Games of the (K) night
May 2003
By: Patty Costantino

Summary: Alternate story to my Games series. Immediately follows
the episode, Games Vampires Play. In my loony universe, the tag
scene in GVP never took place. Instead, this is what transpired.
<weg>

Disclaimer and Characters: Nick, Natalie and Andrew Lloyd
Webber/Charles Hart/Richard Stilgoe's Music of the Night don't belong
to me. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

Dedication: I would like to thank Phylis Sullivan for beta-reading
this story and always encouraging me to write more. I couldn't have
done it without her wonderful suggestions. Stacy for inspiring me
to write a dark NN tale. Hugs and virtual chocolates.

Permission is granted to archive at FKfanfic2, FK FTP archive.

Any constructive criticism or thoughts are greatly appreciated and
welcomed at psmoot43@hotmail.com or pas_20197@yahoo.com


*************************************
Games of the (K) night
By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com
Chapter 01/02
*************************************

Natalie pressed the elevator up button, and as she felt the lift
begin to move towards the loft, puzzled over an earlier conversation
with Nick. He'd called at work to say that he wanted, no *needed* to
clarify something with her. Whatever that "something" was she did
not know, but the sound of his voice, low, almost tense in tone, had
certainly evoked a sense of curiosity within her. Even…
excitement. What could it be that he wanted to talk to her about?
And why all the mystery?

Anxiously, she pushed the button again as if to spur on the
elevator's ascent.

As the lift neared the loft, all at once, music could be heard,
coming from inside.

Beautiful piano music.

Natalie sighed, her troubled solicitude fading into calm quiescence.
Surely whatever was disturbing Nick earlier was now put to rest by
his piano playing. It always seemed to calm him.

The beginnings of a smile touched her lips as the elevator, at last,
came to a halt, and sliding the door open, she was greeted with the
haunting melody: Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. For a
brief moment, her smile broadened as she watched him play, but as she
began gradually to take in her surroundings, it vanished into a
dismayed frown.

Candles burned their glowing incandescence throughout the loft, which
in itself wasn't unusual to see, as Nick always enjoyed lighting a
few. But, tonight, it was different. From the two lit candelabra at
the piano to the small round candles in the living room/ kitchen
area, up the stairs and into the bedroom!?, it resembled a sea of
endless illumination like a fireworks display being set off at
once.

But that wasn't all. Bottles~ *Human* vintage bottles were strewn
*everywhere. * On the kitchen counter and coffee table, and resting
on the top of the piano, a partially filled glass of the special
brew.

Natalie's disheartened look deepened as her eyes finally rested on
Nick. His attire- black silk pajamas with the top unbuttoned down
the front- and appearance- disheveled, tousled hair were, needless to
say, a bit of a surprise.

In fact, it was down right shocking!

She shook her head in disbelief, and then tentatively approaching the
piano, began speaking to him softly, "Nick, do you mind telling me
what is going on here?"

Nick glanced up from the keys briefly, his expression
unreadable. "All in good time, Nat. Good things come to those who
wait." Looking back at the piano, his fingers glided gracefully over
the ivories as he continued to play.

Was that seductiveness she'd heard in his voice?

Natalie's brow furrowed in concern and puzzlement. Something was
terribly wrong, and come high or hell water, she was going to get to
the bottom of things.

Gingerly, she reached over to touch his shoulder. "Nick, please tell
me what has happened?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady
and gentle.

"Nothing, Natalie," he replied in that same low, hoarse tone, his
hands sliding over the keys. "Just an awakening of sorts."

"An awakening?" she queried, still bewildered as new feelings began
to overtake her.

Fear… Dread… Excitement… Desire?

Excitement!

Desire!

Where had they come from?!!!

She swallowed hard and spoke again carefully, "What sort of
awakening, Nick?"

"As I said before, you need to be patient, my sweet." He continued
to play, his eyes closed, not looking at her, seemingly swept up in
the passionate, stirring melody.

"Patient my *sweet? *" She echoed, more loudly than she'd intended,
but unable to believe her ears. Had he actually called her that?
What had gotten into him? Why was he behaving so strangely?

Frustrated, and looking for answers, her eyes scoped the room,
finally settling on the object resting next to him.

And, *there*… was her answer.

The game. The virtual reality game!

Of course!

