Disclaimer: The characters of Forever Knight belong to TPTB and Sony/ Tristar. They don’t belong to me (I would have treated them better than that) and I’m just giving them some exercise in their retirement. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made. This story is for entertainment purpose only. Content Warning: This story is intended for an adult audience and contains adult situations. If you’re too young to read this, delete it now. Permission to archive at JADFE and FKFanFic2 comments to:dorisweiss_2000@yahoo.de note: English is not my first language so please be gentle Janette’s Decision by Luc 2002 Rome 1519 “Don’t move!” Janette let out an exasperated sigh. “Nicolas, I’ve been sitting still for hours. I don’t want to spend the whole day like this!” She shook her head indignantly and her long raven tresses tumbled loosely over her shoulders. Nicholas dropped his brush. “Ah, Janette, now you’ve ruined it. If we go on like this, I’ll never finish the study in time.” Janette laughed softly. Nicholas looked like a disappointed schoolboy. “Ecoutes, Nicolas, I’m sure Raffael won’t be too mad with you.” She picked up her goblet of bloodwine from one of the small sidetables and moved behind him. She fixated the black-and-white study intently. “Tu sais, I don’t think I make a very convincing Madonna, Nicolas.” She batted her lashes at him in an attempt to look saintly and innocent and failed miserably. Nicholas couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You’re absolutely right, mon ange, but you know that Raffael is practically obsessed with them. He told me to paint one as an exercise and I can’t just go to the next church to look for inspiration, can I?” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Besides, I think you’re doing quite well as a virgin.” He started nibbling at her earlobe. Janette playfully pushed him away. “Careful, chéri, don’t insult me.” Her tone became serious. “Bur really, Nicolas, how long will this nonsense last this time?” The look in his eyes made her feel sorry instantly. He looked like a beaten puppy. She knew that painting was his latest passion and he had been positively elated when Rome’s most famous painter had offered to tutor him privately. She ran her fingers through his golden locks. “I’m sorry, mon cœur, but…” She hesitated. Sometimes she found it really hard to find the right words with him. Nicolas’ mood could change so easily. One false word and he would pout and brood for hours or days on end. He really could be like a little boy sometimes. “Oh, Janette, why can’t you understand how much this means to me?” He hurled his palette to the ground in anger. Why couldn’t she understand? Why couldn’t they? Lacroix had never told him openly but Nicholas knew that he thought painting was just another of his, well, he had to admit that, often short-lived passions. But this was different. Painting had been a revelation to him. He hadn’t had too much to do with art when he was growing up. Painting was something monks did to embellish holy books or something you looked at in church. It was definitely not something a young squire concerned himself with. His fighting days as a knight-errant had taken him to many places and he’d seen a lot of different cultures but then other things had been on his mind. Only after coming across had he developed a taste for art. He had to admit that this was largely due to his master. Lacroix had not only taught him the ways of the vampire but also those of the world. He hadn’t been an uncultured brute, he was a nobleman’s son after all, but he’d been a warrior not a bookworm. Lacroix loved art and had introduced him to many famous artists. Nicholas shivered slightly when he thought of Master Hieronymus. Lacroix himself could play his viol for hours forgetting the world outside, but the music never really seemed to touch his heart and Janette didn’t seem much interested in anything human except beautiful clothes and jewelry . To him it was different. Even as a boy he’d loved music and playing had been a great consolation to him whenever he felt troubled. That had been so during the crusades and it still was when he was plagued by his conscience. But painting… Painting offered him a totally new way to express himself. And, still more important, it made it possible to see the world in a way he was no longer able to see it: in the daylight. He could see beautiful sunrises, sun-drenched landscapes, lovely girls with the sunlight on their rosy cheeks all coming to life on the canvasses. Everything that eluded him in his eternal night. “Nicolas, will you forgive me?” Janette’s voice and the touch of her fingers in his hair brought him back from his reverie. He took her hand into his and admired her slender fingers and lily-white skin. She was so beautiful, his dark angel. He pressed a soft kiss into her palm, then looked into her deep blue eyes that seemed to see straight into his very soul. “I don’t understand why this means so much to you, Nicolas, but I’ll respect it. There’s just one thing…” “What, Janette?” “Why do you copy the others, Nicolas? You did it with Leonardo and now you’re doing it with Raffael. Try to be yourself, find your own style!” She started kneading his neck muscles tenderly while he pondered her words. She was right. Up to now he’d always tried to imitate others, it was time to be himself. At least in his art… He relaxed under her touch. Then a thought crossed his mind and a smile played about his lips. “Janette, would you do me another favor?” “Mais bien sur, chéri, what is it?” “Pose for me again.” “Oh Nicolas, please not today, I’m tired.” “You promised. And I promise you that it won’t be exhausting.” Janette arched her brows. She cast him a puzzled look. “Lie down on the bed… naked.” Janette let out a little gasp of mock shock, then smiled wickedly. “Nicolas, you really are a naughty boy.” She let the gown slide from her shoulders and moved over to the bed. She lay down on it while Nicholas prepared a new canvas. He then walked over to her and started to light the candles that stood everywhere around the bed. They cast a golden glow on Janette’s ivory skin and her eyes, now black and deep as the night sea, sparkled. He looked down on her and was fascinated again at how beautiful she was. She still looked as tempting as the night more than two centuries ago when she’d lured him to Lacroix. Suddenly he felt her hand on his arm. “Nicolas, why don’t you give yourself a little break and lie down