Hunter struggles to feel some kind of peace, even a little sleep might help. He doesn’t require much rest, but he’s on edge and Camille will quiz him on whether he slept.

He closes his eyes and wills himself to sleep. He’s startled by her scent, succulent and alluring. He’s comforted by the surroundings his subconscious has chosen for his dream.

The fjord.

Green grass as far as the eye can see, the aroma of the smoke shack lures him further into the village. He buys a sack of jerky from a vendor. He takes a piece out and sinks his teeth into it, thankful for the memories still stored of what it was like to eat real food. Not just a liquid diet.

Hunter strolls through the bustling village chewing his jerky, allowing the flavor of the meat to fill all of his senses.

He rounds the corner, hoping and praying she’s there. He stills when he sees her, he savors her beauty. Wispy blonde hair blowing in the warm summer breeze as she weaves the pieces of a fishing net together. The sound of her demure laugh sends warmth through his entire being. She flashes him a quick glance and her cheeks redden.

The Viking is awakened, primal and needy. His cock ticks to life at the thought of having her.

The corner of his mouth cuts a smile into his cheek. Lewd thoughts run wild through is mind.

Their eyes meet for a moment, then he continues through the village pathways, moving slow enough to be sure she’s following his silent command.

She’s following behind. He makes a few quick turns to up the ante, playing a game of hide and seek.

He turns a corner and ducks into an empty manger. He watches through the gaps in the plank walls for her to come close enough to capture.

With his predatory reflexes he snatches her from the walkway, covering her mouth with his hand. He holds her close, pressing his erection against her. She grinds her ass against him.

Hunter envelops her tiny frame, her excitement filling the air with the succulent aroma of her arousal.

A low growl rumbles from his chest, “I’m going to take you.”

She nibbles on his hand covering her mouth, sucking one of his fingers into her mouth.

She gazes up at him, sultry, wanton, suckling his finger as a promise of greater things to come.

He takes her by the waist, throwing her down in a pile of hay and unlacing his britches. She suppresses a giggle at his fumbling, he can’t get them off fast enough. “Here let me.” She pushes up to her knees and moves his hands aside.

With care she unlaces his pants and reaches in and takes the length of him into her hands. Her mouth waters at the thought of having him inside her.

He twitches, holding on with shaky knees. “Runa,” he gasps, knowing that her touch is enough for her to own him.

“Shh.” She licks her lips before taking the head into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the opening. She never breaks eye contact as she licks the small bead of liquid from the tip and savors the taste of him, “Mm.”

Hunter’s eyes roll back as she strokes him with her mouth. She curves her tongue around his girth, driving him crazy with pleasure.

Hunter cups her cheeks in his hands, lowering to brush a kiss against her ear. “I can smell your pussy and I want it. Now.” He says it as the demand it’s meant to be.

She leans back in the pile of hay, lifting her dress up over her head. Hunter takes her breast in his hand, playing her hard nipples in his fingers. One hand slides lower, pressing between her folds. He circles the hard bundle of nerves slick with her excitement. He knows how to touch her, exactly where all her pleasure points are. His movements, precise around her clit, make it swell bigger.

Hunter’s bright blue eyes flash up, capturing her gaze. “You like that?”

“Uh huh.” She throws her head back, breathy and quivering with ecstasy.

His fingers slide inside her entrance, wet with desire. A whimper escapes her, “Bjorn!”

He presses his tongue past her folds, tasting her essence. He brushes his lips up her belly to her breast to suck the hard peak between his lips.

Runa tangles her fingers through his braids, grabbing hold of them forcefully to bring his lips to hers. She moves her hips, grinding against the motion of his fingers inside her.

Her hands dance along his flexing muscles as he holds himself above her. She fondles his cock, positioning it over her wet opening.

A smile lights his features, he’s ready to feel her soft walls around his cock. Runa digs her fingers into his solid ass, pulling him inside her.

They both release a ragged breath, and still at the moment of penetration. Her walls quiver and contract around him, trying to accommodate his girth. “Go slow.”

“Yes, my goddess,” he breathes lovingly in her ear as he teethes her lobe.

She writhes and grinds against him as she adjusts to him and picks up the rhythm. Hunter presses his solid chest against hers and slides his arm around her waist.

In one quick movement he turns them over, putting her on top.

