Upon Avon (Aleksandr/Jamie)

[Jamie Rosenthal]

During the heat of the summer afternoons, Jamie had found himself wandering the streets of London and admiring the sights of the city. The summer breeze lifted his hair and made it dance as if his soul blazed in those locks, however, the complacent smile on his lips made him more approachable than ever. He had just come from the front window ot the anitue shop near his home, when he saw a flyer advertising an event entitled Shakespeare in the Park. At first his eyes had skimmed over it, then doubled back quickly. What? Really?! Too neat! A travelling troupe of actors was going from city to city performing Shakespeare's works on an outdoor stage!

What fun that had to be!

That gave him an idea. Quickly, he turned on his heel and ran back to his home and to his study and quickly scrawled out a letter on a piece of parchment to Alek to meet him at Pied a Terre at sundown. The location was near the Royal Gardens, where the show was to be. The restaurant was known far throughout Europe for their exceptional cuisine. They even had a Pre-Theatre menu on nights where shows were taking place. As a playful gesture, he shifted to his female form and pressed a kiss under his name in a lip shade of an enticing crimson. Even the parchment smelled of a mixture of magnolia and vanilla with the softest hint of sweet port wine.

Quickly, he shifted back and summoned the own he used for post and sent the bird off to find Aleksandr. Meanwhile, he opted to get prepared to meet him. Bathing, shaving, his hair opting to fall neat and straight, but still, he braided the front back and chose a suit of a neutral tone and well-fitted. Okay, sue him, his tastes were refined. Black usually nade him appear sickly pale, white was saved for work, so this was the next best thing! Granted, he thought of showing up as a woman for a moment after he took a glance at himself, but decided that she would be better saved for a later date.

Soon, the sun was setting and he was walking down the streets of London again, coaxing a smile out of those that would meet those green eyes that gave such a warm and pleasant aura about him. He was happy to be out, and even more happy to be able to be seeing the person that meant more than the world to him. Besides that, they were going to see Macbeth! What luck that the troupe would be performing one of Alek's favorites tonight! Besides that, dear Merlin, he was all but aching to kiss that man again. It had to be something in that vampiric blood of his that drew him like a snake to a charmer. He just knew he wouldn't be able to hold it back. Besides! It had been some time since he had seen him last. The first month of summer has nearly half over and he had not seen him since just before leaving for London.

He felt like an enamored school boy, longing for his company again. Time seemed to pass quickly when not in his presence. As if a reminder that the world was turning and changing, aging, and he was too. However, it seemed as if time waited for Alek specifically. How wonderful that must be! Granted, to watch everything age and die...no. That could not be easy. With that thought pushed away, he picked up one solitary scarlet rose from a vendor and moved to the front of the restaurant as the sun sank beyond the horizon, leaving orange, violet, and pink streaks in the sky in its wake. It was simply beautiful to admire the colors.

[Deleted]

He had been hiding away in the dark coolness of his home, hiding away from the deadly rays of the shining sun and from the uncomfortable heat that always seem to come with the summers here in the western part of the world. While he usually hated the thought of returning to Russia, [even with his parents long since buried and dead,] these horrid summer months made him feel almost desperate to find some sort of relief. He was attempting to take a nap of sorts, trying his hardest to make himself more comfortable and sleep until the heat of the day was completely gone when he heard the familiar pecking at his window, signalling that he had received a message from someone. Sighing and running a hand through his damp hair, he moved and carefully positoned himself so that he would be safely out of the way of the sun's rays as he opened the window, he smiled when the owl flew in and around his room before dropping the letter on his bed and flying out, with Aleksandr gently closing both the window and the curtain that covered it and making his way over to his bed in order to read the parchment that he had been delivered.

It had been a simple note from Jamie, that much he had been able to recognize from both the neat handwriting and the tempting scent that flew off of the parchment and pleasantly greeted his senses. Merlin, it felt as though it had been entirely too long since he had last seen his favorite mortal. His icy eyes carefully skimmed over the parchment, reading each and every word carefully before allowing a small smile to cross his lips. It seemed as though the German had the same sort of mind frame that the vampire did, for the parchment asked the vampire to meet him at a very well known restaurant that was located near the Royal Gardens in London. He was asked to be there at sunset and with a small smile and a quiet chuckle, he rose gracefully from his bed in order to start getting ready for his date. After taking a shower [ a very cold shower at that. Like hell he would use hot water in the middle of summer!] and dressing himself in a simple white suit, that neither clung to or hung off of his thin form and taking care of everything else that needed to be done before he was finally ready to leave.

