Vampire P.I., Double Trouble

Chapter 4: Close Encounter

*Claire*

The sunlight streaming through the top window is the only thing that wakes me the next day. My body aches ever so slightly from the long hike the previous day and my nighttime activities with Nathaniel only intensified the aches.

Still, I don't mind it. I stretch under the covers, which I somehow pulled up over my chin so only the top of my head is peaking out, and relish in the warmth surrounding me.

After a moment, however, I realize that there is no chill to my back or wrapped around my midsection. I stretch again and reach out with my toes, knowing full well that the consequences of touching Nathaniel's icy skin could send chills through my whole body, vaporizing the warmth I had accumulated while I slept.

I don't feel him. I reach behind me and, once again, am surprised to feel nothing behind me. I roll over and pry my eyes open to see that Nathaniel is not in bed. I close my eyes and listen hard, but I don't hear him in the kitchen, and I don't hear the water running in the bathroom.

There is an instant where I begin to worry. Did he leave without telling me? He's not one to do something like that.

I force the sleep from my eyes and push myself out of bed, using the comforter to cover my bare chest and look around the room. It's only now that I realize that it is well past midday and that what I thought was sunrise is rapidly becoming sunset.

Was I really that exhausted? Did I just sleep through the whole day? There is no way. I begin swinging my legs out from under the covers when I see a shadow by the front door. Instinctively, I tense and start to reach for the drawer where I've stored my firearm when I realize that I recognize the silhouette.

The door opens and Nathaniel steps through, placing his phone into his pocket and his dark eyes latching onto my upright frame. A smile that lights up the room like the quickly setting sun behind him spreads across his face.

“Well, shall I say good morning, good afternoon, or good evening?" he teases as he steps up to the bed and sits on the end, careful to not sit on my feet. His hand lays against the top of my leg, which is still under the covers. Still, I feel the chill of his palm through the blankets, which makes my body shiver involuntarily.

“Good evening," I reply sassily. “I can't believe you let me sleep all day!" My gentle scold earns me a puckish grin.

“You seemed a little worn-out last night. I thought it might be nice to give you the morning. I wouldn't want to push you beyond the point of exhaustion. Makes for poor performance and lowers your ability to react," he responds in his smooth, velvety voice. He leans forward within kissing range, but I make sure to show him I'm only mildly amused by his response by teasing him with a kiss, jerking back a couple of times to truly get his attention.

“Well, that would take quite a lot to do, and as you can see, I'm still kicking," I reply, leaning forward and kissing his impeccable lips. I move forward and place my hand along the back of his neck, attempting to pull him closer, but he leans back and pulls away from the kiss.

Confused, I look at him and ask, “Something wrong?"

Nathaniel shakes his head and smiles.

“No, nothing is wrong. I just…" He pauses for a moment and averts his eyes before looking back at me. “I was hoping to go out this evening on a run, but I also didn't want to leave you to wake up alone. My contact at the hospital isn't able to help out, so I need to go out and take care of some things."

I know exactly what he means. By 'going out', Nathaniel means that he is running low on blood. We both knew this might happen while we were away, but Nathaniel had hoped that he would have just enough for the trip. Evidently, I was wearing him out. He needed more while we were together to keep his thirst under control.

Giving him a reassuring smile, I nod and begin pulling myself out from under the covers, exposing my bare skin. Nathaniel's charming smile spreads across his face again as he watches me walk slowly to the bathroom.

“I'll get ready then," I say. Nathaniel's smile wavers and he is on his feet in a moment.

“Claire, it isn't necessary. It is sometimes a risk, as you are well aware, and I can move quickly while I'm independent. I think…"

But I don't let him finish his sentence. I turn on my heel, my hair whipping around as I do, and walk back up to him, poking a finger into his chest.

“That two heads are better than one, and I wanted to go on a nighttime stroll with you in the city anyway. Come on, it's going to be okay. Or would you prefer the alternative?" I ask. Nathaniel's features harden, knowing exactly what I mean.

A few months ago, Nathaniel was running low on his supply while we were out on a mission, but he insisted he could tough it through and only took small sips from his flask. Despite how little he took, there was always enough in his flask for one more drink. Little did he know that I had been 'donating' a vial of my blood to his flask when he wasn't looking. He found out later that day only after he realized the taste was familiar.

Needless to say, he made me swear I wouldn't do anything like this again, but I placed a contingency that he could use my blood if it were a dire situation.

Nathaniel's eyes, keen and sharp, practically bore a hole into me as we stand there head-to-head, stubborn in our own ways. Finally, Nathaniel yields to me.

“Very well. I would prefer your company to your… donations," states Nathaniel before giving me a nod. “When will you be ready?"

“Minutes," I say with a wink. True to my word, I am ready within a few minutes, and we are heading out to the city. It doesn't take very long, maybe thirty minutes, and we are downtown walking arm in arm along the sidewalk.

Knowing Nathaniel, he will want to find someone committing a crime. Nathaniel's code is that he only takes from someone who is trying to take from someone else. In some weird way, there is a kind of balance that goes along with this action, sparing a life and taking something in return.

It doesn't take very long as we make our way under a nearby bridge to hear someone scream. Based on the pitch, it was a woman, and a glance up ahead tells me she is being robbed. Some guy is wrestling with her, and another set of legs is sprawled out on the ground.

The man got to this woman's partner before going after her; and, thankfully, Nathaniel and I are out tonight.

Nathaniel springs into action, leaning forward as he sprints forward with lightening reflexes. The assailant gets thrown nearly twenty feet away as Nathaniel slams into his body. As he continues the pursuit of the attacker, I hurry over to the woman who is sobbing uncontrollably on the ground, leaning back on her elbows as if to scramble away.

“You're going to be okay. Get him up and make your way back to the main road," I state as I jog over to where Nathaniel has pinned the man to the ground. Whimpering, the woman begins to shake the unconscious man. I know we don't have a lot of time and that I didn't do much, but being near Nathaniel as he leaps into action gives me a surge of adrenaline which I usually only experience with him in bed.

I crouch over and pretend to inspect the now unconscious villain, whom Nathaniel is quickly tapping with his syringe, but in reality, I'm trying to block the view of what Nathaniel is doing.

“How is she?" asks Nathaniel, flashing a glance at the woman who is still crouched over the man.

“She'll be all right. A couple of bruises and is shaken, but she'll be okay in the long run. Do you need me to tap the other arm?" I ask, my training as a police officer keeping me calm and direct despite the way my heart is pounding in my chest. Nathaniel shakes his head as he secures the vials of blood he obtained into his kit.

“I'm almost done, but th—"

“Hey! You two! Hands in the air!" a forceful command tells me there is an officer nearby. Nathaniel stiffens, body taut like a drawn bowstring.

“Wait! No! Officers, they helped me," pleads the woman. I don't know what she does to make them stop, but the next thing I know is that Nathaniel has scooped me up into his arms and started sprinting as fast as he can down the road. I cling to his neck for dear life and let him carry me back to the car, which he parked a fair distance away.

He practically throws the both of us into the car and it isn't until we are driving down the road that the both of us burst out laughing.

“That was way too close," I mutter as I lean back into the passenger's seat, my heart racing.

“Agreed. I believed the situation would be advantageous, but evidently, I was incorrect in my assumption that officers of the law would be present so quickly," he states. “At any rate, shall we spend the next few days laying low?"

“High, low, and any other position we can muster," I say mischievously.

Nathaniel parks the car and grins at me. “As you wish."