She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes blazing with
anger. "*Now*, I understand why you are behaving oddly. It's the
game isn't it, Nick? It *is* providing you with the kick you've been
missing, `the *awakening* of sorts!'"

She was greeted only with more music.

Okay, that was it. She'd had enough! Reaching over, she grabbed
his shoulders firmly in her hands, trying futilely to get him to look
at her. "Answer me!" She cried, her face remaining a mask of fury.

All at once, the music stopped, the piano notes carrying for only a
moment, then a sudden quiet descended on the room as she saw his
hands move from the piano to her waist. In a flash, before she knew
what was happening, she found her lower back being pressed against
the smooth surface of the piano, Nick's body and face inches from
hers.

He smiled wickedly at her. "Tsk Tsk. Such impatience, my dear. But
no matter, I'll answer your question."

For a moment, the dark, almost dangerous smirk remained on his face,
as he moved his hand across her cheek and down her neck in a sensuous
motion and then removing it, continued to speak, "You're right,
Natalie. The game has given me a boost, but it hasn't completely
filled that void you said I should fill."

He paused, giving her a long, desiring look, and for a moment his
blue eyes flashed bits of amber around the edges. Then leaning
forward, he whispered seductively against her lips. "Something's
missing."

Before she could respond, she felt his arms grab her, pulling her
roughly to him, and his lips descending on her flesh, planting
delicious kisses along her earlobe, down her neck and across to the
spot in the middle of her collarbone.

What fear Natalie might have possessed quickly dissolved into
anticipation as his tongue began to move slowly around the soft skin
in this area and his hands wandered up her back. She gasped, her
body seeming to lose all its bones as she wrapped her arms around his
neck, entwining her fingers in his golden locks, and pressing his
head closer to her warming flesh.

After a short time passed, she finally managed to find her
voice. "Perhaps it was the music you needed to fill that void.
After all, they say it soothes the savage beast."

Nick moved back to within inches of her face, his lips tantalizingly
close to hers, his eyes remaining dark and mysterious. "It was only
soothed until it saw you. Then, it stirred again, needing that
vacant space to be filled."

"So is this why you *needed* to see me?" She asked, swallowing
hard, trying to fight down her mounting excitement. "To fill that
void."

"And something else." His voice was husky with emotion, his blue
eyes flickering amber.

"What?" She asked, her chest was rising and falling erratically
through her silk, red blouse, desire racing through her.

Nick smelled and sensed her arousal, giving her a devilish
smile. "Last night, you asked me if mortality was something I still
hungered for?"

"Well…is it?" She asked her heart began to pound with anticipation,
her breathing becoming unsteady.

"I think you know the answer, Nat." He purred, giving her another
dark smile, and then his mouth descended on hers as he began kissing
her deeply and passionately, molding her body to his. Natalie
struggled to keep from falling, her mind and body reeling with the
assault on her senses and lips. How many times had she dreamed of
being kissed and caressed like this by Nick? A hundred times? A
thousand?

The kiss seemed to go on for an eternity then Nick brought it slowly
to an end, pulling away slightly from her. She could feel his cool
breath on her face, his strong arms around her waist, and his firm
chest against her breasts, sending her into a more heated state.

For a long while, she just stood there with her eyes closed and a
faraway look on her face, savoring the wonderful effect his closeness
was having on her. Gradually, though, she began to hear a voice
calling to her from afar. Concentrating hard, she began to drift up
slowly to reality, opening her eyes and beholding him with a slight,
dazed expression on her face. "What did you say, Nick?" She
murmured.

"I said. Are you frightened?" He smiled through amber-filled
eyes, his tone holding that same raspy, almost threatening quality,
his body remaining pressed up against hers, continuing to play havoc
on her senses and aroused state.

"Only of you stopping and pushing me away," she replied with candor,
her breathing still ragged, but, now it was her turn to give him a
dark, mischievous smile as her eyes shone with honesty.

Then swiftly, before he had a chance to think, she encircled her arms
more tightly around his neck, pulling him down into a searing,
frantic kiss, one that was raw and demanding in its intensity. Nick
responded immediately, snaking his arms around her, pressing her hard
against him. His hands drifted up the curve of her back in firm
strokes, finally resting on the soft roundness of her buttocks, as he
hugged her more closely to his body while his tongue dueled with hers
in a fiery dance.