with me?” Nicholas shivered under her touch and the husky tone of her voice sent a tingling sensation down his spine. Well, the canvas wouldn’t go anywhere, right, and he could use a little break. He turned around and once more took in the marvelous tableaux before him. Janette presented herself to his gaze without shame. Her lips where slightly open waiting for him to kiss her and he could smell her arousal, its heady scent having an obvious effect on his male physique. She smiled and the direction of her gaze left him in no doubt that she was well aware of what she was doing to him. “Viens, mon amant.” She reached out her hand and he took it allowing himself to be pulled down on the bed and into her arms. Her lips found his in a passionate kiss, her tongue skillfully teasing his eyeteeth until he moaned with pleasure. She pulled his head even deeper into the embrace and he gasped in astonishment at her fierceness. He opened his eyes and saw that hers had already changed to a glowing gold. He circled his tongue around her canines and Janette hissed as her fangs dropped into place. He allowed his own change to come over him and they were no longer a man and a woman making love but two feral beasts mating. Her nails clawed at his shoulders as he licked his way down her jawline to the delicate flesh of her throat. He pricked the skin lightly with his fangs and was rewarded with a first taste of the pleasures she offered him. She moaned and writhed in his arms, her hands practically tearing the shirt of his back. He offered his throat to her and a low growl emanated from deep down inside him as she sank her fangs deep. He no longer held back and buried himself in her soft flesh. They fed from each other for what seemed an eternity, completing that eternal cycle of blood and lust. Finally they drew back and lay silently together wrapped in each other’s arms. Janette smoothed away the damp curls from his forehead and traced her fingers down his nose to his mouth. How sensuous his lips were, just perfect for kissing. She once again pulled his face down on hers, this time for a very tender kiss. She slid her legs around his and pressed her body close. “Nicolas, why don’t you get rid of all that clothing you’re still wearing and we cuddle up beneath the sheets?” It was true, he was still almost fully clothed although his shirt had suffered somewhat under her passionate attack. He stood up and slowly shed his clothes, Janette clearly enjoying the spectacle he presented her with. Though if he could have, she was sure of it, he would have blushed. “Nicolas, chéri, could you get us some refreshments before you come back to bed?” She’d done that on purpose. Nicholas had to get the pitcher of bloodwine and two goblets from the other side of the room and she enjoyed watching him move about. He was so beautiful, her golden chevalier. He poured them a goblet each and handed one to her before he crawled into bed beside her again. Janette snuggled up next to him and took a sip from her bloodwine. He enjoyed his beverage with closed eyes, savoring the rich taste that invigorated him although it was far from drinking fresh warm blood. Absentmindedly he started playing with one of Janette’s curls. He twined the strand of shining black hair around his fingers, then bent down and buried his face in her fragrant tresses. “You didn’t keep your promise,” she said softly. “What?” “You said it wouldn’t be exhausting.” He laughed and pulled her close, then added in a serious tone: “You know I love you.” He couldn’t see the small shadow crossing Janette’s face before she answered. “Oui, Nicolas, I know, and… ,” she turned until she faced him directly, the passion again burning in her eyes, “Why don’t you show me again how much you love me.” Her fingers slid over his chest and down his stomach. He hissed as she gently squeezed him. The vampire had already gotten his satisfaction but his human body still craved for more. Once more they locked into a searing kiss. This time he was the one who left the other breathless. He trailed soft kisses down Janette’s throat, pressing an especially tender one on the spot where he’d bitten her earlier. The wounds had almost completely vanished. His hands cupped her full breasts and he gently kneaded them while his thumbs and tongue caresses the tender flesh of her nipples. Janette moaned and pulled his head close. Slowly his tongue traced its way down over her belly. He buried his face in the thatch of black curls and inhaled deeply. The rich musk of her arousal made his head spin and caused him to harden almost painfully. He started his ministrations with his fingers and tongue. Janette writhed under him and her passion made it difficult for him not to change but he wanted to enjoy her pleasure as long as possible. Her eyes had changed to gold again and he could see her fangs glittering in the candlelight. “Nicolas, mon dieu, viens, prends moi.” Janette’s husky command had to be obeyed. He settled between her legs and slowly, deliberately slowly, entered her. Janette threw her head back and growled. He still kept control of the beast and enjoyed watching the pleasure he caused. I will never love a woman like this for all eternity, he thought as he moved inside her. Janette wrapped her legs around his back and pulled him deeper into her. His strokes became more urgent and his own change came over him. As he felt Janette nearing climax he offered his throat to her and she bit down, shivering and shuddering as her orgasm rocked through her. Only then did he seek his own release, sinking his fangs into the supple flesh of her breast. A long moment later they lay back in the cool sheets, spent, limbs entwined and bodies still joined. Nicholas felt drowsy and soon drifted off to sleep. Janette lay awake and watched her sleeping lover. She tenderly stroked his hair that was now damp with bloodsweat. She would miss their hours of passionate lovemaking. No other man, not even Lacroix, could kindle the fire within her like her Nicolas. But then, his adoration, his jealousy, also suffocated her. She had told him that he needed to be himself and she had meant it, but it was true for her also. After more than ninety years of living as a married couple it was time she rediscovered herself. She sighed. This was going to be very difficult and painful for both of them yet she knew it was a necessary step to take. But then, she thought as she stroked the golden head in her lap, it could wait a little longer. Finis