Cyn thought back to her conversation with Sarah not so long ago, when Sarah had doubted whether Raj really wanted to marry her. She shook her head. Any doubts Sarah might have had were certainly put to rest by the look in Raj’s eyes as he watched Sarah walk toward him. No one did lust like a vampire lord, laying claim with nothing but their eyes. And Raj’s gaze was screaming Mine! as loudly as if he was saying the words out loud.
“What are you thinking about?”
Cyn shook herself out of her memories of the evening’s main event and grinned up at Emma. The wedding was over and the reception was in full swing. Cyn was sitting on one of two big, comfy chairs against the wall of Raj and Sarah’s penthouse. A short couch sat at right angles to her chair with a small glass topped coffee table between them. This wasn’t Raj and Sarah’s private suite, not the one where they lived. This was the public suite, where they entertained guests. It was beautiful, though. High above Manhattan with a view that went on forever on a clear night like tonight.
Personally, Cyn preferred the endless horizon of the beach in Malibu, but Manhattan certainly had its appeal.
Emma collapsed onto the couch and kicked off a pair of truly spectacular pumps, before tucking her feet underneath her. This was the first time Cyn had really talked to Emma since the kidnapping, other than their brief conversation in the hallway last night. Raphael and Duncan had seemed determined to keep them apart for some reason, as if the kidnapping had been their fault, like the cosmic result of their combined energy or something. Silly.
“I was thinking how beautiful Sarah looked, actually.”
“She does,” Emma agreed, satisfaction filling her voice, as if Sarah’s beauty was a victory for all women everywhere. Cyn agreed with the sentiment. “The guys are looking pretty fine, too,” Emma added, gesturing with her chin to where Rajmund and Duncan were deep in conversation with a couple of vampires Cyn didn’t know. Emelie was there, too. She looked up and saw them watching, murmured something to Raj and made her way over to the chairs.
“Just kill me now,” Emelie groaned when she joined them. “I can’t believe I volunteered to wear these heels tonight. A pair of nice tux flats would have been so much simpler.” She stepped out of the offending stilettos and collapsed onto the couch next to Emma.
“They are some gorgeous shoes, though,” Emma said thoughtfully.
The three women stared the discarded shoes. “Yeah, they really are,” Cyn agreed.
“It was the shoes that sold me on the dress, you know,” she complained to Cyn.
Cyn laughed and reached out to pat Emelie’s hand. “We all sacrifice for great shoes.” Emma nodded in solemn agreement.
“Make way for the married lady,” Sarah called as she swooped down on them, settling herself next to Cyn on the big chair with a wiggle of her hips until Cyn made room.
“Married lady?” Cyn repeated. “Good God, Sarah, what’s next? Sensible shoes?”
Sarah gasped. “Blasphemy! I am ashamed of you, Cynthia Leighton.”
They all laughed far more loudly than the joke deserved, but they were tired and it had been a stressful couple of days. And they’d all come out of it unscathed. That deserved a little hysterical laughter, Cyn thought, settling back with a comfortable sigh.
Across the room, Raj and Duncan both turned to stare at the women, drawn by the sound of familiar laughter. “Fuck me,” Raj muttered. “That can’t be good.”
“Do we dare approach?” Duncan asked thoughtfully.
“It’s either that or—”
Whatever Raj was about to say died in his throat as Raphael’s power swept over the room, and the Western Vampire Lord strode past. He went directly to the laughing women and without missing a beat took Cyn’s hand, pulled her up and off her feet and into his arms. He turned and made directly for the exit, passing Raj and Duncan on his way.
“See you in a year, gentlemen.”
And with Cyn laughing and waving over his shoulder, he carried her out of the room and out of the building.
“Well, that’s one down,” Duncan observed dryly. He held his hand out with a welcoming smile as Emma joined them. She took his hand and he pulled her against his side, holding her close.
“Did you see that?” Emma murmured, her tone sharp with disbelief.
“See what?” Duncan asked. He laughed when Emma slapped his side in frustration.
“You guys are all alike.”
“Shall I throw you over my shoulder, then?”
Emma blushed hotly and Duncan pulled her closer, laying a soft kiss on her temple. “You about ready to go home, Emmaline? I think Raj is eager to claim his wife.”
“Oh!” Emma gave Raj a look that combined surprise and embarrassment.
“Christ, Duncan,” Raj said. “What have you been telling her?”
“As little as possible, my friend. Congratulations, Raj. It was a most interesting weekend. I’ll see you next year at Council.”
Raj watched Duncan stride from the room, arm tightly around his mate, while his security surrounded them. When they were gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. He liked Duncan. He always had. But damn it felt good to be the only vampire lord in the room, and very soon the whole damn city. Raj’s security took Duncan and Raphael’s departures as a sign, and began gently urging the few remaining guests to leave. They were polite, but insistent, until there was no one left who wasn’t of Raj’s own household.
Raj yanked his tie loose and unbuttoned the top button on his formal shirt. He wore these things all the time, but he rarely bothered to keep the tie in place. Emelie signaled him from near the entrance, then slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Raj heard the tap of Sarah’s heels and turned to see her walking slowly over to him, her hips swaying beneath the tight lace sheath of her dress. She looked beautiful and sexy and she was all his.
He held out his hand. “Come here, wife.”
Sarah brightened, her hazel eyes flashing with humor as she hurried the last two steps and took his hand. He reeled her in, resting his hands on her hips as the music began to play.
“Dance with me,” he said quietly. Sarah looked up at him in surprise, but slid her hands up to his neck and rested her head against his chest. Raj kissed the top of her head as the opening strains of an old love song filled the room.
Kiss me each morning for a million years …
Raj held Sarah and swayed to the music. “Did you have a good time, Sarah?” he murmured.
“It was the best day of my life,” she said pulling back enough to see his face. “Do you think we have a million years, Raj?”
He laughed in surprise. “I’m not a sure I want a million, sweetheart. But whatever we’ve got, we’ve got it together. That’s enough for me.”
Sarah smiled. “So, what do you say we blow this joint and go fuck our brains out?”
“Now that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” Raj grinned, swept her into his arms and carried her down the hall to their private suite, where one of his guards held the door open while he carried his new bride over the threshold.
THE END
of
THE VIGNETTES – VOLUME 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D.B.Reynolds is the RT award-winning author of the popular Vampires in America series of paranormal romance/urban fantasy. She lives with her husband of many years in a flammable canyon near Los Angeles, and when she's not writing her own books, she can usually be found reading someone else's.
Be sure and visit D.B.’s new blog at http://www.dbreynolds.com for information on forthcoming books, contests and giveaways, plus the next generation of Vampire Vignettes!
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Vampires in America: The Vignettes, Volume 1 Page 15
