Here's a little bit of fun.  Nick & Nat do not belong to me.  I am only borrowing them from
TPTB for a little fun.  They can have them back when I'm done.  No infringement intended.

Thanks to Jody for being my Beta!

The Passions of Painting
by:  Lisa a.k.a KnightOwl
May 12, 1998

Nick carefully picked the paint from beneath his finger nails.  He didn't think helping Natalie
paint her bedroom would be so messy.  Natalie walked back into the room, carrying the
last of the paint and poured some into Nick's pan.  Nick reached down with his roller
before she was finished.  As he began to pull the roller back, Sydney jumped on his back,
causing him to poke the roller right into Natalie's face.

"NICK!"

Sydney jumped from Nick's back and retreated down the hall as he heard the primal scream
escape from Nick's lips.  Natalie jumped backwards landing on her behind as the paint
splattered all across her shirt and pants.  Nick stood upright once again in time to see Natalie
cursing beneath her breath.  He couldn't help but burst out laughing as Natalie sat there
covered in pale rose paint.

Natalie sighed, "Ewwwww, this feels weird!"

Nick laughed, "You look a little strange too."

Natalie took her paint soaked hand and flung it at Nick.  "Let's see how you like it!"

Nick tried to jump backwards, but he was too late.  The paint splattered him point blank in the
middle of his chest.  "Nat, I love this shirt.  Look what you did!"

Natalie sat on the floor, giggling.  Nick began to move towards her, stalking her.  "So, you think
that's funny?"  The roller was still in his hand, he raised it towards her as he came forward.

"Nick, NO!  don't do that!"  She began to skitter backwards from him on her hands and feet.

He grinned evilly as he approached. "Don't what?"

As he begin to bend down towards her, Natalie began to swing her arms wildly with her eyes
shut.  The next moan she heard startled her as her fist made contact. "Nick?"

She opened her eyes to see Nick bent over double.  Nick responded in a very high pitched
voice, "Yes!"

"Oh Nick, I'm soooooooooooooo sorry, I didn't mean to....I mean.....does it hurt?"

He went to his knees beside her and looked slowly up.  "Well it doesn't feel good."

Natalie watched him regain his composure as he sat beside her.  She was worried.  She hoped
she hadn't permanently damaged him. "Are you sure you're ok?"

He laughed, "Yeah, I think so.  Besides, you couldn't cause any *permanent* damage."

"Oh yeah, that's right." She slapped him on the chest and the paint splattered into her face.  She
sighed, "I give up, I think we both need a shower."

Nick grinned, "Yeah, I could go for that.  Come on."

Nick rose from the floor, pulling Natalie along behind him.  Natalie stopped dead in her tracks.
"What?  Nick....What do you think you're doing?"

"If you won't walk, I'll carry you."  Nick reached down and scooped Natalie into his arms and
walked into the bathroom.

He carefully sat Natalie on her bare feet into the tub.  His fingers trailed her chin, then he leaned
over and gently kissed her on the lips.  As they parted, Natalie noticed the paint smudge now on
his face.  She reached up with her fingers and smeared the paint, "You have paint all over you."
She looked down at herself, "But not as much as me."

Nick gently kissed her fingers.  He reached down and turned the faucet on, then turned on the
shower head.  Natalie felt the cool water hit her face.  She turned to face the stream as the water
increased in warmth.  Her hands went to her face as she rubbed the paint off.

As she worked on the paint, she hadn't notice Nick slip his shirt off and position himself behind
her in the tub.  His arms gently wrapped around her waist, pulling her body against his.  Nick
slowly began to nibble at her neck, as his hands smeared the paint across the front of her shirt,
gently caressing her bosom.  He reached down and found the shirt tail, then began to pull the
shirt over Natalie's head.  Her damp hair clung to his chest as he threw the shirt to the bottom of
the tub.  His hands once again encased her, drawing her backwards into his cool chest.  He
began to caress her breast through the lace of her bra as he slowly began to nuzzle at her shoulder.

Natalie's head arched backwards into his chest.  The sensations Nick was causing was driving
her wild.  She afraid to open her eyes in fear she was dreaming; and that if she did, her erotic
pleasures would end.  Her hands ran down her sides and behind her until she could feel the
dampness of his jeans.

Nick's hands trailed upwards to her shoulders.  He gently slid each strap of the bra down.  He
moved Natalie forward slightly, as one hand slipped behind and undid the clasp.   The bra joined
her shirt at the bottom of the tub.

