She Saw Me

By Harunomiya

Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Harrison's characters.

WARNING! Contains mature content not suitable for younger readers.

Chapter 5: Encore

When they had discovered what the touch of pale flesh truly held for them after their shared night awakening to desire and love, they were eager seek it in each others arms time and again. They didn't want the magic of their first time to end. Even though their bodies spent and sated from their intense lovemaking, they soothed one another and found solace in as many ways as they could; loving touch and warm body against hers, caressing and holding. Yet it was never quite enough, wanting more.

Finally but reluctantly they parted as sleep claiming them both.

Emerging from Ivy's bathroom, Rachel's mind was occupied with q singular question that prominent among so many. What happens now? She wondered.

Drawing her thoughts from such dark and gloomy subjects Rachel hunted for her in the beautiful maze of Ivy's living space. A glimpse of pale skin and mother of pearl in the bend of light provided by one of the low crystal lamps showed Ivy lying amid the pillows on the bed. Rounding the corner of the massive bed, hand sliding along satin sheets, she felt her heart flutter in anticipation, she knew there would be true fulfillment in their gentle play.

Rachel paused to contemplate the dark beauty on the bed. What ever made me afraid of loving her and being loved by her? Rachel thought wonderingly, what she discovered in Ivy's arms was amazing beyond description.

Ivy was lying on the royal blue sheets, her milky skin almost translucent, as she lounged languidly among her pillows. Her small, firm breasts moved slowly as she breathed; she seemed almost asleep. One delicate hand rested below her naked breasts, the other was casually flung across a sapphire pillow. One knee was raised, and hid from view the bare places between her legs, while revealing the perfect curve of her derriere as the other leg was stretched long through the bed sheets.

When Ivy turned to look upon her that Rachel saw the bright light of her ever present awareness; desire intermixed with something deeper and lasting, and potent.

Rachel spoke softly. "I have never seen you look as you do now; I would dare even the ever-after to bring light to your skin and fire to your eyes." It was, at that moment, truth. Rachel could no more lie to her than she could lie to herself and the compliment was not merely flattering. Rachel needed to feel true flesh into flesh, needed to be held completely and fully by another's body, find release yet again that she had denied herself and Ivy both.

"You will not need to dare the ever-after; I have found a way to give you that gift and to enjoy it." Ivy's soft words were gentle and they brought Rachel's heart beating quickly to her throat. It had always been this way: Ivy always gave Rachel not what she wanted or what she desired, but what she needed. The rings of black that surrounded her brown pupils looked upon Rachel with love and more than love.

The they had long since learned that to traipse about the church too lightly clothed was an invitation to disaster, but they enjoyed being beautiful. The growth of their desire had also made them more bold than they once had been as well, and their choices in dress reflected that. So Rachel was dressed as Ivy was not, but it was far more revealing than it had been in past years.

The a night robe that was Ivy's, nearly crimson colored that she wore shimmered, nearly translucent in the white light that lit Ivy's room. Despite its translucence one could never catch more than a hint of breast, the possibility of navel, or the shadow of the line of her sex. The robe ended just below Rachel's thigh's, loosely tide at the waist; from there the shimmering material gave discreet revelation of her shapely thighs. Rachel met the heat it brought to Ivy's gaze with an understanding that in another time might have once denied. But it was more than that. Seeing Rachel wearing her close, her scent seeping into the cloth and mingling with her own pleased her, and caused her heart to flutter.

Bare footed, Rachel slowly walked to Ivy as she rose to greet her. Delicate hands met, clasped as Ivy's body moved along Rachel's, breasts meeting as their lips did. The almost electrical frisson of kissing her was accompanied by the warm heat of flesh, and it almost immediately brought potency to the shine of their skins. The touch of light to Ivy's skin held a faint shimmer to it, the luminosity of radium or sea foam in moonlight. Rachel's skin held a nacreous glow, pearlescence that revealed what the night robe had hidden before.

The kiss deepened, slowly, becoming more than a just a kiss. Rachel's heart sped up, and she felt the thunder of Ivy's heart against her breast do the same. Slowly breaking the kiss, Ivy's mouth traveled down, along her neck, causing her to lift her face up to gaze at the ceiling with its fantastic whorls and shapes of icy marble, shining silver, and crystalline glass. The heat of the vampire's kisses along her throat stole her breath away and as those soft lips caress her throat, gently hands traced the tendons of wrist and the smooth muscle of arms.

Ivy slowly brought Rachel's arms down, and once more their fingers became laced together as she murmured softly, "It has been too long." Rachel flushed, shame and guilt washing hot blood to her cheeks, ears and breasts.

Tears came unbidden to her eyes, as she slowly embraced Ivy, though she did not sob. But she had hoped she would not harm Ivy. Instead she had caused Rachel to harm Ivy, as she denied any such succor in the warm touch of her flesh.

