All I Need
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 04
Sighing in frustration, he set the book he was attempting to read aside and rose from his chair to walk to the sideboard. He needed...something, and, being fully in denial at the moment, he decided a glass of blood would have to do.
Pouring the viscous fluid from a special carafe, he picked up the glass and absently took a sip while his mind went back to his human.
She'd been asleep for about an hour now and he still couldn't get the image of her—lying there as her fingers traced his face, eyes limpid as they stared into his—out of his mind. He scoffed. The drugs made her look at him that way, he was sure of it…
Growling in frustration over these thoughts, he downed the contents of his glass and set it aside before stalking over to the window. His body was tense as he watched several young couples stroll through the city center. The sight of them, so carefree and happy, took him back centuries—to a time when he'd enjoyed a similar relationship with his departed wife, Didyme.
Perhaps he should summon Heidi?
Muttered words from the bedroom of the human girl cut his thoughts short and he turned his head to listen carefully.
"No! No! Edward!" she cried. Then her tone changed abruptly, lost that desperate edge and turned deep and throaty.
"Mmm, Marcus…" she moaned.
"Please…" she begged and his jaw clenched at his body's instant reaction. It was like listening to sex.
"Damn," he cursed while turning back to the window. "Perhaps I should summon Heidi," he muttered with a scowl as he willed his hard-on away. Unfortunately, her noises weren't stopping—something his body was all too pleased by, even if his mind wasn't.
Growling, he turned from the window and strode to the door which he yanked open. Felix jumped and then bowed. "My King?" he questioned.
"Summon Cullen immediately," he ordered.
"Right away Master," Felix answered before vanishing.
Closing the door, he went back to the window and tried to tune out the moaning little human. It didn't work and his tension mounted. A knock interrupted his struggle and he flashed to the door and opened it. "Dr. Cullen," he greeted and stood back to allow him entry. Once inside, he grabbed the startled vampire's arm and marched him to the little human's room. Speaking lowly as he pointed, he addressed the problem. "Is that normal?" he asked as she moaned his name and slowly thrashed, her hands running sensuously over her body.
Carlisle observed her as a smirk formed on his face. He glanced at Marcus with one brow cocked. "Under the right circumstances? Yes."
She kicked the blankets off and the cloying scent of her arousal slammed both vampires' senses. Marcus's eyes turned black as pitch and he hissed, "Good gods!"
Carlisle laughed but stifled it behind a hand when Marcus shot him a scathing look. "Fix it," he demanded and Carlisle scoffed.
"Mmmm, Marcus…please…" she moaned again and Carlisle gave him a pointed look.
"Forgive me for saying so my King, but this is a problem only you can fix, apparently."
"Can't you give her something?"
"Oooh, Marcus, yes…" she practically purred and Carlisle grinned as he looked at the disgruntled King.
"No, but it's obvious you can," Carlisle quipped dryly.
Marcus sneered. "Your humor escapes me entirely," he grumbled and Carlisle did his best to look contrite.
"My apologies, but in all seriousness, there's nothing I can do. She's eighteen and her hormones—the chemicals which control her urges in simple terms—are at their peak."
Marcus dropped his head into his hand and nodded. "Waking her won't stop it?"
Carlisle leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. "It would," he conceded, "but then it may begin again as soon as she sleeps. There's just no way to predict such a thing, I'm afraid."
Marcus growled.
"May I speak freely?" Carlisle asked.
"Of course," Marcus said while gesturing impatiently. "As long as it's helpful, I'm willing to hear it."
Carlisle looked hesitant. "Perhaps this wouldn't bother you so much if your…needs were being met?"
Marcus looked at him sharply and Carlisle held up a hand. "I meant no disrespect…"
"You make assumptions Cullen. Not a wise thing to do."
Carlisle inclined his head. "My apologies…" He glanced askance at the frustrated King. "If I may be so bold… Is this really such a bad thing? You're unattached…she's a beautiful girl who's obviously attracted to you…"
Marcus looked appalled. "She's a child!"
Carlisle stared flatly. "She's eighteen."
"Precisely my point!"
Carlisle smirked. "How old were you when turned?"
Marcus pinned him with a narrowed gaze. "Nineteen…just under two thousand years ago. Do you see the disparity Doctor?"
Carlisle straightened and clapped him on the shoulder. "By your standards, I'm nothing more than a child. She's a very mature young woman. Think about that."
With that, he walked out of Marcus's rooms, leaving the King to brood in Bella's doorway.
"I'm not a child," her voice managed to startle him and his red gaze snapped to where she lay on the bed, staring at him, her cheeks flush and eyes sparkling with something like challenge. She was beautiful, he had to admit.
"To me, you are."
She sat up and ran a hand through her hair before glaring at him. "Arrogant vampires," she spat. "You think you know everything…" She rose from the bed and stalked to him before poking him in the chest as she scowled up at him. "Well, let me tell you, you don't! Just because you've been sitting around marinating for a few centuries doesn't make you the authority on love and life, got it?" She poked him again for good measure before leaving him to stand, speechless, as she grabbed a book from his collection and sat to read. After cracking the book open, she looked at him as he walked in, her brow arched. "Pride and Prejudice? Really?"
