Chapter 6 - More Than Gratitude

Walter and Seras went in through the back door at Hellsing manor but the sentries reported their presence to Integra. She was down immediately, calling down the wrath of Hell on both of them and demanding a complete explanation.

Seras was speechless and evidently exhausted, so it was up to Walter to give the information. He spoke as briefly as possible, trying to minimize both the young vampire's transgression and his own role in her rescue. When he began to tell Integra where Alucard was, she interrupted.

"I'm not worried about him, he always takes care of himself. You, on the other hand, should be immediately dismissed without references."

"I'm sure that's your decision, my lady," he replied with equanimity.

"And you, police girl," Integra went on.

But Seras was beginning to sway on her feet at this point. Walter interrupted. "Miss Seras needs a fresh uniform, and some rest, and blood as well I imagine."

"That's your job," snapped Integra.

"Precisely," he answered. "Now, if you will excuse me?"

He left, supporting Seras gently. Integra fumed behind him but didn't say anything more.

They arrived at the young vampire's room. He sent her in to change her clothes while he got a blood bag for her. When he returned she was sitting on her coffin bed, looking dazed. He handed her the bag and said "I suppose I'd better be going."

"I'd rather you stayed a bit. Or do you mind me drinking in front of you?" she asked.

"No, not at all," he answered. He sat down next to her and poked the mattress beneath him. "This thing is like stone, how do you stand it?"

"Apparently some people think vampires don't deserve much in the way of comfort."

He smiled. "Remind me to replace it."

She nodded. "Always the butler. Except tonight." She grew serious. "You saved me... I could have died, died again, except for you."

"Please don't mention it. I was the only one who knew where you were, so I came and got you, that's all."

"It's a lot more than that and you know it. I was frightened, you know? I'm not supposed to be, my master would only laugh, but I was."

"Anyone would be," replied Walter. He saw that she was trembling, and put an arm around her briefly. She turned her face toward him, but he grew suddenly nervous and got up to sit in a nearby armchair.

"You need your rest," he said finally.

She nodded, then said, "I don't want to be alone right now, somehow."

Walter looked toward the door. "I'm sure when Alucard comes back he'll be here for you."

"I highly doubt it, and anyway I find him no source of comfort. Will you just sit with me while I sleep, please? And leave the coffin open."

He nodded. "If you wish."

He watched as she stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes. She was so beautiful, and so seemingly unconscious of that beauty. He couldn't help looking at her lying there, her face tilted slightly up, her trim neck leading down to the swell of her breasts, the well-formed hips and the long legs beneath the brief skirt.

"She's so still," he thought to himself. "Well, of course, she doesn't breathe. Perhaps it's best if I don't look, after all."

He put his monocle on a nearby table and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, it was after dawn and Alucard was coming in the door of the room with the Harkonnen cannon. He didn't seem at all surprised to see the butler in the chair.

"I brought her gun back," he said, propping it up in the corner.

"And Bloody Raine?" asked Walter.

"Surely you didn't think she'd be a real challenge to me? You almost got rid of her yourself, after all."

Walter smiled a bit. "Yet you've been hours."

"Well, I had to give her a running start, didn't I?"

Walter nodded. Alucard walked over to the bed and observed Seras.

"She's just in her day sleep, Walter, she'll be fine. Speaking of which, I'm headed for my coffin."

"I suppose I should go," said Walter, standing up.

Alucard shrugged. "Why?"

The tall vampire left in a swirl of red coat and Walter walked over to the bed, impulsively smoothing back Seras' hair and gazing at her face.

"I need to stop this," he thought, but he went back over to the chair and slept again.

The next time he opened his eyes, evening was falling and she was staring back at him. Slowly, she rose from the bed and walked over to the chair.

"I'm glad you're still here," she said.

She reached out and traced her hand down Walter's face, then leaned forward and kissed him. He reacted with surprise to the touch of her lips, but couldn't bear to stop her, even when he felt her tongue gently enter his mouth. He removed his gloves and pulled her close to him, caressing her back and deepening the kiss, enjoying the feel of her mouth.

She removed her gloves as well and reached back to untie his ponytail. As he felt her fingers run through his hair he was brought back to reality.

"Seras, please... there are some things one simply doesn't do out of gratitude," he said.

She shook her head. "Who says I'm acting out of gratitude? For all my master may say of vampires and emotion, I care for you, and I think you care for me too."

He couldn't lie. "Yes. I do."

She kissed him again then, and he felt lost. "One more kiss," he thought to himself a bit desperately, "and then I'll tell her how ridiculous this is."

But it was several minutes, and she had pulled him down to lie next to her on the bed, before he was capable of thinking again. He pulled back, and looked into her eyes, and shook his head. She ignored him, and began to remove his tie.

"I must be three times your age, you know." he said.

She shrugged, and threw the tie on the floor. "And by most definitions, I'm dead. Who cares?"

