Sing to me about LOVE {Mercy}

[Lt. Lucien Calugarul]

It was with the warmth of his woman at his side and a sense of complete peace that Lucien awoke. It was a foreign feeling; the knowledge that there was someone sleeping in his bed, so close to him when he was the most vulnerable…and he couldn’t care. But as he turned his head to look down at the sleeping werewolf curled up into his side, he couldn’t help but smile. His Mercy, his angel…Du, finally, he had done something right.

Memories of the previous night slowly slid into his mind, and his body instantly hardened. It seemed that going so long without a woman’s touch had made him into some kind of a sexpot, he thought with a wry grin. Raven would be so proud…but after last night’s events, he doubted certain muscles of his wouldn’t like his initiating another round. So, to content the ever-present need to feel her wrapped around him, he pulled her more securely into his side.

She was wonderful, he thought, tenderly nuzzling the top of her head. She was all gentleness, all softness; everything he’d never dreamed he would have again, in this lifetime. Right on schedule, those ugly doubts began to rear their head, and he pushed them down. Now was not the time to dwell on her dangerous place in the Team, or his own finite lifespan, when compared to hers. It was too early to deal with those black thoughts.

Now, there was only time for his angel. For…God, could he say it again, in the daylight?
For love. Mmm…it did taste good on his tongue.

For a few more minutes, Lucien merely held her in his arms, watching her sleep. He felt a strange pride in the fact that the love bites he’d put on her had remained; an almost animalistic marking that he hadn’t been able to control, and she hadn’t seemed to mind. She’d probably condemn him for it later; for embarrassing her with the display in front of the men, but he didn’t care. He was almost smug about it, as surprising as it was.

But nothing compared to the level of protectiveness that he felt toward her. Gah, one could almost think that he were the wolf, and she his mate. Even then, hearing the sounds of heavy footfalls outside his room, a frown was pulling at his lips and his arms tightening around her, as if expecting some disaster to befall them.

He let loose an irritated sigh at that. He just couldn’t lie there and enjoy the woman in his arms. Of course not. Yeesh.

Slowly, so as not to wake her, the soldier slid out of the bed. He pulled on his pants and snagged a shirt from the floor, deciding that restlessness could be put to use finding some breakfast for his angel. A breakfast that, he thought as he moved through the room, could lead to…something else.

A smile slid onto his face as he headed out into the hall to search for food for his Mercy. The mess hall was crowded, but with a few scowls, he was allowed to the front of the line. A bit later, he was hurrying back to his room and easing down onto the bed, a tray of eggs, toast and coffee on a tray in his hands.

There weren’t any missions logged in for the day…yes, maybe it was time to court her. He was a gentleman, after all.

[Mercedes Rowe]

Mercedes had slept like a baby. It had been so long since she had slept this good. It all came down to two things. Having Lucien at her side and their night of passion had been another part of the reason.

The moment Lucien had left her side she had begun to toss and turn. She didn't wake up, but she felt colder and like she was missing something, which was obviously the feel of his body pressed against hers.

It didn't take long for her to get comfortable again, sinking back into a semi-coma state. Her dreams were wonderful. It was all about Lucien, which was wonderful to wake from, which she did when the bed dipped and the smell of food wafting into her nostrils.

Her eyes drew open and she looked up a Lucien with a confused expression, until she realized he had left to go get breakfast for them. Her lips lifted into a smile. "Morning," she rolled over and pushed to sit up. Her hands came to her eyes, rubbing them gently and only making the mascara smudge more under her eyes. "You didn't have to go get me breakfast."

He was so sweet. She wanted to kiss him, but she didn't want to scare him off with her morning breath, so instead she reached out over to stroke a hand over his cheek. "Did you sleep good?"

The smell of coffee suddenly hit her nostrils and she groaned. "You brought me coffee. You are a godsend," she smiled warmly and reached over to get a cup of that coffee. "Come sit next to me and share this with me," she pat the spot next to her on his bed. She had other motives too. She wanted him pressed back against her again.

"Have you been up long? I feel like a schmuck for sleeping so long. I'm sorry," she murmured then took a sip of the coffee. It was hot, just perfect.

[Lt. Lucien Calugarul]

If anyone else in the base had seen the expression on Lucien's face, they would have probably passed out unconcious. Unlike his normal neutral mask, a smile had taken up residence on his lips, and his eyes softened as she slowly awoke. Leaning down, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead, and grinned at her as she noticed him.

She looked so glad to see him, so content to be in his presence that he felt...humbled, somehow. After a life of death and war, he had never imagined that he'd be able to find such a wonderful woman who would look at him as something more than a monster. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder what she would think of him if she saw what he did for a living.

Would she condemn him for his 'specialty?' Would she call him a murderer, a sadist, if she saw what he did to the soldiers his superiors took into their custody?

He shook off the doubts with a slight frown. He needed, wanted to keep the safe, peaceful dream that enveloped them. He would save those dark thoughts for later; for a time that didn't involve such sweet words from that angelic voice, and the soft touch on his cheek.

