Things We Care About, Things We Need

**Warning**: The follow chapter may be triggering to some. Please read at your own caution.

What he’d planned to be a simple peck, seemed to take a life of its own. Her soft lips on his ignited a fire inside him, and he pulled her closer causing her to moan against his mouth. Parting her lips Eva allowed his tongue to dance with hers. The magic of the book is now satisfied, but Alaric still didn’t pull away. Instead, lips still connected, he lifted Eva, placing her on the desk. He felt her hands travel under his jacket to his shoulders, making it fall to the ground. Eva craned her neck, as Alaric trailed slow kisses down it. Eyes closed she breathed in deep at the feel of his fangs. Every part of her body felt on fire, the curiosity taking over. Running her hands up his back, she shuddered as he jerked her closer. Very low he heard her murmur, "Alaric," as she exposed her neck to him again. Scathing his fangs against her supple skin, his canines throbbed as he prepared to taste her blood once more.

"Hey Eva, are you in there?” Tamera knocked on the door, causing Eva to jump. Pushing him away she hopped from the desk embarrassed. Alaric looked at her in amusement.

"Don’t say it.” She tossed at him over her shoulder as she straightened her papers.

"I wasn’t going to say anything.” Though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t think it.

*She wanted me to bite her*

That part had certainly intrigued him. Not to mention the way her lips felt on his. He silently rolled his eyes to himself.

*A kiss is a kiss. One kiss from a woman is the same as one from a thousand others.*

"Either disappear or please help me out.” Eva’s wide eyes stared at him, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Oh, now you want my help?”

She glared at him and turned her back, "Never mind.”

"What is it that you need?”

She sighed before turning back around, "Tamera is my publicist who thinks that you’re a model.” She pointed to his book and Alaric nodded his head in understanding. Replacing his jacket, he sat in the chair across from Eva’s and waited patiently. Adjusting herself one last time, she called for Tamera to enter.

"Hey, I-oh…hello,” Tamara said smiling so widely, Alaric could see the stain of lipstick on her teeth.

"Hello to you.” He replied raising a brow and extending his hand. While she shook it, she looked at Eva and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long to answer, but I see you were sampling the merchandise.” Eva's mouth dropped and Alaric stifled a laugh. "Oh, lighten up Eva, handsome here know I’m just kidding. Speaking of which, I don’t think I caught your name?”

"Alaric”

She looked at him in shock, "Like the character? Oh, Eva that’s brilliant using his actual name for your book.”

Eva nodded feverishly before groaning into her fist. The way Alaric was watching her was making her uncomfortable. Like he was plotting something, and she just couldn’t figure out what.

"You know-” he said leaning towards Tamera, "Eva here has a true art for writing as I’m sure you know. I particularly found her latest entry in the book quite riveting.” Eva cut her eyes so low, she could hardly see him.

"You’ve been writing? Oh! Let me see.” Tamera reached for the book, but Eva quickly snatched it.

"NO! It’s not finished yet. You know I’m a perfectionist when it comes to showing you my work.”

Tamera placed her hands to her lips, closed her eyes, and nodded, "Yes. Of course. I’ll wait for the magic.” Tapping Alaric on his shoulder, she took a long look of admiration before leaving shutting the door behind her.

"You’re such an asshole.” Eva seethed.

Alaric only laughed in response. Leaning back in his chair, his hazel eyes danced. "Now that I’ve helped you, I want you to do something for me.”

She arched her brow, "What?”

"Just answer a simple question. What goes through your mind when you’re writing in my book?” Already knowing the answer, Alaric enjoyed where he knew the conversation would lead.

"Oh, well um…it’s like having something tell me how to write down what I’m thinking. I might not know exactly how it’s going to come out, but I guess…on some level apart of it’s on my mind.”

"So, I assume you were thinking about sex when you wrote the passage about Drusilla and I?"

Eva avoided his obviously amused expression, "Shut up."

The two sat in quiet, until Alaric had a thought about something else she'd written. Something that was bothering him. Deciding to put both Raien and Drusilla's advice to use, he stood and walked over to her.

"So, does that also mean you think you’re undesirable because you’re unable to have children?” He saw her stiffen, and he could literally see her go into defense mode. "Eva, I asked you a question.”

She fumed silently. "I don’t know what I think.” She hated having to say those words. There was so much pain in the topic that she hated even having to think about it. Yet here she was talking about it with someone she was also unsure what she thought of.

"Stand Up.” He demanded, she found herself doing so, not out of fear but curiosity. Grabbing her hands, he lifted her sleeves exposing her forearms. She shut her eyes as he inspected all the scars from her cuts. "Where else?”

"M-my thighs sometimes,” she could hear him blow steam from his nose in anger. Feeling the warmth from his hands throughout her body, she looked to see everything removed.

"Eva look at me.” She didn’t want to open her eyes, knowing if she did the tears she was holding in would fall. "I won’t force you to speak about either, but I do have something to say seeing as how the words written were directed to me.” Eva's breath caught in her throat, and she finally opened her eyes. "I may not be interested in taking a wife, but if I was, whether or not she could provide me an heir would never equate to how desirable I found her. In fact-” he brushed her hair with his finger, "I’d be cautious to say, I’m sure I’d find plenty of things desirable about her, her strength being one.” Alaric beside his better nature ran his thumb over her mouth, "Her lips being a strong second.”

Eva's cheeks flushed red. "I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you won't do that anymore. Say if you feel compelled to again, you'll talk to me. I might not be the best at conversation, but I don’t necessarily dislike listening to you. Besides, I vowed to protect you and this falls under those lines as well.”

Eva stared at Alaric, confused as to who was standing in front of her. His face less angry, his eyes slightly brighter, she liked the way it made him look. "Why does this matter to you so much?”

He sighed before lifting her chin with his finger, "Because you peculiarly frustrating Little Human… I've come to realize I care.”

Eva paused at hearing his admission, before slowly nodding her head. "Ok…I’ll try.”

"That’s all I ask.” He caressed her face, and Eva saw his eyes travel to her lips again. Backing away from her, he ran his hand through his hair and muttered under his breath. "I’ll be back.” Vanishing, Alaric found himself back out onto the square. "How much of that did you see?”

Raien threw his hands up in silence, "It’s nice to hear you finally admit you care about something.”

Alaric smirked and pulled out a cigarette. "I care about plenty of things. Like my wings for one and I care about not having to stay on the dreadful planet anymore.” Taking a long drag of his cigarette, he felt his eyes reddened. "At the top of that list however is getting her comfortable enough to write her husband’s death in my book.”

Raien glared at him realizing the game he was playing at. "Always with the sadistic torture, always with the thirst for death.”

Alaric smiled devilishly, "Why do you say it like this is news to you?”

"Don’t go this route with her Alaric, it won’t end well. Manipulating her trust to get what you want is the last thing you both need.”

Alaric was tired of Raien and his lectures, and his constant push towards the Little Human. Stomping out his bud, he watched as Eva walked out of her office and met with Charles. Grabbing her arm, the two walked side by side, and Alaric cursed under his breath. "I think I have a good handle on what we need Raien. She NEEDS to have the brute killed, and I NEED it to be by my hands.”