With a soft pop, he apparated out of his home and after a few moments of spinning and pushing, he found himself a few blocks away from where he needed to be. With his gloved hands resting gently inside of his pockets, resting calmly on his wand [which he had brought with him out of habit.] he began to slowly make his way to the restaurant where he had been told to meet Jamie, being sure to stay within the saftey of the shadows as the sun was still out. Stopping only when he needed to step around or find a way to avoid the small sun rays that had peeked through the shadows, it was only a moment later that he came across the person that he had come here for and the one person that he had missed more than anything.

His Jamie.

Quietly he made his way towards the male, coming up behind him and gently tapping him on his shoulder. " Hello Jamie." He spoke quietly, smiling when the other had turned to face him. " Long time no see. I've missed you."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Even with those simple words, Jamie found the smile forming on his lips before he even turned. However, once he did, he was greeted with the beautiful sight of the vampire in his white suit and was instantly awestruck. White was a stunning color on him. After he spoke, Jamie found himself moving close to Alek and pressing a deep kiss to those lips that he had ached for far too long to taste again. He had missed him horribly, and as his lips moved from his, he found himself finally breathing again. "I missed you too, fery much. I vanted to vrite to you sooner, but I did not vant to seem...clingy." As much as his heart beat for this man, he was still hesitant to seem overly attached, even though every kiss would pledge otherwise.

He presented the crimson rose to him with a soft smile before he reached down and gently took his hand."I haf a surprise for you after dinner, Alek. I do hope you like it, but until then, I hope you are hungry. Zhis place has some of the best food in London." And Jamie absolutely had the money for this place too. Even though his sister had the Menor in Berlin, she gave him more than enough of the money to live comfortably. If his sister ever married, the house would be his, but still!

He gently moved alongside Alek, very unaware of how much he hung on each word the vampire spoke and the look of sheer adoration that was coming over his face. Dear Merlin, he was simply in love.

And he couldn't tell!

As they entered the restaurant and he gave his name, they were escorted to a table far from the lingering sun rays, on the side of the restaurant where the darkness of dusk was seeping in and in the candle light, he was vaguely aware of the beautiful glow of Alek's face in that light even before they sat down. The table was set for all courses, with a vase of 11 yellow roses with the rep tops that he had given to Alek the first time he had fed from him, and 1 red rose like the one he had given him tonight. He certainly was trying.

It was said that he was a closet romantic, and that he didn't know how to woo someone, but he was making an attempt. He just didn't know...how much he was trying. "Is this table suitable for your needs, Liebe?" He smiled softly up at him from his spot at his side.

[Deleted]

He was so surprised by the reaction that his mere arrival had managed to get from the other male. He was greeted by that beautiful and loving smile that he had missed so much over the time that the two of them had been apart for, but on top of that he was also greeted by Jamie moving close to him and pressing one of the deepest kisses that he had ever received from the male to his own lips. Wide blue eyes stared at him in slight surprise before he smiled into the kiss and gently returned it for a short while before the kiss was broken. He stared down at the mortal with that familiar soft gaze of adoration that he reserved for only him, listening to him as he spoke before laughing quietly. " Do not ever be afraid to vrite me Jamie. I vould love to hear from you vhenever you have the time to vrite me, it vould give me something to look forvard to in these not so pleasant summer months."

He couldn't help but smile as Jamie gave him a beautiful crimson rose and as he carefully tucked the flower inside of his pocket, making sure that the blossom could be seen in all of it's beauty before allowing his hands to fall back down to his side. His smile grew slightly when Jamie's hand immediately sought out his own the minute that it was open, gently taking it into his own." Vell, vell. a surprise you say? If it something that you have planned then there is no need to vorry, for I vill surely enjoy it, vhatever it is."Jamie's hand was gently lifted to his mouth and a soft kiss was placed to the tender flesh on the back of it and Jamie was gifted with yet another love filled gaze before the two of them entered the restaurant.

