Bloodlust

[Butch O'Neal]

Staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling, he listened to the shutters rise for the night. Sighing, he rolled over and sat up, putting his head in his hands. After he'd returned from patrol last night, he'd decided to book a room in the manse instead of return to the Pit. The thought of seeing Marissa there after a long and hellish night had only made his anger come back full force. Too tired to deal with it, he'd thought a little more time away to cool off would be the best thing all around. Now, he hadn't seen Marissa in two days and was missing her. All he wanted to do was lay down and hold her, but he knew they had to hash all of this out first.

Standing, he left the room and managed to avoid everyone on his way back to the Pit. Keeping with Marissa's theme this week, he figured she would be dressed and gone to Safe Place by now. He was off tonight, so he thought he would use the time until she came home to sort out what he wanted to get through with her, get all his ducks in a row. But like the best laid plans of mice and men, she didn't cooperate. As he walked into the Pit, he could smell her still there. Pausing in the door to their bedroom, he looked at her lying in the bed, sleeping.

[Marissa O'Neal]

*After having fallen asleep on the couch in her office, she woke and knew that Butch would be furious. Instead of calling him, she hid like a coward.

She hadn't seen him in two days. SafePlace was just so important, she wanted to do as much as she could and help as many as she could. There just wasn't nearly enough time.

She had come home and Butch had already left for patrol. He didn't come to their mated rooms, and now she lay there staring at the wall. Feeling weak she couldn't get up out of the bed. She could feel the need to feed was so strong.

She stiffened as she heard the door open, Butch's scent filled her nose, fangs popping out. She closed her lips over them and tried to force them back in. Taking a deep breath, she turned and looked at him, the light from the hallway creating a massive silhouette in the doorway.* Hello Nallum.

[Butch O'Neal]

Leaning against the doorjamb, he crossed his arms, not yet ready to forgive her, no matter how much he missed her. "Glad to see you finally made it home. I thought maybe you were planning to just move into Safe Place, would be easier for you." Pushing away from the door, he walked into the closet and starting stripping off the clothes he'd worn on patrol the night before and had slept in during the day. If they were going to do this now, he wasn't going to smell like rotting Lesser.

[Marissa O'Neal]

*Pulling the blankets off she sat up, her head swimming she put her hand to her head to make it stop.* Nallum, please...I..I'm sorry. I wanted to keep our date, I did...I started not feeling well. I fell asleep.

*Stood on shaky legs and went to the closet and leaned against the wall, he didn't even look at her, said not one word.* Please...would you say something...anything.

[Butch O'Neal]

Turning, he looked at her. She was pale and weak, with dark circles under her eyes. She looked like hell and he felt bad to put her through more, but he couldn't ignore what was going on. "I talked a lot a few days ago and as I recall you didn't care to listen. In fact, it all obviously went in one ear and out the other since you blew me off the very next day." He raised an eyebrow as he pulled his shirt over his head. "So what exactly do you want me to say, Marissa? I'm glad you're home? I'm glad you're sorry and all is forgiven? Is that what you want to hear?" Stoic, he brushed past her and into the bedroom to sit and take off his shitkickers. "If that's what you're waiting for, you might want to rethink your plan."

[Marissa O'Neal]

*Blinking up at him she didn't really know what to say. She eyed the vein in his neck, the angrier he got the stronger it pulsed, his scent filled her nose more. Looking down she closed her eyes and fisted her hands at her sides. They were talking but the need to feed was beginning to take over. She would see through this, until he was no longer upset and still wanted to feed her*

I don't know what I would like for you to say. *looked up at him through her lashes, not wanting direct eye contact*..It's just SafePlace is so important, I want to help everyone Butch...I just got behind. It wasn't always going to stay like this.

[Butch O'Neal]

As he kicked a boot off, he narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't you think I know Safe Place is important. I'm so proud of you and what you've built there, but you can't keep pushing yourself. I'm not even really angry that you stood me up, its that you're not taking care of yourself. That you just blew off everything I said and worked yourself straight into the ground. You have help there, Autumn just started there even. Utilize everyone. You don't have to do it all alone. You can't do it all alone."

[Marissa O'Neal]

*swallowed* Butch I'm finally needed for something. They expect me to be there. They look for me. The children they all count on me. Doggen, they request my approval for everything. Do you understand what that is? That I'm wanted? *Breathing heavier, her eyes rolled a little and leaned against the wall again*

[Butch O'Neal]

Grinding his teeth, he kicked his other boot off and stood. "You're needed more than just there. You have a team of people there. Yes, you are the boss and are required for a lot, but you have a life outside of Safe Place. I don't expect you to be here every night, to wait on me hand and foot. But I do expect you to take care of yourself. How are you supposed to help all those people if you're to weak to stand?!" He strode forward and grabbed her arms, pulling her up. "How am I supposed to take care of you if you won't listen?"

[Marissa O'Neal]

*She sputtered her next words* I..nallum..I don't know okay. Just stop yelling.

*Her head was pounding. She pulled out of his grasp and headed slowly into the bedroom, leaning over resting her hands on the bed, taking in long strong breaths, her fangs still popped. She couldn't help it. She couldn't fight it anymore. She just left them out, but decided to not turn toward him.* I didn't think it was going to get so busy. I don't know what to do.

[Butch O'Neal]

"I've been telling you what I expect you to do! I'm not going to stop yelling because it seems to be the only way to get through the wall of obligation blocking you're common sense. You need rest and you need nourishment. Is it really so hard to leave a couple of things for another day so you can get a few hours of sleep? Take a week or more to get caught up instead of trying to cram it into only 2 days." Still she leaned against the bed with her back to him. Frustrated, he rammed his hands through his hair to keep from grabbing her and shaking her. "Marissa, turn around and face me. Face this."