Rachel started to open her mouth, to ask for forgiveness, and tell her of what a fool she had been to deny Ivy these pleasures, but gentle fingers moved to stop her from speak

"No, heart-of-me, no... I will give you the release you need, though it will not be the release I wish to give you." Her eyes shimmered, laughter within them and the faint glow of her skin and the warmth of her body chasing the shame – though not the guilt – from Rachel's mind. Ivy would know: there could be no denying that they would each have been visited by hateful inadequacies, torments visited upon each of them in private terror and shame, but Rachel's hangups were based on the pain she's always causing the beautiful vamp.

Rachel knew what she meant, to bring to life to the mark was to call forth the pheromones. "I do not deserve such kindness," said Rachel, her head bowing and her tears slipping along her cheeks.

"No...you deserve far more, and would that I could give it all to you." Ivy lifted her witch's head, sought the mirror of her self and kissed her, sharing in the tears as some fell from her own brown eyes. When she broke the kiss she spoke softly. "But I will give you what can be given, and it will ease at least those aches which are mine to heal in you." Ivy kissed Rachel again, sliding the dress up her body, letting the supple leather caress her body as Ivy removed it.

Letting fall the beautiful dress to the edge of the soft furs they stood upon, Ivy's hands slid along the soft, svelte curves of Rachel's body. "So beautiful," she whispered softly as she cupped the small, firm breasts of her lover. She did not refer to the warm orbs she now caressed or the delicate grey flesh of her nipples as she teased them into further hardness, but of Rachel in whole did she speak. Ivy had long known Rachel was the more beautiful between them and while there was no envy there was a large measure of appreciation in her words. "Like the living sculpture crafted by the long dead masters, you are opal and mother-of-pearl brought to life. But no hands save the Goddess' could have carved you to such perfection."

Rachel flushed and her hands found Ivys's hips, brought them closer. "Shame on you for saying such things." But there was no real reprimand to her voice. There was no reason for the compliments they gave one another. Privately, she thought Ivy the more beautiful of the two. She was not blind to the looks that they gave her while working a run. Rachel's thoughts were derailed as soft, warm lips slowly encircled her nipple, kissed and suckled it with the gentleness Rachel had come to desire more with each passing moment as she equally had been without.

Ivy rained kisses, sweet tastings, and gentle bites upon breasts, throat, and ears. Rachel responded eagerly, pressing her hands tightly into the smooth curves of Ivy's derriere, nails biting in deep enough to bruise. Ivy made a soft, pleased noise and gently bit her nipple harder, making Rachel squirm and press her sex along the hard thigh between her legs. Slowly they sank to the bed, Rachel rubbing her body along Ivy's even as she was ravenously kissed and licked and bitten with tender love.

Finally she pushed Ivy away. "I can take no more, Ivy... fall upon me and take me and be damned, or torment me no more." Despite her desperate plea Ivy only smiled and slipped a hand behind Rachel's neck, drawing her close in a manner at once tender and forceful, using her own vampirc strength and the pleasure that Rachel took in the firm treatment to force her to meld their bodies together. She pressed her leg to those places between her lovely witch's legs, rubbing smiling, Ivy snapped her fingers. Rachel was confused.

Ivy gazed at her as their bodies were entwined. A jolt of pleasure rocked Rachel as Ivy caressed her nether lips, but that same jolt of pleasure was accompanied by the tightening of the magic that protected their lives and bodies from the world on a daily basis. They had quickly learned only momentary touches of each other could occur in this manner. Ivy, much to Rachel's embarrassment and shock, held those moistened fingers to her lips, which taking in that earthly essence and then began licking with her tongue the nectar it found there. Ivy's eyes clouded even as they held Rachel as she took her pleasure at the unique taste of her beloved witch.

Ivy drew her hand lower and closer to Rachel's back. Her fingers slipped between the soft, firm globes of Rachel's derriere and she stiffened, as the questing fingers moved behind her.

Glowing eyes of living emerald shifted and glowed, melting throughout the witch's eyes in her pleasure and uncertainty. "What do you mean to... OH!" Ivy's fingers, pressed along her tight rear entrance so that the long hot flame, slid between her nether lips and stoked the fires there that had begun to fade.

"Ah, warm silk," Ivy murmured in Rachel's, pressing her breasts to those of her witch as she caressed and fed upon the touch of another, just as Rachel did her own. "I will bring you as I may not, while you lie above me and are held by flesh and the power that has always been yours to command." Ivy kissed her even as Rachal leaned forward, her lover's words and the passion they had built between them urging her to allow this act of love to continue.