An electric current seemed to course through Natalie, as she pressed
her flesh to his, feeling the erotic sensation of his arousal near
her body through his pajamas. The discovery that he wasn't wearing
anything underneath also added to her burning state. Dangerous or
not, she ached to feel him inside her.

The kiss continued for a while, until she suddenly felt Nick's hands
cup her face, drawing the long and breathless kiss to a close.
Pushing against him, frustrated that he'd stopped, she murmured
against his cheek, "Don't stop!"

"I won't," he whispered back, and then gathering her up into his
arms, cradling her to his chest, flew them upstairs.



*************************************
Games of the (K) night
By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com
Chapter 02/02
*************************************

Landing barely inside Nick's bedroom, he put Natalie down, and before
she knew what was happening, closed the door and pushed her against
it. About to speak, Natalie's words were drowned out with Nick's
mouth covering hers, his tongue hungrily entering her moist cavern as
his hands slid down her neck to her blouse, ripping it open, buttons
flying all over the floor.

She moaned in sweet delight when Nick's hands moved to cup her
breasts through the lacey, white fabric of her bra.

"So sweet, Natalie, so soft," he murmured as his kisses traveled from
her lips, to her jaw and downward to her neck while his hands quickly
discarded her bra.

A soft whimper escaped from her swollen lips as Nick took both her
breasts in his hands, cupping and kneading them, stroking the hard
nubs of her nipples. His touches were not gentle nor was he hurting
her as he squeezed her breasts. Natalie arched her back and moaned
again in pleasure as his hands wandered down to her black pants,
where seemingly in an instant, he'd removed them from her, throwing
them across the room.

He growled at the feel of her white lace panties under his probing
fingers. With quick deftness, his hand slipped between her legs,
cupping her mound and no doubt felt her damp moistness there. For a
moment, he breathed in her fresh, distinctive scent, relishing in her
sweet fragrance. Like nectar.

"Oh Natalie, your scent… your smell is so captivating, so sensual,"
he breathed into her ear as he ripped the panties from her
body. "You're driving me insane with desire."

With her hands, she pulled him back tantalizingly close to her
voluptuous, red lips. "No more than you are doing to me," she
replied breathlessly, holding his intense stare with one of her own,
challenging him with her eyes. Then like before, she captured his
mouth in a fierce kiss, pressing her soft breasts against the taut
muscles of his chest, rubbing herself in a sensual motion around his
arousal.

Surprised, but pleased with her aggressiveness, Nick responded
quickly to her actions, plundering his tongue inside her warm mouth,
devouring her, swallowing her up as if by taking her inside of him,
he could see into her soul. Her beautiful, warm soul. The one that
the man loved and the beast craved.

Still locked in a never ending kiss, Nick picked her up, carrying her
to the bed, and then cupping his hand around her face, drew away,
laying her gently on the black silk sheets. He stood there for a
long moment as his eyes roamed over her body, taking in every curve,
every nuance that was Natalie… sweet Natalie…the one who would *soon*
be his.

With deft quickness, Nick removed his black, silk pajama top, easing
it down his arms, never once breaking the hold he had on Natalie's
gaze. She licked her lips in anticipation as he pulled off the
bottoms.

Now completely naked, Natalie allowed her hungry eyes to wander over
him. "You're magnificent, Nick," she said, admiration pooling in her
eyes and then she lifted her arms invitingly, coaxing him into a warm
embrace. "Come here. If music can't soothe the savage beast,
perhaps we can soothe it by making our own kind of music together."
She smiled wickedly.

"Music that will send us soaring," he added returning the same
devilish grin, his eyes taking on an amber hue at the sight of her
gorgeous body and seductive words. Then, in an instant, he was beside
her, his arms snaking around her, pulling her close to him. Settling
her against the pillows, he sought her lips again in a long,
passionate kiss.


Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses

Abandonment. Total wanton abandonment was washing over her as Nick's
hands worked their way down her neck, over her collarbone, and lower,
to hold and knead her breasts. She moaned against his lips as he
began to trace circles around her nipples and then releasing her
mouth, trailed a blaze of kisses down her neck, over her collarbone
and lower to her breasts. Taking each aroused nipple into his
mouth, he sucked and nipped at them with his teeth, then traced his
tongue around each aureole.

