I kissed Alexandre on the cheek.
"I'm sorry, I don't know much about the expensive ones, but it's very beautiful and I can tell you're excited." I smiled.
"No, no, it's not just a car, it's our freedom." Alexandre exclaimed happily and scooped me up, racing me down the stairs to tuck me into the passenger seat.
"Ooookaaayyy.." I replied, buckling up as he zipped around to the driver's side and dove in. I raised an eyebrow at him, but the corners of my mouth twitched. Alexandre guffawed at my expression.
"Just wait, just wait, you'll see." He started the engine excitedly and began down the drive, pausing at the entrance to loudly proclaim "FREEDOM!" Before gassing it out of the drive onto the road. I gasped and gripped the dash.
"Did you notice anything?" He yelled excitedly over the engine noise.
"Yeah, you drive like a lunatic!" I screeched back, now clinging to my belt.
"Aw, you weren't paying attention! Here, let's turn around." Alexandre did a quick turn in the middle of the road, causing me to shriek and sped back towards the house. He slowed down as he passed the drive. "Look carefully." He chortled.
"What am I looking at?" I watched as we flew passed the drive, the metal gates were flung wide as if welcoming visitors. "Wait-where are the cops?" I asked, shocked.
"Surprise!" Alexandre spun the car back around and pulled into the drive. "Apparently, they've been pulled off 24/7 surveillance, since the higher ups believe the killer has been found." He parked the car in the shade of a tall tree by the gate.
"Alexandre, does that mean?" I whispered, holding a hand to my mouth.
"Yes! We're no longer house bound. We can cautiously do some hunting, maybe some out door activities, some shopping, start looking for your killer again..." I lunged across the seat at him, kissing him and laughing madly. Alexandre looked shocked and broke free, then the wolfish look returned.
"Does this mean I get my reward now?" He asked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"I'm not quite sure there's enough room for that in here, mister. At least not the way you behave." I scolded blushing. He growled and put the car back in gear.
"Better get back home then." He snarled, and the car shot forward towards the house.
"When do you think this honeymoon phase will wear off?" I asked Alexandre, lazily tracing the remaining scars on his back.
"I hope it never does." Alexandre sighed contentedly.
"Ok, yeah, it's enjoyable, but my damn hormones are uncontrollable. Is it always like this?" I asked seriously. Alexandre propped himself up on one elbow.
"The virus tends to make one more lascivious...if you will...it does help spread the disease, I'm sure you've heard of succubi and incubi... But no Carys...This, I've never experienced this before. It's very new to me, but I'm still relatively young amongst our kind. If it worries you, I can ask around and see what else I can find out." He answered and I nodded.
"I'm just a little worried it might not be...normal, you know?" I said, blushing. "I mean, my turning was different, my life was messed up, and maybe it was because.." I swallowed "I was still a virgin? I just don't want something to be wrong." Alexandre tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I have never been so attracted to someone in all my existence. I want to spend every moment with you, and I don't see how desiring your touch could ever possibly be a bad thing." Alexandre replied. "Even if it does seem to be all I want right now." He laughed.
"I'm hoping it was just because I was so repressed and I'll work it out of my system soon." I rolled my eyes and turned over. Alexandre laughed.
"Well, I most definitely was not repressed, though I'm hoping to be of assistance with your quest." He leaned over me and kissed me gently. "So what are you going to do with your new found freedom?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye. My heart jolted. I knew we didn't have any new leads on my killer, but I could go out now with less fear of discovery, 'eat out' so to speak, stretch my legs.
"Hmm." I replied stretching, knowing Alexandre would watch my movements hungrily. "I might just go for a run, which is something I never would have even thought about as a human. But I suddenly just want that rush." He licked his lips.
"That sounds like fun. Where will you go?" He hovered lower over me as he asked.
"I'm thinking maybe that old abandoned campground with the overgrown trail. It doesn't look very used and now that I'm getting a little more comfortable in my own skin..." I wiggled suggestively, wrapping my hands around his neck, "I think I can avoid any prying eyes easily enough and manage to actually challenge myself for a change." Alexandre looked like he hadn't heard a word beyond skin. His eyes cleared slowly.
"You want some company? Or should we just stay in and exercise?" He questioned and I flicked his ear.
Running was something I never thought I'd enjoy. I hated exercise, but I think I suddenly understood why dogs like to just run for no reason.
The warm air flowed over my skin like water, the scents I could pick up were outrageous and distracting, I wanted to follow them all. I realized I could fix my vision on a single point ahead and pull that image towards me to increase the detail in the distance, or push it away to enhance the things closer to me. My muscles stretched and sang happily, my heart and lungs picked up a steady synced rhythm. I wanted to push myself and see how fast I could go, but I wasn't sure Alexandre would approve of such behavior, so soon after our forced house imprisonment. The campground came into view ahead, and with a snarl, Alexandre put on an extra burst of speed, racing ahead to leap over the metal barrier. I let out a joyous whoop and gave chase, clearing the hurdle in one jump and catching up to him quickly. He growled lightly and increased his speed, practically flying up the stairs to the trail. I took them four at a time, close on his heels, feeling my muscles easily respond to my request for more. To think, this wouldn't have been possible so many months ago...
The trees overtook us with a deafening whoosh.
The sound was different in here, making me want to turn my head in all directions. Sound was muted, muffled. At the same time there was a constant rustling and movement, the leaves rubbing, creatures scrambling to hide, insects, the wind, trees creaking, birds moving, flying and calling. I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Woah." I whispered, closing my eyes as my senses were assaulted by the forest. The delicious smell of dead leaves hit me., sap from some evergreen, fresh dirt and crushed plant life we had disturbed, animal musk, Alexandre.. He was silently breathing in front of me and I opened my eyes to meet his.
"That is the spatial awareness I've been nagging you about." He said with a grin.
"It's a little overwhelming." I replied, suddenly completely flooded with information. New data was filtering in about Alexandre as well. I could hear his heart beating softly, a little quicker than usual, his soft breathing flowed smoothly in and out as his clothes readjusted around his body to accommodate his movements, the crackle of vegetation under his feet as he changed his position. I was suddenly hyper aware of every nook and cranny of his skin. His long lashes as he stared at me and the intense brown of his eyes. I reached out a hand and ran it gently along the light wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the dark hollows underneath.
"You're still sick." I accused lightly. He pulled my hand to his mouth and kissed it.
"Much better, and improving." He replied with a smile. And his breath hit me and I leaned into him to get an even better smell because until then I hadn't been paying attention to absolutely how much information there was to absorb. The slight scent of illness was there, almost masked by the aroma of vintage books and a fragrant garden full of flowers. There were still light drops of blood clinging to his breath from the meal he had consumed earlier, his exertion had increased his scent and mingled it with a salty tang, but there was something else. My pupils dilated as the hormone registered, my body aching to react.
"God, is that all you think about?" I griped at him.