Rachel forced a kiss from her lover as Ivy's hand slid hot flame along her nether lips and the crease of her derriere, with a slender swiftness seeking the nectar that formed there. She shook with each caress of that length of those slender fingers, and Ivy's other hand slid along her back, squeezed lightly, dug nails in when Rachel made noises of pleasure. The nacreous glow increased, became warm and shining as Rachel was pleasured by the exquisite touch. Ivy broke the kiss and pulled her down, closer, sliding between her legs to lie beneath Rachel. The heavy curtain of Rachel's red hair caressed her cheek and Ivy grabbed it, used it to pull closer still.

Obedient to her Ivy's urgings, Rachel lowered herself, slid her glowing breasts against her lover's softly shining ones. "I would bring you another way, Rache," Ivy said softly, almost shyly. Rachel smiled and buried her hands in Ivy's dark hair, realizing at once it was as close to a request as she would receive. She jerked as Ivy's hand slid more closely, her new position giving access to her in a more intimate manner.

"AH! Y... yes, Ivy," she whispered and she kissed her once more, one hand clutching her back, knowing there might be pain at first and bleed as she should.

The thought made her hesitate and her glow dimmed a little, and she pulled away to speak... Ivy slid her finger along the soft lips of her glowing love, her eyes full of love and knowledge. Rachel's eyes shone with tears and she gave herself wholly to Ivy's desire.

Their desire.

She trembled as the rhythm became more urgent, the hot ribbon of flesh sliding between her petals and along the risen jewel they hid until she was incapable of little more than gasping moans. Ivy spoke a word. Ivy's fingers moved under her, caressing her slit carefully while she took the, warm, slick finger and guided its length to the entrance of Rachel's body.

Their eyes locked, met, shimmering bursts of burning fire rising and dissolving in the white and grey of their irises, while the midline between was a furnace of green and blue fire that lit their pale faces with alien fire. Ivy mouthed the words alone, and Rachel opened her mouth to speak when she was pierced in full, Ivy taking her fast and hard as she collapsed onto her lover and was held and kissed and murmured to with sweet love. That knowing touch filled her completely, her body aching with desire and further with the rapidity of the rhythmic assault. The pleasure/pain only brought her greater pleasure and Ivy's eyes grew wider with the knowledge.

But so did the rim of black in her eyes.

Pinned underneath Rachel, Ivy's eyes were hungry, wild. She given herself over to a piece of herself that she rarely let out, not by choice. That part that didn't think like a person, but a vampire.

Rachel stared into Ivy's eyes and found nothing but need, a need that went beyond desire and became a true need, like food or water. For her, this moment was need; if Rachel turned from her now, they might come together as lovers, but Ivy would never let herself go this far again. She might close this part of herself forever, and it would be a little death.

Instead of frightening her, the thought was exhilarating. she remembered what it was like to have this feeling, to be so out of control that not even death mattered. It was reckless, it was damning, it was euphoric.

One Need was sated only to be replaced by another.

The witch buried her face against the hallow of Ivy's throat, her knowledge at the vampire's need heightening her desire painfully. Ivy always gave her what she needed. It was time that she gave in turn. She will trust Ivy. Did trust her. "Do it," were the heated words.

With the gasping, quick breaths of Rachel in her ears and against her neck, Ivy slipped a hand between them and dug her nails into the soft, willing flesh of Rachel, then shifted her hand, claws the soft skin of Rachel's hip just as deeply, until tiny crimson rivers started to form. Rachel cried out her pleasure at the deep, hard assault of that expert touch, warm, sliding across and into skin while Ivy gave her tiny cuts to further her pleasure. They kissed, and then a thought strayed into her mind. As if knowing, Ivy grabbed her hair and held it tight as she forced her to take harder and faster thrusts.

It was ecstasy.

"We shall keep you, and hold you to us in safety and love... you will be ours to cherish..." Rachel's heart burst with love and then the shock of pleasure pain as the knot of the pleasure expanded inside her, locking them together as Ivy had locked them together with the promise that only a lover could make. Rachel screamed, her release erupting over Ivy and her hands and body burning into her lover's body with pleasure and pain, making her scream as well, not without some pain but more in the shared pleasure of her climax.

It was wondrous this passion, it was diabolical, it was wicked, it was pure self-gratification.

It was ecstasy.

They both hovered on the edge, Ivy on the verge of the blackness from which she might not return. And then Ivy pulled away, pulling Rachel away from the brink with her, the only thing possessing the power to pull her away, and that was her love of Rachel.

Slowly, very slowly, Rachel came back to herself, collapsed upon Ivy who whispered soft lullabies of love and affection in her ear. Already a dull heat deep within told her she had been given a surfeit of flesh and finally achieved pleasure in the act of love by her Ivy's will.

"Did I hurt you?" Ivy managed as she returned to her senses, worry in her voice.

Rachel shook her head, "No. I love you, Ivy," she whispered softly.