Jamie gave his name and the two of them waited for a short moment before they were led to a table that lay far away from the remaining deadly rays of the sun, something that the vampire was eternally grateful for. The darkness of the dusk was beginning to seep in on their side of the restaurant, making the light that they recieved from the lit candles all that more powerful and beautiful. When they got to their table, he was surprised to see a vase of the very same kind of rose that Jamie had given to him on the night that he had first fed from the willing mortal. It was enough to make both his heart and his sharp gaze soften considerably and it was obvious that he found the gesture to be touching, charming even.

Yes, a mortal was the one that had managed to charm a vampire.

" Da...it's perfect. You truly thought of everything did you not my beautiful Jamie?" He released the mortal's hand for a moment, walking to the side of the table and pulling the chair out for Jamie, pushing it in gently when the mortal had sat down before taking his own seat, his eyes and gaze never leaving the mortal. " I have to say, vhile I alvays think you to be both handsome and beautiful, in this light you look absolutely stunning. It vould be enough to make even the most beautiful of my kind seethe with jealousy in comparison to you."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

As he took his seat, he found it nearly impossible to bring his gaze away from the vampire as he moved around the table and took his seat across from him. Oh, this light made him more irresistable than ever. When Alek had complimented him, he felt the wave of a blush coming over his face as he looked over at him. This light made his skin glow with a healthy light, not making him so ghostly pale and his normally calm green eyes were an enchanting shade by the light of the candles, picking up the subtle golden flecks within his eyes as if they were made to bring them out.

Crimson waves fell over his lean shoulders softly and his posture was naturally straight and relaxed within the chair. As the waiter came to the table, he was looking for a wine order from them and looked to Jamie first and he ordered a dry port wine, Barros. With a content smile, he looked up at Jamie as he handed him the wine list. He had already known what he wanted when he came in.

He was almost too excited to keep the play a secret, but he wanted to see his face when they arived to the riverfront. Jamie was a closet romantic, wanting desperately to do romantic things for the person he cared most about (which Alek was, easily). Granted he had never had the chance until now, and he was truly absorbed into making sure that Alek would feel special each day. Even if with nothing more than a note. He truly felt that Alek deserved such.

If he could get away with it, he would...come to think of it...he could do that. That would mean he would need to buy an owl for his home, and get lots of parchment. Oh, he had an idea now that he wouldn't let go of to save his life. Granted, his face did not betray the secret, reading only in the unsurmountable joy he felt in Alek's presence.

After Alek placed his wine order, they were given menus to make their dinner selections and he chanced a glance over his menu at those beautiful blue eyes and he sighed in a more enamored manner then he had really antcipated, but, he was far too content to notice any different.

[Deleted]

Merlin, it really was almost as if Jamie had been made specifically for him to love and cherish. The German was absolutely stunning and held inside of him the qualities that Aleksandr had found to be most attractive inside of a mortal. He was kind and gentle along with also being completely selfless and innocent. He was intelligent and shared the vampire's unique love for the written works of Shakespeare. There were just so many things to love about his Jamie and the vampire was beginning to love each and every single one of them more and more as the time that they spent together grew longer and longer. He had never before been so smitten by any sort of being and while in the past he might have rolled his eyes at the thought of a mortal affecting him the way that he had, he honestly could not be any happier than he was with Jamie.

The German had the Russian vampire wrapped completely around his finger and he didn't even know it yet!

His eyes moved to glance at the male in the candlelight and for a moment, the vampire froze completely, completely forgetting how to breathe or even how to blink as his eyes locked on the form of the male. He had never seen someone so beautiful, so perfect as Jamie appeared to him in that moment. The light from the candles gave Jamie's skin a healthy and almost stunning glow and those beautiful green eyes that Aleksandr had always admired were now a beautiful and enchanting shade of green and the gaze that was held in their depths was enough to almost make the vampire melt with the warmth that he was feeling inside of his chest.

Merlin, this man was going to be the end of him one day, he already knew it.

He was distracted from his admiration of the other male when one of the waiters came to the table, asking for their wine order. He watched with calm eyes as the mortal glanced at him before ordering one of his very favorite wines. His eyes widened in slight surprise, staring at the younger male in something akin to shock. He knew that he had never discussed his taste in wine with the other male before, his choosing Aleksander's preference in wine had been something that had happened completely by chance. " Impressive, Jamie. It seems as if you know me better than I had previously thought. You chose my favorite vine." He gave the
mortal a small smile before moving his gaze to the menu that he had been given by the waiter for a mere moment, smiling softly when he felt the familiar gaze of the one that he loved locked on his form. Gazing up from the menu his icy eyes locked with those beautiful green again before Jamie was given a playful wink and a soft smile.

