

"No"

"What, why?"

"Because, if they want to be together there will be nothing in Lucius's way of getting what he wants" Ava said, grabbing the ice pack from the freezer.

"Oh come on Ava, you know Lucius. He is stubborn and he thinks he doesn't deserve anyone; he will never make a move."

"He has never let any girl affect him either."

Trehan sighed in defeat. Ava came up to him and wrapped her arms around him, comforting him.

"I know Lucius has done a lot for you, but I really believe in true love. If those two are really meant for each other, sooner or later they will find each other."

"I just don't want him to fight this world on his own, I know how much brighter the world can be with the right person", Trehan said, looking at Ava lovingly.

"And his world could definitely use some brightening up, and seeing him with Thea, I just wanted to push him in the right direction, that's all" he said. Ava let him go and headed towards Lucius's room.

"I said no to the pushing part. I didn't say anything about nudging", Ava said over her shoulder, smiling. Trehan watched her disappear around the corner. How did I ever get that girl, he thought.

*****

Lucius thanked Ava and took the ice pack from her.

" If you need anything else, Thea don't hesitate to ask OK" Ava said.

"Thank Ava but I'm fine, he is just making a big deal out of it" she said, looking at Lucius, who gave her a bored look.

" OK, well it looks like you are in good hands, I will check on you later OK," Ava said. Thea thanked her and she left.

"Why are you always getting hurt?" Lucius asked, breaking the silence.

"It's not like I enjoy it; besides, I have never gotten this many injures before I found out about vampires." Lucius placed a pillow under her ankle.

"Do you find him attractive?" Lucius asked after a few minutes.

"What?" Thea's head snapped up at him.

"Trehan, do you find him attractive?" He asked, looking up from his task of applying ice to her ankle.

"No" she said, defensively.

"Thea, please do not lie to me, I know when you are, and your heart beat increases when you are" he said softly. Thea looked down guiltily.

"Yes"

"Yes what?"

"I think he is attractive" Thea said, looking at him, and saw pain flash through his eyes.

"Do you want him?" he asked, closing his eyes, dreading her answer.

"No"

Lucius instantly looked at her, she was telling the truth. Relief washed over.

"Good, because he is with Ava."

After a few minutes, Thea broke the silence.

"What about you?"

"Are you asking if I find Trehan attractive?" He asked with a disgusted look on his face.

"What, no, that red-headed air hostess?"

"What about her?"

"Do you want her?"

"No"

"You asked me not to lie to you. I would appreciate it if you gave me the same courtesy", Thea snapped.

"I am not lying; I have no reason to," he said with a straight face. Thea felt anger flare up in her? How can he say that he didn't want that red head when she saw him with her.

"You know what, I don't care, you can f**k her all you want, you two deserve each other" Thea said angrily, and she got out of bed as fast as she could. Lucius didn't have time to react to her outburst.

"Thea get back in bed right now" he said, grabbing her arm.

"I will, but not in yours" she said, yanking her arm away from him. She limped to the door.

"I am utterly confused here. We were actually having a civil conversation and now this" he said.

"Yeah we were until you started to treat me like an idiot."

"What? I did no such..."

"I saw you" she whirled around on him. Lucius looked at her for further explanation.

"At the airport! In the bathroom, I saw you"

Understanding dawned on him, he looked down ashamed that she saw him in that state.

"What, why so quiet now, cat got your tongue" she said bitterly.

"You asked if I wanted her and answered you truthfully" he said.

"You are unbelievable, how can you still stand there and say that when you were with her not more than five hours ago?"

"Thea, it was not what you think" he started.

"You know I am not a girl that will fall for that lame excuse."

"Thea...

"I am done, I am done pretending that there isn't anything between us, because I know that there is". Lucius stood there frozen at her admission.

"How would you feel if I almost kissed you and then the next minute I was in a bathroom stall with some other guy" she asked. In a flash, she was against the wall with Lucius pressing her against it.

"He will be dead before he can ever touch you" he hissed dangerously. Thea's eyes filled with tears, her heart was hurting, but why?

"Do you know how I feel when I feel the urge to feed Thea?" he asked. Thea stayed quiet, not knowing how to respond.

"I feel disgusted; I feel like I am the most loathsome creature on this earth" he continued.

"I couldn't control my hunger, Thea, not after I had the scent of your blood". Thea eyes widened.

"On the plane you bit your lip, how I controlled myself from not reaching across and yanking you to me and sucking the blood off your lips, only I know" he said, her breath hitched in.

"You are right, there is something between us and it scares me". There was a tormented look in his eyes.

"I am cursed Thea, everyone that I have come to love eventually ends up hating me, and I would rather have this, then you hate me". She wanted to cry, he was telling her that he wanted her and at the same time he didn't.

"I want you to live without my curse darkening your life"

"What about what I want?" she asked softly.

" I want you, Lucius. All of us have some sort of baggage. Does that mean we should all just stop fighting for what we want". Lucius's stomach was in knots as her admission of wanting him sank into him.

"Thea, you don't know what you are saying. I beg you do not make this harder than it is. I do not think I can control myself, if you continue."

"Then don't,"

"You don't know what will happen if I do."

"I am willing to find out" she said with all honestly.

Lucius's control snapped and he ferociously covered her mouth with his. Thea froze for a second but then melted into his kiss. She traced her tongue on his bottom lip. With a growl, Lucius deepened the kiss and tasted her mouth for the first time. Thea clung to him tightly, her tongue dancing with Lucius's, her hands in his short hair as his hold around her waist tightened. She felt his arousal on her abdomen, causing heat to rush down all the way to her toes. They couldn't seem to pull apart, Lucius's hand slid under her tank top, to her bare skin, radiating electricity with every care. Things were getting out of hand, they were both lost in their kiss. Lucius snapped back to reality first, pulling back quickly, and Thea stumbled against the wall. Lucius had a wild look in his eyes.

"no, no, no” he kept repeating under his breath while he stepped back from her.

"not now, not you, you have no idea what you have done" he said in a broken voice, and in a flash he was gone. Thea slid down and put her knees to her chest and let the tears go.

**********