Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 17:17:40 -0700 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: A Mixing of the Minds (1/2) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU I always wondered why Natalie smirked so strangely at LC when he mentioned a mixing of the minds in "Be My Valentine", and why Nick looked so ragged out when he and Natalie showed up at the crime scene together. Of course, Natalie doesn't remember any of this, but a certain blonde-headed vampire told me the story. We all know where it starts. This is a PG-13 story -- no explicite language, but some more-than-implied scenes. If you're not a N&N fan, then please don't read it. Part 1 is short. Part 2 is longer. The characters are not mine, etc. Please send comments to me at zeke@rt66.com. BTW, Nick never made it upstairs... his beeper went off. ************************************************ A MIXING OF THE MINDS (1/2) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) "That's my two-minute gourmet. I guess I should ..." The first kiss was tenderly urgent. Natalie felt her heart in her throat; it was nearly impossible to breathe. His smile, as he pulled his face from hers, told her everything she had wanted to know. He *did* care. The second kiss was also tender. Nick traced the lines of her face with his fingers, bathing in her warmth. As their lips met again, he wrapped his arms around Natalie and felt as though they were melting into one. The beating of her heart filled his head. The taste of her mouth was so incredibly sweet, intoxicating. It whispered to him of the sweetness of her blood. He felt his eyes changing, closed as tightly as they were. Natalie was falling into a bottomless pit. The intensity of his kiss grew, and he pulled the entire length of her body against his. Somewhere in her brain, a warning light was flashing. Nick had never specifically told her of the dangers of intimacy, but had hinted enough. She knew she should push away from him, but found herself tightening her arms around him instead. Nick's fangs were starting to descend. Natalie's blood was singing to him. He released his hold on her as he reluctantly ended the kiss. When he opened his eyes, he saw her dreamy smile harden to concerned fear. With all the strength he could muster, Nick turned away from her. "Nick, what *are* we going to do about this?" Natalie touched his back gently, feeling his muscles suddenly tighten. Her heart ached with both desire and concern for Nick. "Nat," Nick spoke slowly with his back to her. His voice was slightly ragged. "There may be something we can do, but ... we can't do it here." He turned back around, his eyes glowing but mortal again. "Will you come to the loft with me?" Natalie tried to read his look. The desire was still there, and there was a glimmer of hope. "Yes, Nick," she answered. Her smile was laced with concern, but the fear was gone. Nick lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips as he smiled into her eyes. End Part 1. Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 17:22:40 -0700 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: A Mixing of the Minds (2/2) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Again, this is a PG-13 story. ********************************************* A MIXING OF THE MINDS (2/2) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Nick motioned Natalie to the sofa and draped her coat over the back of a chair. He walked quickly to the refrigerator and removed a full bottle, which he carried with him into the living room. Natalie was seated near the edge of the sofa, her left knee propped on the cushion in front of her. She watched Nick pick up the remote and turn on the stereo. The sound of soft strings filled the room. He then pointed the remote at the fireplace. The flickering glow from the fire danced off of his red silk shirt and his blonde hair, making him even more gorgeous. Natalie's breathe caught in her throat when he turned to face her. Nick placed the remote and the bottle on the end of the coffee table. He looked at Natalie, enjoying the way the light from the fire danced around her face. She was nervous, he knew, and trying so hard to look relaxed. "Natalie," he said soothingly as he sat in the middle of the sofa facing her, "I hope that you understand how I feel about you. You are like no other woman I've ever known." Natalie's heart skipped a beat. "Nick ..." she started, but didn't continue. Surely he knew how unique he was. He must sense her excitement. In fact, she was sure he could hear how wildly her heart was beating. "The three years that we've know each other have been very special," Nick continued, "and very difficult. I've wanted so badly to be close to you. But you must understand," he warned, "that our being close can be very dangerous for you." He narrowed his eyes to be sure that she understood his warning. Natalie's hopes were crashing against a rock wall. "Nick, I don't understand. Did you bring me here to explain to me why we can't be together?" Her smile faded. "No, Natalie." Nick pulled himself across the sofa until his leg touched hers, and he put his hand on her arm. "There may be a way for us to ... be together." He gently stroked her arm. "But you'll have to trust me." "I *do* trust you, Nick." "I mean completely, Nat." He moved his hand to the side of her face and followed the trace of his fingers with his eyes. "There can be no fear." The electricity in his touch was