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it…sense it
Tremulous and tender

Tenderness. Such tenderness. Nick's gentle kisses and soft touches
were working their magic on her, sending her soaring into rapturous
delight, distorting all beliefs that the beast could ever be a danger
to her. She entwined her fingers in his soft, blond locks, pressing
his questing lips to her feverishly warm flesh as he moved lower, his
lips finding the delicate spot of her inner thighs. Then, working
his way with his tongue along this soft area, he came to her wetness
and without hesitation plunged into her welcoming core.

He felt her hands reaching for him and captured them in his, holding
them at her sides, while he continued to suck and nip. She began
arching her back, and encouraging him with words. Sensing her
growing tension beneath him, knowing she was rapidly approaching her
climax, he plunged his tongue deep within her, hitting the center of
her desire. It was enough. Seconds later, he clasped her hands in
his as she reached the ultimate wave, soaring into spasms of
ecstasy. Her body trembled as ripples of heated splendor rushed
through her, coursing through her spine down to her toes.

At the peak of her climax, his lips moved down to the supple skin of
her inner thigh, and then unable to resist the urge, he penetrated
her flesh with his fangs, drinking her sweet essence, drawing her
into him, feeling the magnitude of her love for him. It overwhelmed
the man and spurred on the beast.

Turn your face away
From the garish light of the day
Turn your thoughts away
From cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the (k) night

Nick moved up her body, rolling slightly on top of her. She opened
her eyes to see his face close to hers. He smiled down at her through
golden eyes, but unlike before, his gaze was amazingly tender. "Did
my kind of music make you fly?" He asked in a gentle, but uneven
tone.

"Oh, Nick yours made me want to sing." She breathed against his
lips, and then reaching up, wrapped her arms around him, pulling him
down and hugging him to her, raining kisses over his eyelids, nose,
cheeks and lips.

"*You* have made me flutter like a bird, sail like the wind." She
whispered to him between kisses.

"I want to see and feel you soar again, Natalie. To capture your
soul, " he murmured against her cheek.

"Oh, yes!" She cried breathlessly, rubbing her cheek against
his. "But, first, let me give back to you what you've so
unselfishly bestowed upon me."

He turned her face with his hands, bringing her eyes up to meet
his. "You realize the consequences of what you are asking?" He
questioned, his raspy voice serious, his amber eyes filled with love,
but grave.

"Yes, I know, Nick. I'm doing the right thing" She looked at him,
mirroring his expression and tone. "We *need* to allow our love to
bloom, our faith to flourish. Together, we'll be stronger."

For a long moment, raw emotions threatened to surface as Nick
regarded her through a golden haze. How had he come to deserve her?
She was remarkable. Swallowing hard, he nodded with a firm resolve
in his eyes. "Alright, Natalie."

Close your eyes and surrender
To your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes let your spirit soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before


She parted her legs, opening herself to him like a blossoming rose.
He slid inside her easily, as they came together in a powerful
joining, the friction causing a tremor of ecstasy to rush through
them. Natalie locked her arms and legs around him, binding him to
her, while she glanced up at him with love. Overcome with emotion,
Nick leaned forward to caress her cheek and spoke, "I love you,
Natalie."

Her heart rejoiced at his words, so lovingly spoken. Tears brimmed
in her eyes as she leaned forward to kiss him gently on the lips.
Drawing away, she smiled through her blurred vision and said, "I
love you, too."

For a second, she paused with adoration in her eyes and then
added, "And Nick, I promise I'll come back to you."

He returned her smile, and then leaning forward, his mouth found hers
as he began moving within her. From the start, they moved as one, at
first, with slow deliberation as Nick took his time, easing in and
out of her, then faster, as Natalie's hips moved with him, increasing
the pleasure, making their spirits soar.

Softly, deftly, music (I) shall caress you
Hear it…feel it
Secretly possess you

An incredible exhilaration consumed her as she felt the taut muscles
of his body pressing down on hers, his cool member moving inside and
against her, and his hands and lips weaving their spell over her
burning flesh.

Open your mind
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the (k) night

Incredible sensations were also bombarding Nick as he felt her sleek,
damp skin pressed against him, her smooth legs and arms wrapped
around him like living ropes, and her moist, heat-filled chamber
surrounding him and saw the dazed look of passion embossed on her
face.

Let your mind start a journey
Through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then…
Can you belong to me

He began to move in and out with more intensity, his thrusts becoming
hard and fast. Natalie's hips pushed up to meet his thrusts, her
hands wandering up and down his back, her nails digging into his
flesh as Nick plunged deeply one last time into her, touching her in
the right spot, sending her spiraling over into a wave of orgasms.