Nick's hands traveled round and cupped each of her breasts.  His fingers pinched at the rosey
centers until the hardened nubs puckered beneath his touch.  Nick's lips continued to pleasure her
skin as he kissed gently on her shoulders and neck.  She turned her head slightly.  As she did,
Nick captured her lips with his.

Natalie could feel Nick's arousal building through the tight jeans he was wearing.  As Nick kissed
her, she turned in his arms until the two were facing each other.  She ran her fingertips across his
chiseled chest, down his abdomen, until they came to rest upon the hardened bulge in his pants.

She kneaded him gently through his jeans, causing him so moan into her mouth with pleasure.  His
hands wrapped around her, pulling her even closer into him.

Natalie's hands travled upwards to the snap of his jeans.  She undid the snap, then gently pulled the
zipper down.  Her hands went up and her thumbs caught in two of his belt loops, then she gently
tugged his jeans and boxers to the bottom of the tub.

Natalie stood once again, grinning as she had finally seen the part of Nick that had eluded her for so
long.  She stared into his blue eyes as her hands once again trailed down his chest and abdomen,
finally coming to rest upon his throbbing member.  She kneaded slowly and gently.  Nick's head
jerked backwards as his hands flew to the sides to steady himself in the tub.  Natalie kissed the
base of his neck, then began to trail kisses and lick down his chest and abdomen.

Natalie lowered herself to her knees as her tongue made contact with his curly blond hair.  She
continued to kiss and lick as she heard the first low growl emerge.  She looked up briefly,  Nick's
eyes were shut tight.  His back was now against the back of the tub, as his strong arms held
himself upright. Natalie returned to licking the tip of Nick's member.  She slowly began to swirl
small circles with her tongue.  She began by taking small amounts of him into her mouth at a time.
With each swirl, she pull him deeper within her moist mouth.

Nick was on the edge of losing himself to Natalie minstrations.  He could feel the beast demanding
to take her, make her his for all eternity. Then they could pleasure each other forever.  He kept his
eyes  shut as he concentrated on the warmth of her mouth upon him.  His hands went down to the
top of her head and entangled in her mass of auburn curls.  He slowly began to rock in rhythm to
Natalie's motions.

Natalie felt his hands upon her.  His hand came down and traced the outline of her ear, as she
heard the moans and growls escaping from Nick.  He caressed her face as his hands traveled
back and tangled and pulled at her hair.  She felt him respond as he moved in rhythm.  She
could feel the pressure building within him and within her own depths, as her own juices began to
flow in anticipation of what was to come.  She increased her rhythm, sucking and pulling him ever
deeper and faster into her wet, moist lips.  She heard him scream her name as he pulled at her hair,
then grabbed at her shoulders, jerking her to her feet.

Her eyes once again met his, but this time they were feral red.  He pushed Natalie back to arm's
length.  He closed his eyes and turned his face to the side.  "No Nat, we have to stop.  I won't be
able to stop if we go on."

Tears welled in her eyes as she heard the torture in his voice.  She raised her hand and turned his
chin.  His face was looking at her again.  He tried to drop his face down, but her hand brought it
back to eye level again.  She struggled with her words, "Nick, I don't care.  I want you. *All* of
you."

He hissed his response, "You don't know what you're saying, Nat.  I'll destroy you."

Her compassion turned to rage.  "Then why did you even start this Nick!  If you couldn't finish it,
why torture me?  You know how I...how we feel about each other.  We both want this.  Why?"
By the time she finished, she was in tears.  She slapped at his bare chest, then threw herself
forward and wept into his shoulder.  The spray from the shower wiped away the tears cascading
down her cheeks.

She felt Nick's arms begin to wrap around her again.  She jerked back away from him violently.
"Don't touch me.  Not unless you mean to finish what you start.  I *love* you Nick and I know you
feel something.  I don't know if it's love or not.  But there is something?  I can't be wrong?"

"Nat, I don't know what to say.  Yes, we *feel* something.  But, all I have to offer you is a world
of darkness.  You'd never survive in that world.  You would end up hating me for all eternity if I
had to bring you across Nat.  I couldn't bear that."  His voice was torn as he spoke.

Her hands once again laid upon his chest.  Her voice was now softer and more in control.  "It's my
decision Nick.  I wouldn't hate you if you had to bring me across.  Besides, you may be able to take
only a little.  We don't know unless we try.  I'm willing to try no matter what the consequences.  I
need to be with you.  We need to be together.  Even if it ends up being forever Nick, I *love* you."