She took his vest off next, and slid his armbands over his hands. Then she started on his shirt buttons.

"She's serious about this," he thought wildly, and reached for her hands.

"This is insane. It's been so long for me I've probably forgotten how," he said.

"I don't know how at all, so it makes little difference to me."

The impact of her words hit him. "My goodness; you can't possibly want me to be your first."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I find I rather do, actually."

Picking up one of his hands, she kissed the palm. "Are you out of arguments yet?"

Walter stared at her for a moment, then began to smile. He was neither too old nor too stupid to appreciate this woman. "I believe I may be."

His shirt was discarded, and he began to work at the buttons of her blouse. She was smiling and running her hands lightly over his chest. Her hands were cold, of course, but the sensation was extremely pleasant. He got her blouse off and began kissing the smooth skin of her neck and shoulders. He reached behind her and unfastened her brassiere.

"You haven't forgotten how to do that," she murmured.

"Underwear has only changed so much over the decades," he replied.

Her breasts were as beautiful uncovered as he had thought they would be. He ran his fingers and lips over the delicate skin, gradually working his way toward her nipples, where he lingered and sucked.

His hands moved slowly down her belly to her waist. He began to hesitate then, but she was already lifting her hips so he could push her skirt down. The panties were easily removed, and he allowed himself some time to simply appreciate her unclothed form.

"You," he said, "are simply, unutterably lovely."

"You're not so bad yourself," she replied with a grin that showed her fangs.

"For a man my age?" he teased.

"For a man any age," she murmured, stroking his shoulders and pulling his face down for a kiss.

The kisses were dazing him, and he began to touch her everywhere, moving in slow strokes along her arms, legs, and torso. It was a sensuous experience as everything he did seemed to cause her to make some small sound or movement that expressed pleasure.

Finally he moved his hands toward the juncture of her thighs, and began gently exploring her with the tips of his fingers. She closed her eyes and sighed. One hand sought out her clitoris and began to rub and stroke it. With the other he parted her folds gently and slid his fingers inside.

"I should have known you'd have great hands," she said, then her speech trailed off into a moan as his fingers penetrated her wetness further.

She was moving her hips now, pushing back against him. He loved being able to cause such reactions, and he began to quicken and strengthen his movements, trying to elicit even more response.

Her body was moving restlessly now, and he realized that she was close. He gave a few more sharp dexterous strokes and watched as she collapsed onto the bed and opened her eyes in surprise.

"I never felt anything like that before," she said, her red eyes meeting his.

With hands still wet from her orgasm he stroked her neck and back. He was as aroused as he had ever been but still said, "We can stop now, if you'd rather."

"You must be joking," she replied, and reached for his belt. She stripped him of his pants and underwear and started to touch his legs and thighs, finally reaching and stroking his erection. He gave sharp intake of breath.

She moved further down, brushing her breasts against his penis and eventually placing it in the channel between them, rubbing up and down. The feeling of the skin and slight warmth surrounding him was compelling and Walter began to lie back and enjoy.

Finally though he sat up facing her and said, "I want to be inside you when I come. If that's all right?"

"It's very all right," she replied, and began to lie down.

"No," he said, "I don't want you pinned between me and this awful mattress."

He reached out his hands so she could sit up also, and pulled her toward him, helping her put her legs around his hips.

"Do you think you can do it this way?" he asked.

She nodded, taking his erection into her hand and positioning her entrance over him.

"Don't hurt yourself," he warned.

"I have a very high threshold of pain these days," she replied, and pushed herself down onto him.

She did wince at first, and he almost stopped her, but soon she simply smiled and wrapped her legs around him tighter. He thought to himself that he'd forgotten how good this could feel. Then she began to move slowly on him and he changed his mind. Nothing had ever felt this good.

Her arms were around him, her breasts pressed against his chest, and her mouth near his ear. He held her hips to help her thrust, savoring the way her inner muscles gripped him. He reached between them, once again seeking and finding her swollen clit.

"Come for me again, sweet Seras," he murmured as he touched her rhythmically. "I want to see your face."

She looked at him with parted lips and an expression of joy as he felt the rush of fluids from within her. At this, he gave in himself, burying his face in her neck and spilling himself inside her.

He held her then, rocking slowly back and forth, then let her disentangle herself.

"Incredible," she said simply.

He smiled. "In the old days I would have kept you going all night."

"Then I'm glad this isn't the old days, because I'm exhausted. In fact I believe I need another nap."

"I'll leave you to it," he said, moving to get up.

"I hope not," she said, her hands on his shoulders.

He complied and lay down, letting her pillow her head on his chest. Soon they were both dozing. Neither realized that a certain red-coated figure had viewed the beginning of their festivities from a dark corner.

A.N.: To give credit where it's due, the "threshold of pain" line is in homage to Lois McMaster Bujold, who used it under similar though less explicit circumstances in a Miles Vorkosigan story. I bow before her greatness.