He scowled. "Is there something wrong with that?" he asked.
She smirked. "Not at all, it's just a surprising choice for a wizened old vampire King such as yourself, that's all."
"I keep my dusty tomes on war, law, philosophy and theology in the main library. My apologies," he said with a smirk and an incline of his head.
"Hmm, no surprises there," she muttered and went back to reading.
Moments later, he took a seat in his favorite chair and broke the silence. "What is…marinating?"
She looked up, her brow furrowed. "Huh?"
"Marinating…you said I'd been sitting around marinating… What did you mean by that?"
She rolled her eyes. "You mean to tell me, in all those dusty tomes, you don't possess even one modernized dictionary?"
He cocked a brow and she looked triumphant. "So, you don't know everything..." she said with a smirk and he sneered, drawing a chuckle from her.
"Fine... Technically, it's a term used to refer to the act of soaking meat in a liquid to season and tenderize it. I used the term metaphorically." She shrugged a shoulder and went back to reading while he grabbed his own book.
Moments later, her eyes were drooping and she yawned. Closing her book, she glanced over at him. "I'm sleepy again. I think I'll go to bed for real this time." She rose to her feet and turned to him, fidgeting a bit as her earlier bravado fled and her nerves kicked in. "So I…guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
He stood and stepped toward her. Taking her hand, he lifted it and placed a soft kiss on the back. Her breath caught when he glanced up at her through his lashes. "Good night, little human. Sleep well and pleasant dreams." He stood straight and smirked and her cheeks heated at the reminder of the dreams she'd had earlier.
"Thank you," she said, her voice breathy as her heart fluttered from the look in his eyes. He smiled and let go of her hand and she turned and left the room quickly.
'What is this?!' she thought as she changed and climbed into bed. With Edward, she'd always been mesmerized when he looked deep in her eyes, but with Marcus…all he had to do was be in the room for her heart to flutter. One look at him was all it took.
'Quit being stupid Bella,' she admonished herself. 'You heard him earlier, he thinks you're a child and doesn't see you that way…the kiss on the hand was nothing…he was only being polite.'
With that last thought, she pummeled her pillow and clutched it close. 'You should've learned your lesson with Edward,' she told herself. 'Maintain distance, survive this situation and above all, guard your heart.' Now resolved, her eyes slowly closed and she fell into sleep and dreams…
Dreams of a handsome, raven-haired King with eyes the color of garnets and a smile to die for…
Sighing in frustration, he set the book he was attempting to read aside and rose from his chair to walk to the sideboard. He needed...something, and, being fully in denial at the moment, he decided a glass of blood would have to do.
Pouring the viscous fluid from a special carafe, he picked up the glass and absently took a sip while his mind went back to his human.
She'd been asleep for about an hour now and he still couldn't get the image of her—lying there as her fingers traced his face, eyes limpid as they stared into his—out of his mind. He scoffed. The drugs made her look at him that way, he was sure of it…
Growling in frustration over these thoughts, he downed the contents of his glass and set it aside before stalking over to the window. His body was tense as he watched several young couples stroll through the city center. The sight of them, so carefree and happy, took him back centuries—to a time when he'd enjoyed a similar relationship with his departed wife, Didyme.
Perhaps he should summon Heidi?
Muttered words from the bedroom of the human girl cut his thoughts short and he turned his head to listen carefully.
"No! No! Edward!" she cried. Then her tone changed abruptly, lost that desperate edge and turned deep and throaty.
"Mmm, Marcus…" she moaned.
"Please…" she begged and his jaw clenched at his body's instant reaction. It was like listening to sex.
"Damn," he cursed while turning back to the window. "Perhaps I should summon Heidi," he muttered with a scowl as he willed his hard-on away. Unfortunately, her noises weren't stopping—something his body was all too pleased by, even if his mind wasn't.
Growling, he turned from the window and strode to the door which he yanked open. Felix jumped and then bowed. "My King?" he questioned.
"Summon Cullen immediately," he ordered.
"Right away Master," Felix answered before vanishing.
Closing the door, he went back to the window and tried to tune out the moaning little human. It didn't work and his tension mounted. A knock interrupted his struggle and he flashed to the door and opened it. "Dr. Cullen," he greeted and stood back to allow him entry. Once inside, he grabbed the startled vampire's arm and marched him to the little human's room. Speaking lowly as he pointed, he addressed the problem. "Is that normal?" he asked as she moaned his name and slowly thrashed, her hands running sensuously over her body.
Carlisle observed her as a smirk formed on his face. He glanced at Marcus with one brow cocked. "Under the right circumstances? Yes."
She kicked the blankets off and the cloying scent of her arousal slammed both vampires' senses. Marcus's eyes turned black as pitch and he hissed, "Good gods!"
Carlisle laughed but stifled it behind a hand when Marcus shot him a scathing look. "Fix it," he demanded and Carlisle scoffed.
"Mmmm, Marcus…please…" she moaned again and Carlisle gave him a pointed look.