Nick's hands went about her shoulder's and pulled her close again.  His head rested against her
temple.  The red tears escaping from his eyes as he spoke softly into her ear. "I'm scared Nat.

Her warm arms encased his waist. "I'm not."  She kissed him gently upon the lips as she began to
feel the chill of the shower beating against her skin.

Nick's hands began to caress her back once again.  He could feel the goosebumps beginning to
form.  He released her lips, then reached down and turned the shower off.  He stood in front of her
cupping her cheek into his hand.  His thumb traced her jawline, then the outline of her now swollen
lips.  He thought for only a few moments as he stared into the vast well of blue in her eyes, then his
lips recaptured hers.  His hands trailed down to the waist band of her jeans and undid the snap and
zipper.  He slipped his hand into the band of her jeans and pulled them down, discarding them into
the bottom of the tub.

Without releasing her lips, he carefully picked up her now nude form and craddled her into his
embrace.  They left the shower and returned to Natalie's bedroom.  He sat her down for a brief
moment as he cleared the plastic covering from the bed.  He turned once again to face her damp
form standing before him.

He held his hands out as she stepped forward into his embrace.  Their lips once again found each
other.  Nick pulled her full against his nude form.  Natalie could feel his arousal building once again.
Nick turned until Natalie was backwards to the bed.  He began to lower her damp, compliant body
ever so gently onto the feather comforter.

Her arms raised up and captured his neck and pulled him on top of her.  Nick gently lowered himself
onto her fragile frame.  He propped his head up with his hand, once again staring into her face.  She
smiled.  Her eyes never broke contact with the red feral ones staring back at her.  She reached up to
capture his lips once again.  They kissed madly as their tongues demanded entrance into each others
mouths. Natalie could now feel the sharpness of his fangs against her tongue.  Nick's hand's ran down
Natalie's sides, savoring the feel of her skin.  He gently grabbed hold of her hips and pushed himself
up.  He escaped the hold of her mouth and began to trail kisses down her throat.  He stopped
briefly, teasing, tugging, licking, and sucking upon each of her breasts.  His mouth continued on down
her firm stomach until he reached her sex.

He growled softly as he began to trace his tongue through the curly hairs.  He slowly spread her labia
exposing the now swollen clit to his advances.   He licked and slowly applied suction.  His tongue ran
circles around and around as Natalie's hips began to move in rhythm to his motions.  He could hear
the mewling noises escaping from her throat.  The sound was music to his ears, as the vampire once
again felt satisfaction in it's lovers enjoyment.  Nick brought his hand down and slowly began to insert
his finger into her warm chamber increasing Natalie's vocal approvals.

His finger moved ever faster and deeper, he then inserted a second finger to join the first.  Natalie
began saying his name, softly, "Nick."  His other hand raised and began to pinch and pull at the
hardened nub of her breast.  Natalie was lost in a wave of pleasure.  She never dreamed of the
ecstasy Nick could release on her senses.  Her hips rocked in rhythm to his fingers as she felt herself
coming closer to the edge of her release.  Her hands went down and entangled in the blond curls of
Nick's head.  Her passion was building, she felt as if she would explode at any moment.  "Faster
Nick, faster!"

Nick increased his speed and the pressure his mouth was releasing upon her body.  He could feel
her muscles begin to contract around his fingers as her orgasm began to overtake her.  He rode the
waves of her emotions as he lapped at her copious juices being released.  He growled feverishly as
the vampire demanded to join its lover in her ecstacy.  Nick released her clit, then his knee moved
her legs to gain access to he moist core.

Natalie screamed Nick's name as her orgasm cascaded across her body.  She was lost in a wave of
color and light as she felt his movements becoming one with her own.  His hardened member moved
slowly into her.  Her muscles continued to contract as Nick moved ever slower and deeper into her
moist chamber.  She wrapped her legs tightly around him, helping to guide him ever faster and deeper.

Nick gently increased his speed, as he felt his own release growing.  He could feel her muscles
contracting around his throbbing member, ever increasing his pressure and pleasure.  He moved ever
swifter, building, pounding, until his beast demanded its release.  The growl escaped his lips as
Natalie turned her head to expose the subtle flesh of her throat.