Runa presses her hands on his chest, grinding against him, taking all of him inside her. Her pace increases and her breathing becomes more labored.

Hunter watches her and takes pleasure in her riding his cock with wild abandon. He grabs her waist and grinds her harder against his body. He feels her swollen clit rubbing against the base of his cock.

Hunter drags her to the edge of climax with his rough hands on her skin and his girth pulsing against her walls. “I’m going to come.”

“Come for me, my goddess,” Hunter growls, holding back his release.

Her eyes open and she pins him with a determined look, “Give me your seed and I will bear you a son.” She says it low and serious, like it’s the only thing that will keep her alive.

A long roar crashes from his lungs as his seed spills inside her pulsing walls. He can feel her pussy pulsing around him, her climax riding his pleasure.

Her body stills, then quivers, her labored breath rendering her speechless.

His fingers thread behind her neck to pull her down to his lips. He kisses her lovingly, admiring her heavy eyes.

With something devilish behind her smile, she nips at his bottom lip. “Not Odin himself could make me come that hard.”

“Odin, you say?” He huffs a laugh, trailing his hands lightly down the soft skin on her back.

“Yes, soon all will be crying out the virtues of their new god, Bjorn.” She giggles softly in his ear.

“My goddess,” he says, pulling her close to his chest.

Runa nibbles at his neck, whispering in his ear, “Poseidon has been angry, I must get back to the nets.” She rolls off of him and slides into her dress. “Tonight?”

Hunter nods, leaning back for a moment in the hay, taking in her beauty. “We will feast.”

Hunter steps off the elevator into the lab filled with renewed hope. Dreaming of his one true love always drives him forward. He will find a cure, he will get to Valhalla to be with Runa.

He checks Camille’s desk for the delivery itinerary, but it’s not there, “Damn it.”

“You are not allowed to be grumpy,” Camille warns, coming off the elevator carrying a box. “Is this what you were looking for?”

“Yes.” Hunter widens his eyes, “Are those the new samples?”

“And good morning to you.” Sarcasm at his lack of greeting drips from her lips.

Hunter takes the white box, and for a moment he feels intoxicated. He stills and examines Camille closely, “Are you wearing a new perfume?”

Camille pulls her lips to the side, “You know I don’t wear perfume.”

Hunter rattles the thought out of his head, “No matter,”

“Maybe someone else in the lab is,” she says, looking around to see only one other lab assistant. “Well, I seriously doubt Harvey’s wearing a new perfume...cologne maybe?”

Hunter breathes deeply through his nose, “No, it’s sweet. Like something…” He searches for the right word. “Luscious.”

Camille shrugs and turns her computer on dismissively, “I don’t smell anything.”

Hunter draws a deep breath into his lungs, the scent dancing on his tongue. A feeling of euphoria overcomes him and he stands still for a moment, savoring the flavor. It’s been so long since he’s tasted anything that wasn’t blood or booze. He had forgotten how much he missed being able to eat and enjoy exotic fruits and flavors that burst in his mouth. The thought of warm, fresh blood tickles at his memory.

He turns, eyeing Camille, wanting to drink from her. He shakes the thought out of his head. What the hell am I thinking?

He takes the samples into the sterile room to begin smudging them on slides for study.

He pulls the top off the container and the scent is overwhelming. His sharp vision blurs and he swoons, sitting back on the stool. Heat rushes to his face, spiraling through his body.

He drags his hand across his forehead and looks at his hand, “Sweat?”

Hunter searches his memory for the last time he sweat. A million thoughts run through his mind at once. Vampires don’t get sick, he can’t possibly have a fever.

He loses himself in the scent, his entire being reacting. His cock grows against his trousers. He turns, catching sight of Camille walking across the lab. She smiles sweetly at him through the glass window and continues to another workstation.

His mind is flooded with decadent thoughts of sex and feeding.

Warm blood dripping down his throat and the touch of a woman is all he can think about. He drops the lid to the container on the floor and heads for Camille. He buries his nose in her red hair and takes in her scent. It’s not nearly as pleasing, but it will do. “Hey,” he says in a husky voice.

Camille shoos him away, “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to take your advice and enjoy life a little.” He runs his hands down her arms.

Camille stands up and away from him. Her brow furrows with confusion, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He takes three steps toward her, “Nothing’s wrong, I finally get what you’re saying about how I need to let go every now and then. I’d like to let go right now.” He leans down, gliding his lips across her collar bone.

