Learning Curve

Chapter 11 - Skinny Dip

Ericka paced about in her room, footsteps light but feeling as though they thrummed heavily upon the carpeted floor below her feet.

Was it a good idea? She wasn't sure, but it was the question she had been asking herself for the past half an hour.

The sun had still been hovering a ways up from the horizon when she'd awakened, the time of day still rather early for anyone in the hotel to be up. It was usually a time that she and Drac and tended to reserve for some early evening cuddling before the need to rise for the night became necessary. Only, Drac wasn't there. His side of the bed had remained untouched that day, and Ericka could now recall the reason why. With his daughter Mavis and her husband Johnny out for their weekly date night, the Count had taken the opportunity to put his grandson to bed. A Kakie the Cake Monster story along with a special song always got the kid right to sleep, and sometimes Drac himself. Nevertheless, his absence gave her time to think things over, and the chance to formulate a potentially new plan for that morning to shake things up a bit. What she had in mind came to her as she gazed out their window and saw the sun's setting light reflected back against the pool. It was a passing thought, but as she considered it a little more, it soon became a rather solid idea in her mind. One that she knew Drac would be over the moon for... if she even brought herself to do it. The truth was, she'd never done something like this before, and the aspect in itself was daunting. She didn't know how Drac would react, or whether he'd even be okay with it. But she wouldn't know unless she found out for sure.

Tugging the loosely-fit night robe over her figure, she went over to the door and exited their suite. Her bare feet padded softly through the corridors until she reached the Loughran suite. It was an expansive space that gave off just the right feel of a family-occupied room. Evidence of little toys, drawings, and even pee-stained carpets from their puppy Tinkles were all around. She crawled further inside, finding little Dennis's room. And there, upon the bright red racecar bed, lay the man she had been searching for as well as his grandson.

Ericka grinned. They looked so content together, her husband's arms wrapped around him in a protective sort of embrace, his face nuzzled into the wild red mop of curls on the boy's head. A grin was on his face, even in his sleep. The woman sighed. She had witnessed him with Dennis plenty of times before, and sometimes even joined in on the reading of Kakie stories. The woman blushed further, thinking about how someday, it was very much possible that he would be doing the same things for any children they might be having. She had no doubt in her mind that he would be an excellent father. And, while she didn't think she could say the same for herself in regards to being a mother, she was certain that Drac would be there to help and guide her every step of the way.

But, in order for that to happen of course, a certain act had to continue to be performed.

Quietly as she could, Ericka approached him and shook his shoulder, calling softly.

"Drac? Honey..." A couple more shakes and Drac began to open an eye, and then the other. He yawned, wide and long, his fangs on full display.

"Ohh, hello honeybat," he said rather sleepily, smacking his lips. "Did I oversleep?"

"It's okay, sweetfangs," she replied, offering her hand. He took it, nuzzling Dennis one last time before getting up and trekking down the hallway with her. Drac was still a little out of consciousness, but he was aware enough to note that she was not leading them to the bedroom.

"Ericka?" he asked questioningly.

"It's still a couple hours before the hotel is up and running," she replied quietly. "I thought maybe we could do something before work starts."

She bit her lip lightly as she led them outside towards the pool deck, the nerves from before bubbling up in her stomach again. Dracula noticed where she was leading them and he nodded.