All life has ceased to exist and there is nothing but the sand, the sky and the soothing sound of the waves as they crash against the shore.

Footprints in the sand are washed away by the rising night tide like distant memories fading from my thoughts. What do you think of me? Am I nothing more than a thief in the night; a nameless shadow consumed by one overwhelming desire... one uncontrollable lust? Dark amber eyes scan the emptiness around me. To one side is a long stretch of barren sand with a steep rock embankment that secludes this private beach from the rest of the world... and to the other is water as black as the night sky as far as the eye can see. The only thing left to tell me that I am not here alone is the soft orange glow of a small fire in the distance. I know that you are there, waiting for me by that fire as you have so many nights before.

The world glows brighter with every step I take yet as I draw nearer I still keep to the darkness. Now I see you walking up from the waters edge, your long dark hair dripping from a midnight swim as you make your way over to the fire side. You kneel down on the thick blanket you had laid out earlier. Still under the mistaken assumption that you are alone, you peel off your soaked bathing suit. Your wet naked body glistens in the fire’s light, tiny rivulets of water tracing every perfect curve.

Suddenly, as if you have sensed me you turn your head in my direction. A warm shade of pink rushes to your cheeks and you snatch up a towel and quickly wrap it around yourself. It seems a shame to cover such exquisite beauty.

Your dark eyes lock onto mine and a radiant smile finds your lips. I move into the light, the fire’s glow gives my pale skin an almost human appearance. You are not afraid of me, even if you should be. We have been here many times before. By now, I sometimes wonder if you know me better than I know myself. I drop reverently to my knees on the blanket beside you, wanting only to worship you like the mortal goddess that you are. You try to speak, but I silence you by placing one finger over your luscious lips. There is no need for words. My finger moves from your lips down your chin, to your slender neck, following the trail of a bead of water that longs to caress your naked flesh as much as I do.

Flames dance in your eyes and I lean in to press my lips to yours. Your mouth is soft and warm... sweeter than the nectar of the most exotic flower. I could spend a long eternity just tasting those lips, possessed forever by your kiss. You melt beneath my cold touch and I easily lower you down onto the blanket beneath us. The towel falls carelessly open and I cover your body with my own. My lips pull away from yours, kissing and nibbling their way down your neck... my tongue greedily tasting every bit of flesh it can find... climbing every hill and dipping into every valley. You taste of salt, of the ocean and of all things pure, vibrant and alive. Your slender fingers tangle into my hair as my hands follow the path my lips took only moments before. Cool palms caressing warm skin. Ice on fire. Fingers dance over your moist, supple flesh, exploring what is mine to explore. Soon you are moaning and writhing beneath me, your hands clutching at my clothes, tearing them open, nails digging into my flesh blissfully out of control.

My mouth finds your skin again, my tongue lapping at the vein I can feel pulsating on the side of your neck. I can hold back no longer. The predator in me takes over and I viciously plunge my fangs into your tender flesh, breaking the skin effortlessly and letting a muffled moan escape my lips as that hot crimson liquid fills my mouth. You gasp in combined pleasure and pain but I am beyond hearing it. I have moved from a state of bliss into that of pure euphoria. Nothing has ever tasted this sweet. I am lost in the moment, moving with the tempo of your pounding heart. The world fades to nothingness as your very essence spills over my lips and runs thickly down my throat.

Pulling away takes every ounce of my willpower, but somehow I manage to do it. My lips find yours again. I bite my tongue and slip it into your mouth, giving you a taste of eternity, of what I could offer but am too afraid to give. In the distance I can hear the slow movements of the waves as the tide takes them slowly back out to sea. Pulling back, I reach down, running my fingers through your damp hair, slipping one hand down along the side of your face and turning your head with my fingers so I am able to look into your eyes. I see the glow of the full moon reflected in those fathomless depths, but my time is limited.

I could spend an eternity here in your arms, but the sun will soon kiss the horizon, colouring the night sky and turning these black waters blue. My lips brush lightly over yours as you drift off to sleep beside me. I know I will find you here again when the moon is full and the tide is high.

For tonight, the darkness that always threatens to overwhelm me has subsided.