Camille pushes him away, “Hunter, you’re drunk...or something.”

“Drunk with lust.” His cock rubbing against the inside of his pants is setting him off even more.

Camille studies him closely, trying to work out what’s happening, “Okay, seriously, Hunter, have you been experimenting on yourself again?” Concern trickles out on her tone.

“No, I made a promise,” Hunter licks his lips at the thought of being inside her. “No more self-experimentation, but you said nothing about exploration.” He pumps his brow.

“Hunter, you need to back off. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you need to get it out.” She keeps her anger at bay, knowing that something’s off with him. “Did you have the dream again?”

Hunter nods as melancholy flashes in his expression, distracting him.

“Is that what’s gotten into you? Because I don’t understand how after four hundred years, you’re suddenly interested in…” she has trouble saying the words, “sex.”

Hunter’s predatory smile is something Camille has only seen when he’s about to do battle, she doesn’t want to be on the receiving end it. “Hunter, you’re scaring me.”

Hunter ticks his head back in shock, “You know I would never hurt you.”

“The look in your eye says something else and it’s scaring the fuck out of me. You need to tell me what’s happened to you.” Fear stretches her voice to a higher register.

Hunter drags his fingers through his hair, blowing out a discontented breath. This isn’t like him, what is going on with him? “I’m sorry,” he says, reaching out to her. “I don’t know what’s wrong, it’s like there’s something else inside me…”

“Are you sweating?” She reaches for his forehead.

“Yeah, I am.” He wipes his brow, sitting in the stool at the workstation.

“Did you feed?”

“Yes. I fed well last night,” he recalls.

“Where did the blood come from?” The wheels are turning in her head, trying to understand what’s caused is bizarre behavior.

“It’s the stores Sophie brought by yesterday.”

“That can’t be it.” She taps her finger to her chin, maintaining a distance from him, “Is there any left? Maybe we should run some tests.”

“No, I finished it, there were only two bags.” He looks around the room as though the answer is in the air. “I’m feeling better, more in control.”

“Are you sure?” she questions cautiously.

“Yes, I’m sure.” He stands to go back to the sterile room to continue his work.

“Maybe you should feed again?” she asks, heading for the cooler. “I’ll get you a bag.”

“Yes, that may be helpful. I do feel hungry, but I shouldn’t.” He opens the door to the sterile room and the feeling begins to take him over again.

The sound of the main door to the lab opening draws his attention. A young human woman walks through the door.

Camille’s eyes flash to Hunter, she sees the predatory look in his eyes as he glowers at the woman. “Meghan, get out.”

Meghan freezes in place and takes in the scene, “What did I do?”

Camille glares at Hunter, he looks back with defiance and challenge. She can’t match his strength or speed, but she’d better come up with a plan and quick.

His gaze shifts back to Meghan and Camille takes advantage of the distraction.

She darts across the lab, pushing him down inside the sterile room, surprising him. Before Meghan sees what’s happened, Camille rushes to her and gets her out the lab door and punches in the code for the quarantine lock down.

Hunter’s already at the door staring hatefully through the window. “Camille, open this door,” he growls.

“Not until we figure out what’s wrong with you. This isn’t like you.” Her eyes widen as she motions to his fangs.

Meghan stands shaking behind Camille, “What did I do?”

“You didn’t do anything, sweetheart. Dr. Webb isn’t feeling well,” Camille explains.

Meghan’s eyes are wide with terror, “Would he…”

Camille pulls Meghan into a hug, stroking her hair. “No, he would never hurt you. He may be feeling off right now, but I’ve never seen that man lose control...ever.”

Hunter pounds on the door and Camille finds herself thankful for the reinforced materials Hunter insisted on when he built this lab. “Let me the fuck out of here, Camille. You can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll be back and we’re going to figure out what’s going on with you. But I’m not letting you out,” she says with determination.

Hunter’s expression softens, “Really, I’m fine. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I don’t know either and until we do, you’re not getting out.” Camille turns toward the elevator with her arms around Meghan’s shoulders.

Hunter continues to beat on the door, “How long do you think this door will hold?”

“As long as it needs to,” she says as the elevator door closes, and she sets the code to lock down the entire floor.