crack_van | Physical Therapy by Ophelia Paradise [NC-17]

Fandom: FOREVER KNIGHT
Pairing: Nick/Nat
Length: 15,957 words each
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Ophelia5's Forever Knight story page
Why this must be read: This is an interesting one. It certainly involves odd subject matter (bondage=Nick/Nat intimacy) but it works really well and its a fantastic and sexy read. At the heart of the lack of intimate relations between Nick and Natalie is the simple fact that the vampire in Nick could choose that vulnerable moment to feed and kill Natalie. With Natalie being a resourceful woman, she introduces the idea of using bondage chains to help control Nick's feeding instinct, so that the two of them can introduce physical intimacy into their relationship. This is the first in a series of six stories dealing with the repercussions of their acts, especially once LaCroix becomes privy to their activities.

Physical Therapy by Ophelia Paradise

"Believe me. I've been working on this for a couple of days now. And I think I've got the answer." She cleared her throat again as Nick bent down to check out the contents of the large shopping bag--she had to get past this bit in a hurry. "The problem is strength and speed--you're just too strong and too fast for me. So, I thought that maybe if we tilted the odds in my favor, gave me a physical edge on the situation, it might help you with the whole control issue."

Nick fished out the length of chain, which was attached to a padded iron wrist cuff with a bolt lock. He simply stared at it in wonder, as if he couldn't quite figure out what it was for.

Natalie hoped like hell he was still listening. She now knew that her face was flushed and that she was speaking too fast . . . but there was no way she was going to explain this again. "We start with an absolutely secure situation--we make you completely immobile . . . within reason. If that works, once you're comfortable with it and you think you're ready to move on--"

He had the leg cuffs out of the bag, now.

"--We change the parameters, give you some mobility, a little at a time. I'm not saying that it's going to happen overnight. But I think it might help your self-confidence, give you something to work toward. And I need to collect data. To be honest, I really know nothing about vampire intercourse, where blood fits into it, is it simply a holdover from the predator instincts or--"

Nick was playing with the catch on the neck band, which was an iron collar, padded on the inside.

"--Whether it's necessary for you to achieve--God, I can't believe I'm actually talking about this!" Her courage gave out just as he looked up at her and met her eyes. Natalie snatched the iron collar from his hand and tossed it into the bag. Without hesitation, she gathered together the handles of the bag, picked it up, and turned toward the door.

She was an idiot. How could she have done this? She was a rational woman. It wasn't like she needed sex, for God's sake, and, yeah, sure, she missed it and had fantasized more than once about how she and Nick would do together if she found a cure and if he was still interested in her and if--

But now she just felt cheap and vulgar and embarrassed, and needy and--

His arm was around her, stopping her from leaving. Nick pried the shopping bag handles from her fingers and the bag clanked on the floor again, falling sideways and spilling the contents. But Natalie didn't have time to notice. Nick's hands moved to her shoulders, then her face. He gazed into her eyes and kissed her--no attack this time. No intention to tease or taunt or challenge. Just a long, slow, loving, caring, caressing kind of kiss.