Teeth

R and R part 2

"That makes sense. I..."

I almost apologize for being related to my own family, but stop. Susan would have punched me in the shoulder, like she has more times than I can count anymore. When I first made her acquaintance, I still said 'sorry' with every other breath, and she'd done far more than Bill ever had to help break the habit, or at least seriously curb it.

I wonder what she's doing. I wonder if she knows anything about what's happening, or if she's one of the only people involved arguably more confused than I am.

"You look thoughtful. Got a bit to chew on there?" Elsie hms, closing up the orange juice and trotting it back to the fridge while I finish my second glass.

"Well... yeah. It is. And I was just... wondering about one of my other friends. Or I hope she's a friend, since apparently Bill and I aren't on the friendly terms I thought we were." My tone turns sour. I feel so damn betrayed. I don't know if I would be able to take it if I found out that Susan was also involved.

Elsie is silent, and then pats my arm gently.

"I wish I could tell you it would all work out, but I can't dear. You're not alone though. No matter how it feels. I've got some work to do, but how about I set you up in the study. There's a tv and books, put your feet up for a while or take a little nap until Lily wakes up."

"Yeah... Ok." I'm tempted to ask if she has any blank paper or something, but it's possibly just as well if I keep most of my thoughts inside my head for now, and since everything is waiting on Lily...

Caroline think's we're safe here, and as far as I can tell, so does Elsie, and I have the feeling that feeling safe might be few and far between from here on out.

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Shall I reward you with a kiss?

Lily's voice still clings to my dreams like a cobweb. I don't even remember exactly when I fell asleep, or if I am asleep, it feels almost more vivid than sitting in an too large sitting room on an over stuffed couch reading. I feel her lips, the curve of her teeth,  even the red hot pain of the knife wound, and the slow dizzy whirl of shock and blood loss.

I feel her teeth scrape and dig against my skin, and then she bites down,

It's not a love bite. It's not a kiss, and in some disconnected great distance I feel my fingers twitch reflexively against the fabric of the chair arm. They don't talk about this in the novels... not that I've seen.

The pressure involved in punching teeth through skin designed to yield and bend not tear. The frantic sound of your heartbeat when your air is cut off, however briefly, for sharp teeth to gain the hold they need to tear down to, and pierce a vein.

I remember an gut level, primal certainty that she would just keep biting, suffocate me like a Lion on prey, and wondering if that would be as bad, or better, than what was already happening... and then her jaw relaxes, her arms easing around me with a soft, pleased sound I can feel almost as much as hear. I remember her jaw and tongue working and that I felt...

I felt good.

"Joe."

Someone is shaking me, which doesn't quite fit the dream I've fallen into deeply.

"Hey. Superman."

"Hm?" Oh hell. What?  Oh. Sitting room. Elsie's.  I think? " 'M awake."

"Sure, Kent." Caroline's voice comes more into focus as I sit up, rubbing my eyes, and letting my hand slide down over my neck.

"Sorry. I was reading..."

"I know. The book fell on the floor hours ago. I put it back."

"Oh God, did it?" Most of Elsie's books had broken spines and signs of wear, but it didn't make me feel any better about it. They were her books, her damage, not mine. "You could have woken me up. Not like I'm short on sleep..."

She seems almost... cheerful, so I'm not sure what I missed. Was I talking in my sleep?

"You look almost cute when you're asleep." She snorted.  I kind of suspect she'd say the same thing about a sleeping bulldog drooling on the floor.

 "You lost a lot of blood a very short time ago. Even with help that takes a toll. You'll probably want to make up for missing lunch though." She paused and folded her arms across her chest, raising an eyebrow. "After you go upstairs and talk to Lily."