[Jamie Rosenthal]

The look on Aleksandr's face caught Jamie by surprise and it was as if he suddenly forget how to breathe when his eyes lifted and he captured those eyes gazing at him. Merlin's sake...how much of that gaze could he take before he wound up beyond all hope and prayer in love with that man? He must have been staring because the wink he gave made him turn red, the candle light making his skin seem flush and rosy.

He ducked behind the menu and shook his head. He was going to blow this if he didn't knock off the goofy eyes and blushing. Green eyes scoured through the menu, noting the interesting sounding truffle Risotto and pan seared fish. Hm. That sounded good.

He looked up again and found himself gazing at Aleksandr with a soft, warm gaze. He was so lucky to have him close by. "Anything catching your eye?"

[Deleted]

He couldn't help but be amused with the blush and sudden shyness that Jamie had shown when he had winked at him. A quiet chuckle left his lips before his gaze turned back down to his menu, though his eyes were now shining with a certain playful twinkle in their depths. The other man truly was endearing in every possible way and that shyness that he displayed around the vampire was something that was almost...cute. Oh dear Merlin, when was the last time that he had dared call anything cute?! This man really was changing him, it would only be a matter of time before he was completely smitten with the male and the German became an obsession of his. Before he knew it, he would start to need to have the other male by his side and he would get even more restless than he already was when he could not see the male for an extended amount of time and eventually he would start having those urges. Those freaking horrible dark and disturbing urges that made him feel like the worst sort of creature in exsistance for even having those sorts of thoughts about someone that was both so pure and so innocent.

He hated being a man so much sometimes.

He could feel his face start to burn with the tell tale signs of embarassment and he himself quickly ducked behind his menu to shield himself for a moment in order to give himself time to calm down. Thankfully, Jamie seemed to be absorbed in his menu and didn't seem to notice him or his actions and by the time Jamie had asked him if anything had managed to catch his eye, he was back to his -relatively- normal self. Feeling especially playful that night, his eyes again lifted from his menu and stared at Jamie with a soft gaze. " As a matter of fact something has, though it's more of a someone than a something and he's currently sitting across from me looking every bit as beautiful and stunning as Armand vas described to be in that book." His lips tilted upward in a soft smile before moving down to glance at his menu again, this time to find something to eat. Hmm...the risotto and the fish sounded particularly good, perhaps he would order that.

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Had Alek kept his gaze upward, he would have seen a subconscious bite to the German's lower lip and a blush struggling on his features. The comparison of himself to the vampire Armand was one he made to himself constantly, but to hear it from Alek was...much more a compliment than that.

Merlin, was he going mental? He was certainly craving Aleksandr's company more with the passing days. Now that he was here, he simply wanted him to stay. He was also growing more aware of the urges growing in his own subconscious. Those, he blamed on being a typical man. However, he had not ever felt them so strongly before. It was as if their connection only made the urges stronger and as their connection grew, he less he was able to fight off the wanting to keep him close.

The server returned with two glasses of wine and asked if they were ready to order, glancing at Jamie with a slightly awestruck smile. The girl was fascinated between the beauty of both men at the table and as Jamie looked up at her with a smile, she blushed as he spoke, "I sink I ahm favorink zee Pan Seared Fish and Truffle Risotto. However, can I also get a side of Hericot Verts vis toasted almonds?" He looked up at Alek with a smile. "Somesink about zhat combination is delicious, I sink my grandmutter made somesink similar."

The girl looked at Alek, trying to fight off the admiration in her smile as he gave his own order, but he would find as he spoke that the German reached across the table and his fingers softly stroked along the back of the vampire's hand. He was very subtle in those soft strokes, happily smiling to himself at the contact. Even an accidental brush of his skin was enough to send the mortal's heart into thundering beats.

Oh, he was going to enjoy this night. It was going to take restraint to keep from asking him to return to his house with him just to prevent the night from ending and to be able to admire that smile longer. Then again, his mind started to go on vacation once again and provide a daydream of the vampire's fingers slowly sliding the buttons of the pressed shirt open after easing the tie from his neck.