"Forgive me for saying so my King, but this is a problem only you can fix, apparently."
"Can't you give her something?"
"Oooh, Marcus, yes…" she practically purred and Carlisle grinned as he looked at the disgruntled King.
"No, but it's obvious you can," Carlisle quipped dryly.
Marcus sneered. "Your humor escapes me entirely," he grumbled and Carlisle did his best to look contrite.
"My apologies, but in all seriousness, there's nothing I can do. She's eighteen and her hormones—the chemicals which control her urges in simple terms—are at their peak."
Marcus dropped his head into his hand and nodded. "Waking her won't stop it?"
Carlisle leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. "It would," he conceded, "but then it may begin again as soon as she sleeps. There's just no way to predict such a thing, I'm afraid."
Marcus growled.
"May I speak freely?" Carlisle asked.
"Of course," Marcus said while gesturing impatiently. "As long as it's helpful, I'm willing to hear it."
Carlisle looked hesitant. "Perhaps this wouldn't bother you so much if your…needs were being met?"
Marcus looked at him sharply and Carlisle held up a hand. "I meant no disrespect…"
"You make assumptions Cullen. Not a wise thing to do."
Carlisle inclined his head. "My apologies…" He glanced askance at the frustrated King. "If I may be so bold… Is this really such a bad thing? You're unattached…she's a beautiful girl who's obviously attracted to you…"
Marcus looked appalled. "She's a child!"
Carlisle stared flatly. "She's eighteen."
"Precisely my point!"
Carlisle smirked. "How old were you when turned?"
Marcus pinned him with a narrowed gaze. "Nineteen…just under two thousand years ago. Do you see the disparity Doctor?"
Carlisle straightened and clapped him on the shoulder. "By your standards, I'm nothing more than a child. She's a very mature young woman. Think about that."
With that, he walked out of Marcus's rooms, leaving the King to brood in Bella's doorway.
"I'm not a child," her voice managed to startle him and his red gaze snapped to where she lay on the bed, staring at him, her cheeks flush and eyes sparkling with something like challenge. She was beautiful, he had to admit.
"To me, you are."
She sat up and ran a hand through her hair before glaring at him. "Arrogant vampires," she spat. "You think you know everything…" She rose from the bed and stalked to him before poking him in the chest as she scowled up at him. "Well, let me tell you, you don't! Just because you've been sitting around marinating for a few centuries doesn't make you the authority on love and life, got it?" She poked him again for good measure before leaving him to stand, speechless, as she grabbed a book from his collection and sat to read. After cracking the book open, she looked at him as he walked in, her brow arched. "Pride and Prejudice? Really?"
He scowled. "Is there something wrong with that?" he asked.
She smirked. "Not at all, it's just a surprising choice for a wizened old vampire King such as yourself, that's all."
"I keep my dusty tomes on war, law, philosophy and theology in the main library. My apologies," he said with a smirk and an incline of his head.
"Hmm, no surprises there," she muttered and went back to reading.
Moments later, he took a seat in his favorite chair and broke the silence. "What is…marinating?"
She looked up, her brow furrowed. "Huh?"
"Marinating…you said I'd been sitting around marinating… What did you mean by that?"
She rolled her eyes. "You mean to tell me, in all those dusty tomes, you don't possess even one modernized dictionary?"
He cocked a brow and she looked triumphant. "So, you don't know everything..." she said with a smirk and he sneered, drawing a chuckle from her.
"Fine... Technically, it's a term used to refer to the act of soaking meat in a liquid to season and tenderize it. I used the term metaphorically." She shrugged a shoulder and went back to reading while he grabbed his own book.
Moments later, her eyes were drooping and she yawned. Closing her book, she glanced over at him. "I'm sleepy again. I think I'll go to bed for real this time." She rose to her feet and turned to him, fidgeting a bit as her earlier bravado fled and her nerves kicked in. "So I…guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
He stood and stepped toward her. Taking her hand, he lifted it and placed a soft kiss on the back. Her breath caught when he glanced up at her through his lashes. "Good night, little human. Sleep well and pleasant dreams." He stood straight and smirked and her cheeks heated at the reminder of the dreams she'd had earlier.
"Thank you," she said, her voice breathy as her heart fluttered from the look in his eyes. He smiled and let go of her hand and she turned and left the room quickly.
'What is this?!' she thought as she changed and climbed into bed. With Edward, she'd always been mesmerized when he looked deep in her eyes, but with Marcus…all he had to do was be in the room for her heart to flutter. One look at him was all it took.
'Quit being stupid Bella,' she admonished herself. 'You heard him earlier, he thinks you're a child and doesn't see you that way…the kiss on the hand was nothing…he was only being polite.'
With that last thought, she pummeled her pillow and clutched it close. 'You should've learned your lesson with Edward,' she told herself. 'Maintain distance, survive this situation and above all, guard your heart.' Now resolved, her eyes slowly closed and she fell into sleep and dreams…
Dreams of a handsome, raven-haired King with eyes the color of garnets and a smile to die for…
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.