Tonight and Always 
For RJ 

Terry S. Bowers May 24, 2004

Night surrounded them. She leaned forward and looked up to meet his eyes. Their gazes locked. How long had she waited for this moment? The anticipation was nothing when compared to what she felt coursing through her now. His arms encircled her, slowly drawing her closer to him. She leaned against him, resting her hands on his arms, tilting her head up, aching with a need to feel his flesh touch hers, her mouth on his. Soon, it would be soon. She could not rush this, could not risk breaking the spell that seemed to engulf them both.

Julia leaned against Barnabas as her hand slid slowly up his arm, fingers pressing into his muscles, silently urging him to continue, wordlessly telling him that she wanted what was to follow. She knew they were being watched, by whom she did not know. Benevolent or malevolent she did not know, did not care, so long as they did not interfere, intervene. All that mattered was Barnabas, herself, and what was about to happen. Could it happen? Years of denial and self doubt told her not to delude herself, that Barnabas would never be to her what she wanted, but Julia refused to listen, refused to believe any longer. They were here, together, in each other's arms, their first kiss seconds away. It was not the stuff of childish, romantic dreams and fantasies. It was not how she had first envisioned it; it was better.

"Julia..."

His deep voice caressed her, reflected the yearning for her he had long denied. His hands caressed her, heightening her desires, her needs, her willingness.

"Stay with me tonight, Barnabas."

"Yes, Julia. Tonight and always."

Slowly Julia smiled as she moved closer to Barnabas. It was what she wanted to hear. Their mouths met with a passion Julia had always known they possessed, a passion they had done everything possible to deny, to ignore, to quell. Their passion bloomed, refusing to be contained, to be limited. Barnabas broke the kiss only long enough to embrace Julia more fully. He drew her to him, smiling, softly moaning with intense pleasure as she nuzzled at his neck, her teeth nibbling his ear lobe, grazing his throat.

The pain took him by surprise. He cried out, once, then relaxed into Julia's arms, allowing her to do as she would to him, welcoming the sensations that entwined him, wondering how she knew he could respond in such a way when he'd not known it himself, not caring when he felt himself grow weaker. He held tightly to Julia, never wanting to be apart from her again.

"Julia..."

The vampire fed hungrily, greedily. He was hers, tonight and always.