Tilting his head, he placed a soft kiss on her palm. "I thought you might be hungry," He said with another small smile. When she praised him for getting her coffee, he couldn't help a satisfied expression to cross over his face. "I slept very good...the best in a long while, because you were at my side. And you did not sleep too long; is only 8 am. I would have let you sleep longer but training starts in half hour and the alarms would have woken you up."

Careful not to jostle her and spill the coffee, he settled down at her side. Without thinking, he put an arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side. Immediately after feeling that familiar weight and the warmth of her body, he felt muscles he hadn't been aware of tensing, instantly relax.

"Did you sleep well, my Mercy?" He asked politely. There was an aura of nervousness and excitement about him, though he was doing his best to tamp it down. Who would have thought that years of being able to control his emotions would be brought down so easily by a slip of a girl?

A minute later, he let loose a sheepish sigh and ducked his head. "Ah, Mercy...are you busy tonight? I have...eh...I would like to take you somewhere nice."

[Mercedes Rowe]

Mercedes smiled softly. The pleased smile that came over Lucien’s face for her having gratitude for the coffee and food, it made her happy to see him smile that like. The kiss to her forehead making her feel content. It was all feeling like a dream.

She was humbled by his presence, by him just being there. Any other man would have run the other way knowing that she was a shifter. She couldn’t say she blamed them. Who would want to deal with a monster? Lucien though, Lucien made her feel like a woman, not like a monster.

She smiled warmly as he kissed her palm. She pulled her hand back slowly, letting her fingers scratch gently over his chin. “I am starving, but coffee is my best friend. I drink it every morning to wake up.” She brought it to her lips and sipped it, letting the warmth seep into her bones. Setting the cup back down, she smiled shyly.

As he settled down next to her, she leaned into his body and enjoying the weight of his arm around her shoulders. “I slept really well. I haven’t slept that good in a long time either. It was nice, really nice.” Her head turned into him, rubbing her cheek against him while taking in his scent. He smelled so damn good.

Her head lifted as he ducked his head and sighed. She could have sworn he seemed shy suddenly. “Yeah..” She waited a heartbeat for him to ask whatever it was. “Oh,” she laughed lightly and saw where this was going. “I’m not busy. I would love to go out with you. Where do you propose or is it some sort of surprise?” Now she was all exciting. They were going to go on a date? In her mind she was already going through her wardrobe to find the perfect outfit. She would want to look beautiful, just for him.

“And a time. I need a time, so I can be ready.” She nodded then started to feel a little nervous. She hoped she didn’t screw up their date. The last time they had gone out, sure it wasn’t really a date, but it ended with some vampire following them.

[Lt. Lucien Calugarul]

Lucien took pride in the look of contentment on Mercy’s face. Had he ever felt this way with Miruna? He took a minute, then, to think about his wife, his life in Romania; two things that had been off limits for so long. He’d loved his wife in a way, respected her as the mother of their daughter. They had both been so young when they’d married. He doubted that he’d even really understood what love was.

But what he had with Mercy? It was…different, more intense. As Miruna had been the love of his past, his angel was the love of his future. The thought warmed him, as he dipped his head to nuzzle her neck. How quickly he had fallen, he thought with a small smile. It was as if Fate had taken over. Or is that you, Miruna? Do you approve?

”Then I will be sure that you have a cup each morning,” He said with a low chuckle. The sound ended with an awkward shifting, but when she answered, all the nervousness he felt seemed to fade away. For the first time, a wide, almost boyish smile lit his face. Leaning forward slightly so he could look down at her, Lucien bent to steal a kiss.

“I should probably warn you, Mercedes,” He said, voice a low purr. ”The way I was brought up, is customary for a man to court the woman he is attracted to. I am afraid we have the steps backwards, so tonight at 8 o’clock, I will make up for it. Is…surprise. Yes, at 8 o’clock, you will meet me at the hanger, and I will take you away.”

Another few bells ringing outside had him looking up and at the door, a low curse escaping him. “Pah, is time for morning training. I must go, or the Commander will be cross.”

Sliding from the bed, he quickly pulled on his vest and weapons from their place near the door. Now dressed, he leaned down to steal another kiss, one dripping with promise. Another easy smile slid onto his lips. “8 o’clock, my angel. And tell Julian that is order, if he tries to make you stay.”

He murmured an endearment in Romanian, and with one last glance over his shoulder, he was gone.

The rest of the day’s events couldn’t go quick enough. Normally, he enjoyed the monotony; training in the morning, lunch, then debriefs until late afternoon. It was almost soothing; the knowledge that every day would go off as smoothly as the last. But when 7:00 came around, he was almost vibrating with the need to leave. With a parting salute to Kat and a short conversation with the soldier in charge of helo maintenance, Lucien slipped into his room. He dressed carefully, securing his hair in a loose ponytail.

Right when the 8 o’clock bells rang, he was waiting impatiently in the hanger bay for his date. Du…he sounded like he was in grade school. Gah.