* * *

Rachel lay across Ivy's body, shifting the silk of her hair again and again through her fingers. Ivy's arms were around her, hands slowly caressing her shoulders. They were kissing deeply. Faint, intermittent sound intruded insistently and assumed coherence: voices and the vibration of footsteps. Reluctantly, Rachel drew her mouth away, pushes aside the sheets that covered them, and opened her shocked eyes to daylight. Ivy's arms tightened. Eyes shut tight against the light, Ivy murmured indecipherable words and drew Rachel to her, and dissolved all Rachel's thought with her mouth...

"Tink's tits!," the voice of their pixie partner came from behind them. Rachel rolled from her even as Ivy sat up, her brown eyes narrowed blazing with a fury that could not Jenk's amusement and surprise. His eyes looked upon his partners and friends, seeing the wetness, and something darker staining the sheets. "I, um, thought, uh, danger... wow." Jenks flustered was a sight to see and would have been quite amusing if it weren't for the compromising position.

His eyes widened further once he identified the dark substance. "Is that blood?" Jenks demanded, his expression dark, and accusing at Ivy.

Panic killed Rachel's afterglow quickly, and she glanced at Ivy. What he thought of her didn't matter but what Jenks of Ivy... "No Jenks, please don't..." He looked over at Rachel seeing the red against the white of her flesh, he blushed and Ivy slowly maneuvered to put herself between Jenks' line of sight and Rachel. "No, please..."

"Leave us be Jenks," Ivy spoke flatly.

His eyes darted back to Ivy, glance defiant. Jenks was about to press for answers but something in the beautiful vampire's face forestalled him. Clamping his mouth shut, Jenks nodded curtly. He turned away, but not before delivering a parting shot, spoken softly, meant for Ivy's ears alone. "Next time lock your door." the door shut behind him with a soft click.

Ivy stilled, and stared unmoving, at the door.

"Ivy...?" Rachel asked softly, her hands slowly caressing her shoulder, drawing the power from the simple touch, saving Ivy from the wrath that threatened to consume her.

The light touch relaxed the other far more than the words did, and Ivy slumped to sit with her back against the headboard. Her gaze slid down as her body did and she caught the swath of crimson that still decorated the red-head's inner thigh.

Ivy looked away, but not from embarrassment at the unbidden sight; the white flesh of the beautiful witch had more allure than that, and the tracery of blood did not make her less appealing for all that it meant had happened. It was flesh and blood that had begun it all and it would undoubtedly be flesh and blood that ended it – though there would be the need for the blood balance involved in the last. Her own blood and sweat stained her skin as well and Rachel did not care as she gently wrapped her hands about Ivy's arm.

"Damn, I forgot to lock the door." Ivy muttered, voice filled with shame at her lack of proper vigilance.

"What?" Rachel exclaimed. "You forgot?"

"I was preoccupied," Ivy said sheepishly, but truthfully. had she been more careful, this would have never happened.

"What could have made you so careless?" Rachel asked curious, any reproach was exempt.

She turned her full attention to Rachel, dark eyes smoldering. "You," Ivy said simply. A dark arched upward. "Need you ask?"

Rachel couldn't help her body's response. Hearing Ivy say that pleased her to no end.

"Do you wish that things hadn't changed?" Ivy asked, voice soft.

I turn to my Ivy, eyes wide that she would even ask that question. If the cosmos hadn't shifted, if I hadn't risked change, I might never have found Ivy. Found myself. Things had changed. my old world seemed very small to me, I would have been trapped without knowing the truth. It has set me free in the most wonderful of ways. My view of the world had expanded, illuminated, grown. I saw things in a different light, everything magnified with is piercing intensity. Let them know that Ivy and I were together. Now if only Jenks hadn't caught us so in the act...

Author's Notes:

End of Chapter 5: Encore.

Okay folks, this is the the morning after for those of you that requested it. I never said it was going to be out of bed! O_o.

This was originally written in Chapter 4: Rhapsody, but edited out for two reasons. First, I didn't want to disrupt the intense flow of the story. Second, I was uncertain, truth be told, I believed it to be a bit... much. But as Icipher reminded me there is precious little Ivy/Rachel written. I agree with the sentiment. This spurred me on to be true to what I wrote.

Icipher, I hope this makes up for it. ^_^

Now, how can I word this? Ah, yes, the firm treatment on behalf of Ivy's part... As much as she loves and desires Rachel I envisioned her becoming more dominate in her needs. she is after all a vampire. Dominate in the sense that Rachel can trust her to draw blood without the loss of control nor calling on the mark.

Mr. Smith: You think this story's is gonna have a happy ending?

Mrs. Smith: Happy endings are just stories that haven't finished yet.

Ahem... where was I? Ah, yes, thank you for reading! All reviews are welcomed. Comments and critiques, thoughts, ideas, excreta, excreta.

-Harunomiya