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation

He could feel the ripples from her orgasms passing through her while
he completed several powerful thrusts within her, and then turning
her head to the side, inhaling the succulent fruit flowing under her
skin, kissed his way up her throat, finding the pulsating vein. With
measured gentleness, he penetrated the soft, pliable skin with his
fangs, and with the first taste of her blood, rushing down his
throat, climaxed. Drinking from her deeply, her sweet nectar gliding
down his throat, intense images and feelings of her unconditional
love overwhelmed him. He continued to drink from her until he heard
the slowing of her heart, and then reluctantly, he drew away.

Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in

Natalie was settling into voluptuous ease, feeling Nick's lips
against her neck, his hips pushing against her flesh, when pain swept
over her. Though sudden and sharp in intensity, it soon vanished
into ecstasy, flooding her body and senses in a way she'd never
known. Their thoughts and emotions began merging into one soul, one
mind, one body, and her last feeling and thought as she fell into
unconsciousness, was his deep, abiding love for her.


To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the (k) night

Sliding off Natalie's body, Nick ripped into his wrist with his
fangs, and then cradling her head on his lap, allowed the blood to
flow onto her lips. A moment passed as Nick listened with growing
fear to her shallow breathing and faint heartbeat. Would she return
to him as promised? Or had she gone through the light?


You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the (k) night

His thoughts were shattered, his panic soon forgotten by the feel of
her lips moving across his skin as she began to drink of his
essence. Closing his eyes, relief gracing his face, Nick held her to
his body as she continued to drink. "Oh Natalie, you came back, my
precious angel."

After a time, beginning to feel lightheaded, he pulled his wrist
gently away from her. A low growl escaped her throat as she tried
to grab it again to drink more. "I think you've had enough of me."
He chuckled. "At least…for now."

His laughter soon died away, when he saw her clutching at her stomach
in pain.

"Oh Nick…I'm so hungry." He heard her cry and caught her staring at
him through a reddish hue.

Swiftly, he grabbed a bottle from the bedside table. "Here, drink
this." He placed it into her hands.

With quick agility, Natalie opened the bottle and downed the contents
without forethought. As soon as she'd finished, another one was
shoved into her hand, until finally after the third, she shook her
head. "I've had my fill," she said and then regarding him, asked
soberly. "It was human, wasn't it?"

"Yes, as a fledgling, Nat, you need human blood to make you
stronger," he explained, his tone grave, his eyes sad.

"I understand, Nick." She padded his hand reassuringly. "As long
as it's donated, I don't mind."

"But, you will have to fight your urges," he continued, his voice
still serious.

"I know, but you'll be there to help me," she added and gave him one
of her most beautiful smiles. A smile that always warmed his heart.

Emotions threatened to consume him again as tears resurfaced in his
eyes. Until this moment, Nick had always thought God couldn't or
wouldn't forgive a creature like him. But now, he was beginning to
believe in his heart, that He had. Because He had given Nick a
true treasure:

Nat.

Reining in his feelings, he gazed at her through his blood
tears. "We'll help each other, Nat," he said and then scooping her
up into his arms, hugged her to him. "We'll help each other." He
echoed against her cool cheek. Leaning forward he kissed her deeply
and passionately and then, drawing away, rested his forehead against
hers.

After a time, Natalie began to yawn. "Sorry, I'm feeling a little
drowsy." She smiled sheepishly.

"It's okay, Nat, you need your rest." He began to push her back
gently onto the bed.
"You've been through a lot."

"We both have, Nick." She settled down between the sheets, turning
on her side, her head resting on the satiny pillow. Quickly, she
fell into a soothing repose.

Nick eased in behind her, spooning against her. For a moment, he
watched her sleep, brushing his hand across her cheek, her forehead
and up to her thick mass of curls, tangling his fingers in her hair.
Then, pulling away, he said, "Sleep well, my love."

And then, as he began to snuggle close, wrapping his arms tightly
around her, he heard her murmur. "You are my music of the night."

Closing his eyes, drifting off, his lips curled into a wide,
satisfied grin.

***********************************

Fin

Is your computer smoking? <g> I hope this story made up for the last
one~ I Will Always Love You? Let me know your thoughts at
psmoot@hotmail.com or pas_20197@yahoo.com