exhilarating and soothing at the same time. Natalie closed her eyes and smiled contentedly. This was the moment she had waited for. When she opened her eyes again, they met the eyes of a vampire. Natalie jumped involuntarily. "Natalie," he whispered, still stroking her face, "there ... can ... be ... no ... fear." His voice was tinged with a growl that seemed to emanate from his chest. Natalie stared into his eyes, trying to ignore the fangs that showed from between his parted lips. "I won't hurt you Natalie," he whispered. "You must surrender your will to me. You must relax." Nick's voice was invading her head. Natalie's first instinct was to resist it, but she *did* trust him and was willing to do anything to be close to him. Suddenly, every muscle in her body relaxed so that she sank into the arm of the sofa. She watched his face get closer to hers; the glow of his eyes burned into her own. When their lips met, his kiss was incredibly tender. Natalie let go of the last shred of resistance and enjoyed the brief kiss. Nick pulled away and Natalie was surprised to find his eyes had changed back to normal. The vampire was completely gone. He smiled sweetly at her, took her hands, and lifted her from the sofa. Nick led her to the middle of the floor and wrapped his arms around her. Natalie rested her head on his shoulder and followed his lead. They danced slowly to the strange music. Natalie marveled at the steady beat that was filling in the space behind the strings. She had never heard anything like it before. She wanted to ask Nick about it, but was afraid of breaking the spell of the moment. Nick's moves were so fluid and graceful. His hands on her back gently pulled her body against his. A tingling started at her toes and worked its way up as she moved with him. Natalie felt goose bumps forming all over her body as Nick trailed kisses up her neck and the side of her head. "Natalie," he breathed into her ear. She lifted her head and was met with a kiss. They stopped dancing as the intensity of the kiss grew. All of the desire they had both suppressed was wrapped in the kiss; Natalie pulled Nick closer. Just as her knees were giving out, Natalie felt Nick lift her into his arms. The kiss continued as he carried her to the sofa. It was all a blissful blur as Nick undressed her and made love to her. His tenderness and caring were beyond anything she had ever imaged, had ever fantasized. He whispered, "I love you, Natalie," in her ear as she gave in completely and found the fulfillment that she had quit expecting long ago. When Natalie returned to her senses, she covered his neck with kisses, and encouraged his attention. She closed her eyes and smiled as she felt his weight on top of her increasing. "No!" Natalie cried as Nick suddenly pulled away from her and all but flew to the far side of the sofa. She sat up and opened her eyes. "Nick ..." she started. Natalie's words were halted by the sight of Nick. He was fully clothed, and drinking urgently from the bottle, his eyes closed. His forehead was spotted with blood. Natalie looked down at herself and was shocked to find herself also fully dressed. She looked up at the stereo, realizing that the music had returned to a classical string piece. The steady back beat was gone. "Nick?" Nick swallowed the last of the bottle's contents and returned it to the table. He dropped his head to his hands and concentrated on regaining control. He had never tried this on anyone but a potential victim. It scared him that Natalie had gotten so close to becoming one. He thought he would have more control, but hadn't realized how incredibly inviting she would be. Natalie silently watched Nick. Her body still tingled from his touch. It was so real! When had reality ended? It must have been the kiss on the sofa. That's when the music had changed. It was her own heartbeat that she had been listening to! She watched Nick's tightened lips relax into a smile as he straighten up and wiped his forehead. Natalie moved across the sofa to sit next to him. She gently stroked his back. "Nick, what exactly was that?" Nick pulled her hand around to his chest and leaned back on the sofa. He rolled his head toward her. "That ... was a mixing of the minds." He kissed her hand. "That was all in my head? Were you there with me?" Natalie needed to understand what had just happened. "Yes, Nat. That's as real as it can get between us while I am still ... this." Nick look darkened. "And that was more than I should have allowed. Natalie," he looked at her intently, "we can't do that again. I made a mistake allowing ..." "Shhh," she interrupted, stroking the side of his head. "I understand. I'm not really sure I like the idea of having you invade my mind, but," she smiled at him, "that was incredible." Natalie kissed his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, her heart breaking at the thought of what the experience had cost Nick. He looked completely worn out. "When we find the cure ..." They smiled at each other. Each felt the hope of intimate moments promised. Nick kissed her hand again. "I think I need a shower," he smirked. "A cold one." Looking into her eyes again, he asked, "Will you spend the day with me?" Natalie smiled playfully. "If you're sure I'm safe." Nick returned her smile in kind. "Probably," he teased. Natalie watched him walk slowly up the stairs, a fresh bottle in tow. "Wow," she whispered to herself. Nick smiled to himself at her comment. He had to agree. THE END