Nick's head flew back and then swiftly forward.  His fangs entered her pliant flesh.  He lapped and
drank deeply all that was his Natalie.  His thrusts increased at a fevered pitch, until one final
penetrating thrust forward forced the release of his seed deep into the wells of Natalie's being.  He
heard Natalie scream his name as his last thrust ripped into her core.  As the shorter thrusts
continued, he was lost in a sea of emotion: love, trust, fear, faith, envy, jealousy, and rage.  He began
to focus on the images from Natalie.  Her struggle to find a cure, so they could be together.  He
discovered she had lied the very first night, she knew exactly what she wanted as a reward...him.  He
pushed ever deeper into their newly formed link.  Her undying, faithful, unconditional love only for him.
A love so deep at times it scared even her.  Her hopes and dreams of a future together, mortal or
vampire, it didn't matter.  He wanted ever so much to push further until, he could see the darkness
beginning to envelope her.  He quickly removed his fangs from her neck.  He cried, "Natalie!"  Fear
siezed his heart as it beat twice.

His hand frantically reached for her neck.  "Pulse.  Please, oh God!  Please let there be a pulse."
His finger searched long her neck until he could feel a faint beat.  He sighed in relief as he felt the
beat growing stronger.  "Natalie, come back to me.  Nat."  His hand caressed her jaw as he saw
the first signs of color return to her cheeks.  Her head slowly began to bob side to side as her eyes
lids began to flutter.  "That's it Nat, come on.  Come back to me."

She opened her lips as a small sigh was released, "Nick?"

"That's it.  Come back.  Come back to me."  Tears began to stream down his cheeks.

Natalie's eyes fluttered.  She frantically tried to focus on the image before her.  Her hands raised
and moved towards the image hovering above her. "Nick?"

Nick grabbed her hands and kissed her palms.  "Yes, it's me.  You can do it Nat.  You've got a
strong spirit and faith.  Fight."  His tears cascaded across her hands.

Natalie's vision began to clear as she saw Nick enfold her hands in his crying.  Crying?  She looked
at his face, frantically blinking to see if what she thought she was saw happening.  "Nick?"

"That's it Nat.  I can feel you getting stronger.  I can't lose you, not now.  Please God, don't let me
lose her."  He kissed her finger.

Natalie raised her hand to her face and rubbed her eyes.  She watched Nick weep.  A smile crossed
her face. "Nick, I think..."

He raised his face to meet her eyes, "Oh, God Nat.  Are you OK?"

She smiled and then began to weakly laugh, "Nick, I think God heard you."

Nick looked confused as he held her hand and kissed the fingers again.  He didn't care if she made
any sense at all.  She was back, his Natalie.  She'd been given back to him.  "I think so, you're here
in my arms again."  He reached down and scooped her up and kissed her lips.

She began to laugh as her hand reached up and caressed his cheek.  Her finger tip ran across his eye
lid.  She then turned her hand to look at her finger.  She then smiled at Nick and turned her finger
towards him, "Look Nick."

He looked at her finger and stared.  He didn't know what she was talking about.  He reached and
kissed the tip, "It's beautiful Nat.  I *love* every inch of you."

She startled at his words, "You what?"

Nick thought for a moment then realized what he had said, "I *love* you.  But how?  Vampires
can't love."

Natalie laughed louder as she threw her arms around his neck.  She began to weep uncontrollably
in his embrace.  "Nat?"

She ignored his call and brought her hand to his chest.  She held it  there ever so still.  She hugged
him tighter.  Then she whispered into the air, "Thank you."

Nick pulled back and captured both of her hands in his, "Nat, what's wrong?  Is something wrong?
Did something happen?  Did I take too much?  What?"

She smiled and her head bent slightly.  She removed one of her hands from his and cupped his cheek
in her warm hand.  She ran her hand across his moist face, then pulled it back.  "Look Nick."

Nick stared, but only look confused.  She then took his hand and put it upon his own chest.  He sat
still for a few moments, then looked at her with dawning realization as he grabbed for the hand she
had just shown him.

He grabbed at his own cheek, then stared in disbelief, "Nat, it's...it's...salty.  Not red?  And my heart,
I thought I felt....?"

Natalie's arms flew around his neck once again, "You did Nick, you did. It's beating."

They sat and held each other the rest of the night.  They talked, laughed, and cried.  They admitted
their fears about expressing their love as well as the consequences of making love, the consequences
of Natalie dying, of being brought across.  It had never occurred to either, the change may happen to
Nick.  A world of possiblities now lay before them....

The End.