He lingered there mentally for a bit longer than he anticipated, looking up with a start after a few moments with an embarrassed smile. "Goodness. I ahm back again. My mind frequently takes zhese side trips visout varnink."

[Deleted]

As a vampire, there were many things about mortals that he often found to be more amusing than anything else and while there were a good number of things about mortals that he found to be interesting perhaps he would say that his favorite thing to watch was when mortals were forced to interact with people that they found to be attractive. When the server came to bring them their wine it was almost immediately apparent that she was taken with the appearance of the two of them, something that caused an almost amused smile to play across his lips, though his gaze did not fall on the young woman until Jamie had spoken in order to give her his order. The smile grew slightly when he noticed her small blush and he had to fight the small chuckle that had threatened to escape. It seemed as though his Jamie had a knack for charming more than just vampires and magical creatures. It seemed as though his beauty also seemed to attract muggles as well.

It was a shame that he had never been very good with sharing. Then again, what vampire was?

When he was asked for his own order by the young woman, he allowed his gaze to move away from his infatuation in order to look up at the woman with a small and polite smile as he gave her his order, something that was called a monkfish along with a side order of the Truffle Risotto as well. When Jamie spoke again, this time telling him about enjoying a certain combination of foods, he smiled at him understanding just what it was that he meant. While it was not very often that the vampire partook in the consumption of mortal food and drink [with the exception of chocolate and wine, which he always made sure to have on hand due to his rather strong cravings for them at the oddest of times] he could understand just how wonderful certain items could taste together.

As he had began giving his order to the waitress he had been aware of the German reaching across the table for some reason or another but had chosen to disregard it for the moment. Yet as he felt the soft and warm sensation of his skin gently stroking the back of his own hand. It was a sweet and endearing action, one that nearly made his cold, vampiric heart melt. He quickly finished giving his order so that he could focus his attention on his favorite person.

His beloved Armand.

The waitress left the two of them alone after that, something that the vampire was eternally grateful for. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with Jamie at that moment, enjoying the small and gentle touches as it soothed the most basic of his vampiric urges. To be close to the one that he adored. It was something so simple and yet he honestly could not be happier.

He was starting to fall madly in love with the mortal, that much was becoming almost painfully obvious.

All was quiet between the two of them for a few moments. Jamie was off daydreaming about something as usual and he was content with just admiring the beautiful German. It was a short while later that Jamie came out of his dream, giving Aleksandr an embarrassed smile and stating that he was back and that his mind liked to wander off a bit without warning sometimes.

Was it him or did Jamie suddenly look a bit more flushed for some reason? Perhaps it was just the candlelight.

" It is fine love. I am content just sitting here vith you and enjoying your company. It seems like it has been far too long since the last home I've been able to look upon your beauty, so I intend to enjoy every single moment of it vhile I am able to." He could not wait until the end of the summer came and he would be able to see him on a much more regular basis.

He only hoped that he could last that long. It seemed as though the stronger their bond got, the stronger the need for him to have Jamie by him grew. He wanted to hold him, to kiss him and to have that smile belong to him and only him for the rest of eternity.

Damn his vampiric urges. Though deep in his mind there was a single question that lingered.

Did Jamie feel the same as he did?

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Fingers slid along the curve of Aleksandr's hand to tuck against the cool palm and when he had spoken of it being too long since he had seen him, Jamie found his fingers squeezing his hand gently. He understood the feeling all too well, and finally decided to try to put the thought to words. "Aleksandr...I alvays sought zhat time avay from you vas hard. Moreso now zhan efer. You are...quite possibly ze most vonderful person I haf efer met."

And he did something to him. He had never had the urge to kiss someone as he did Aleksandr, never had the urge to touch someone as he did him, never in his life had he had the thoughts of someone touching him and his reaction was to want more. Oh, that never happened!

"It is strange for me to vant someone so much zhat it takes ofer my soughts and dreams..." It was a quiet utterance and he was fighting temptation to just shove everything off the table and grip the vampire's shirt and kiss him until they both were short on breath on the tabletop.

Every glance of those icy eyes awakened his dormant passion, the feelings he was nervous about in the past were being moulded to fit him. His tongue darted over his lips and he found himself speaking the next words a little louder than he anticipated, but he would not have changed it.