[Marissa O'Neal]

*Her vision clouded she raised up and closed her eyes turning slowly. Keeping them shut she sighed, fangs still out, facing him she threw her hands out* There...I'm facing you.

[Butch O'Neal]

The sight of her in obvious exhaustion and hunger made him even more angry. This time he did go forward and grab her, gently shaking her. "Why did you let it get this bad? You know the signs Marissa, we've been through this before. You can't keep doing this to yourself." Worst of all, he knew that he'd pushed her feeding away with his anger. He'd planned to feed her two days ago, but hadn't thought of it again since. If he'd come back last night, she could have fed. His guilt made him even angrier, but mostly at himself.

[Marissa O'Neal]

*Opened her eyes and glared, baring her fangs when she saw him...her body wanted him and it wanted to feed. Blood lust, no she hated this part of her nature. Humans get cranky when then are hungry...Vampires turn into this.

Reigning it in, she backed away and spoke through gritted teeth* Because I am not some animal...I hate that about us, that my hunger dictates what needs to be done.

[Butch O'Neal]

He growled and narrowed his eyes at her. "If you fed regularly instead of putting it off, it wouldn't dictate your behavior. You wouldn't turn into an animal at all if you just listened to me occasionally and fed. Goddammit, Marissa! Can't you just understand what this is like for me? To watch you suffer, to work yourself to the bone? What would you tell one of your females if she refused to feed for so long? What advice would you give to someone acting like you have been?"

[Marissa O'Neal]

*The last words she heard were 'if you fed,' everything else was tuned out, all she saw was his vein....pulsing. Her vision zoned in on it. She could practically hear the beat of his heart pumping the blood through his veins.

Tensing her muscles she tried to hold back, but found her self licking her lips, then each of her fangs, her eyes locked on his throat.*

[Butch O'Neal]

So frustrated and involved in his anger, he didn't notice the way she was looking at him. "Answer the questions, Marissa. Explain to me what you're thinking so that maybe I can understand why you do this to yourself. To us. Your actions effect more than just yourself, dammit."

[Marissa O'Neal]

*Still not hearing his words she bared her fangs and let out a small snarl as she grabbed onto his shoulders and dug her nails into his skin breaking it, small beads of blood pooled at the tips. She leaned forward fast and struck clean into his vein.

The blood, was amazing. Like always it gave her strength and power. Sank her fangs in farther as she drank and sucked at his throat. Her mouth pooled with that delicious wine as she pushed him back against the wall, hearing his head connect with the wall her eyes opened and she saw the blood at her fingertips. Her vision clearing she pulled back and staggered away from him. Staring at him wide eyed at how she behaved she shook her head.* Nallum...I'm sorry I'm so so sorry. I didn't mean to act that way...

*Closing her eyes she couldn't look at him, how embarrassing. The scent of his blood still filling her nostrils she tried to keep down the want, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. Whispered* I'm...sorry, I just have to get it together.

[Butch O'Neal]

Surprise and then the intense pleasure. He went to wrap his arms around her, but she was gone. Looking at her, calm now and wanting her badly, he stepped towards her. "You can't get it together." He took another step closer to her. "This is bloodlust, baby." Toe to toe with her, he used his thumb to brush a drop of his blood from the corner of her mouth that she'd missed. "You can't fight it...and I don't want you to." Picking her up, he cradled her to him as he walked to the chair. Sitting, with Marissa in his lap, he cradled her head in his hand and guided her to his neck. "Feed, sweetheart. Please."

[Marissa O'Neal]

*She was shaking, but as he picked her up and carried her it was like everything was gone, no stress no missed dates just her and her hellren.

Her lips touched his neck and she took to his vein again. Whimpering a bit before letting the strong potent flavor hit the back of her throat. This time she gently grabbed onto his shoulders pulling him to her. Suckling at his vein, this was the most relaxed she'd been in two weeks. All he did was let her take from him, he didn't ask for anything in return, he just sat and stroked her hair as she fed.

Pulling back she took a long lick at the puncture wounds and closed them. Running her fingers over the red marks on his neck, she hated that it looked to ravaged.* Thank you nallum.

[Butch O'Neal]

Tipping her chin up, he cupped her face in his hand. "I missed you, baby. I've missed just holding you and knowing you're not thinking about what else you should be doing." He read the guilty look in her eyes and smiled. "I don't want you to feel bad, I know that you are busy and that only means that Safe Place is a success, but I think we need to discuss ways of easing your stress there." He leaned down and touched his lips to hers, growling at the feel of her mouth against his...finally. "Later. Right now, I need other things." He took her mouth again, this time in a heated kiss.

[Marissa O'Neal]

*returned his kiss and tried to pull him even closer, adjusting herself on his lap she straddled him and took off her top. Going in for another kiss she thrust her tongue in his mouth and pressed herself against him.*

[Butch O'Neal]

Desperate for her, he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he stood. His mouth never leaving hers, he stumbled to the bed and laid her down, moving to lay next to her. He trailed his hand over her smooth stomach and over her rib cage. Cupping her breast, he brushed his thumb over her nipple and thrilled in her gasp.

[Marissa O'Neal]

*She looked at him and took in the look in his eyes, even after all she'd put him through this week he still looked at her as though she was his world. Placing her hands on either side of his face she smiled, and raised to kiss his lips.* Nallum, I love you.

*Arching into his touch she moved on the bed and moaned at the pleasure he created for her.*

[Butch O'Neal]

Smiling down at her, he continued to touch her and caress her the way he knew she loved best. There were still a lot of things they had to work out, but for now he was content to let it go and just enjoy that she was back in his arms. Leaning down, he kissed her. "I love you too, baby."