"Ich Liebe Dich. I love you."

He'd worked his accent down on his English, as if he had practiced it until he could be understood.

[Deleted]

He couldn't help but sigh softly when he felt Jamie's fingers move along the skin of his hand before gently resting themselves against the skin of his palm. A smile formed on his lips when he felt those fingers gently squeeze his hand in response to his words, that familiar feeling of happiness washing over him as it always did whenever he was lucky enough to be touched by his infatuation washing over him in pleasant waves, making the vampire feel a mixture of both relaxed and content. When Jamie began talking, saying that he understood how it hard it was to be apart from him because he felt the very same way that he did. He told him that it had always been hard to be away from him though now it was more unbearable than it ever had been before. He then said that Aleksandr may have been the most wonderful person that Jamie had ever met, something that made his smile grow.

" Jamie, I have found that as time goes on and as I grow closer and closer to you, it grows steadily more difficult for me to be away from you for extended amounts of time. You are an amazing person, an amazing man that fate has gifted me vith the honor to know." Jamie's hand was brought up to his lips and a gentle kiss was placed on the back of it. While he wanted nothing more than to kiss the other man fully, he would settle for just kissing his hand for now. It was strange, the urges that Jamie made him feel. Never before had he wanted to touch another person. Never before had he wanted to kiss and hold another as badly as he wanted to do with Jamie.

When Jamie said that he wanted him so much that it took over his both his dreams and thoughts, it made the vampire look up at him with a look of pure surprise etched onto his face. Out of all the things that he had thought the other could or would say, he had not expected that to be one of them. He had always believed his beautiful Jamie to be completely innocent and while he himself had previously entertained less than pure thoughts of the German, he had never dared to dream that the other had done the same about him. The thought was enough to make his blood begin to heat up and his hormones start to demand that he at the very least kiss the German and yet he stayed in his seat, though his icy gaze was definitely more intense than it had previously been before Jamie's statement.

When Jamie told him that he loved him, he felt as though his world had stopped. Suddenly everyone else seemed to disappear until it was only him and his beloved left in his own little world. It was quiet for a moment before the vampire finally reacted. His icy eyes softened drastically and a look that was filled with both the strongest sort of love and adoration was given to the mortal. It was as if he was the only thing that Aleksandr cared about, as if he was the only thing that the vampire saw in his world.

" I love you too Jamie. More than I can or vill ever love another person."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

The gaze from those icy eyes was so intense that Jamie felt as if it pierced right into his soul. It was hard to believe that despite how close the mortal and the vampire were, and then it was still hard form them to properly read each other's feelings. Then again, with people who both ached for true, deep, and powerful love, it was a matter of self preservation and saving themselves from getting hurt by tose who would seek to destroy and make a mockery of their dreams. Love...was not only a beautiful thing, it was also dangerous. It could create and end life in a moment.

When Aleksandr said that he returned the love that he had finally admitted, Jamie blinked in surprise. Despite not moving from their seats, there was a strong charge between icy blue and jade green eyes as they seemed so intent on staring deep into each other's eyes and not moving the gaze. It was as if the whole of the world that did not contain Alek did not matter in that moment. Nothing at all mattered but the gaze in his eyes and the traces of a smile upon his lips.

Oh, his mind was running rampant. He found an unbearable to be situated between the back wall and feel the press of those cool lips upon burning flesh. Despite his purity, he was in fact a man and did have urges. They were only for the only man he ever had fallen in love with, however. His purity was still technically his own. Nothing but the beat of Aleksandr's name within his heart would push him from the comfort of asexuality to the need to feel the love and desire of the vampire.

Subconsciously, he felt his tongue dart over dry lips and there was the faintest color of white within the fingers pressing roughly to the top of the table. He was focusing his energy in to keeping himself seated and not launching himself at the man that had just spoken to his heart in such a beautiful way. "Aleksandr...vhat I vouldn't gif to be visin your arms..."He was cut off by the server returning with their dinner.

Jamie shuddered, damn them. Now he really sould do nothing.

[Deleted]

It was funny how despite everything that the two of them had been through together, that despite absolutely everything that it seemed as though it was stil hard for the both of them to read each other's emotions. While he had previously considered Jamie to be not that difficult a person to understand, as he had gotten to know him better and better as time passed, he was surprised to find that Jamie was just as good at hiding how he felt as Aleksandr himself was. It was a trait that he had previously believed to be non-exsistant amongst humans and yet as he stared deeply into the beautiful eyes that belonged to his infatuation, he found that he honestly did not mind the small surprise.

Merlin he loved those beautiful eyes of Jamie's. Then again, he honestly did not know if there was a single thing about his lover that he did not love. He loved his mind and his smile. He loved his modesty and his gentle touches. He loved the sweet kisses that Jamie gave to him. He loved everything that there was to love about him.

When he admitted to Jamie that he returned his love, it was as of something in the air immediately changed. It seemed as though a certain spark had been lit between the two of them and now the air was thick and heavy with both some sort of strange intensity and some sort of emotion that had the vampire fighting every single basic urge and instinct that his body and heart were forcing on him at the moment. In his eyes, there was nothing in his world other then Jamie. Nothing mattered to him other than that smile, those eyes and that body.

Oh sweet Merlin that body!

Icy blue eyes left Jamie's for a moment in order to quickly run over the clothed expanse of that beautiful body, eying it for a moment in pure admiration before a small shudder ran through his own body. There was nothing more at that moment that he wanted more than to just shove Jamie against the closest flat surface and press his lips against that beautiful skin. He wanted to hold, touch, kiss and claim that body as his own and it was taking every single ounce of self control that he had in order to restrain himself from doing something that he might regret later on. Yet as that tongue left Jamie's mouth in order to wet his lips, he had to fight back a small groan that had built up in his throat. Jamie wasn't making this easy for him! His eyes moved away from those tempting lips in order to try and find something to distract him from his urges, his own lips forming a smile when they fell upon Jamie's hand gripping the table.

It seemed as though he wasn't the only one who found his company to be tempting! That was a relief!

His relief was very short lived as he heard Jamie's words and this time he couldn't help the second shudder as it washed over his body. His eyes moved back up at Jamie to stare at him with another intense gaze, though this one was half-lidded. A very small smile had his lips tilted upwards and there was a moment of silence, before he spoke up again.

"Jamie, there is nothing that I vould love more than to have you in my arms." If he could ever have that chance, he would be sure to leave the other with absolutely no doubt that he loved him as much as he said he did. He would show him just how much he loved him, that much was absolutely certain. The vampire had been about to say more to Jamie but was interrupted when the server returned to the table with their meal and because what he had been about to say was only suited for Jamie's ears, he fell quiet instead of talking. While he was not all that happy with the disturbance, he was thankful that it gave him a chance to regain his urges and hormones under control. His eyes fell to Jamie again and his lips formed a smile as he saw the shudder and the almost displeased expression on his lover's face.

It seemed as though he was not the only one who wasn't all that happy with the disturbance.

[Jamie Rosenthal]

As the server left again, he felt his thought begin to clear and settle somewhere between Aleksandr and the play. With the shifting tension between them, he flirted with the idea of skipping it and simply bringing him back to his home, but inwardly he knew that his little acts of wooing the blonde would not be complete without the play. Knowing now what he did, he could scarcely wait to see the reaction he would have to the plans he made.

From across the table he lifted his glass of wine and extended it toward Aleksandr, "Might I propose a toast? To new beginnings, and to love, may it nefer fade." Before he could stop himself, he winked through the candlelight upon meeting the vampire's eyes. He couldn't imagine feeling any way other than how he felt now. Something in the sound produced by crystal upon crystal send a tremble through him and he was nearly to the point of walking away from the table and splashing cold water on his face to calm himself.

"Merlin, forgife me, Aleksandr. It is difficult to control my soughts zhis evenink. I nefer sought zhat my affections vould be returned in a million years. And my mind is runnink rampant vith vays to keep you close to me." He really wanted to do whatever he could to keep him close. The very thought of being unable to see him made him sick to his stomach, in fact.

The cloth napkin was placed in his lap and he ate quietly. The food they asked for came in a smaller portion than the normal entrée to provide enough to eat before the show began. Though, he had to admit, the food had amazing taste and balance. It was the perfect balance of flavor. As his mouth cleared, he asked softly, "Are ze summer months here unbearable to you as vell? Ze daylight hours produce far too much heat for me. At least night is more bearable." Was he honestly talking about the weather? Oh, how cliche.