* * * *
Sand’s initial thoughts to the contrary, it took them until Monday evening to make a final decision on the house they wanted. They thought they’d found the perfect one, well off any main road and surrounded by forest on three sides. That is until Andre did what Sand had jokingly referred to as a ‘fly-over’ to check out the surrounding area for any potential problems. Something Andre had insisted on doing with the two previous houses they’d checked out.
When he returned this time, he told Sand, “There’s a small pack of werewolves approximately twenty miles from here to the north-east. They may be benign, but are we willing to take the chance?”
“I’m not,” Sand replied adamantly. “I do not want to take a risk they might find out you’re anywhere around.”
“I was more worried about you,” Andre said. “Considering how most werewolves feel about ones who are gay. It’s not as if we’d be hiding the fact we’re living together.”
Sand chuckled, even though it wasn’t a laughing matter. “Two sworn enemies involved in a gay relationship? Yeah, I can see them coming for us with torches and pitchforks.”
Andre shook his head. “I think that was villagers going after Frankenstein’s monster.”
“So I was being a bit overdramatic, but let’s scratch this house and take a look at the last one on the list.”
As it turned out, that one was exactly what they’d been looking for. It was twenty miles from the nearest town, which was along the Oregon coast. The only access to the house, other than through the forest, was via a foot-bridge crossing a wide stream. At the start of the bridge there was a small parking area which was barely large enough to hold the McLaren and the jeep—half a mile off the two-lane highway running past the property.
Sand was leery at first when the owner, an older man in his late-sixties was willing to lower the price by ten percent. That is until the man explained that he and his wife had bought the place ten years ago, when he retired, to get away from the stresses of city life.
“She died, three years ago,” he said. “I’ve tried to be stoic about it but living here without her…” He sighed deeply. “Other people who’ve looked at it decided it was too remote, too far from…anywhere, which it is.”
“Which is perfect for us,” Sand replied. Then, he lied, telling the man he was a website designer so he didn’t have to live close to civilization to pursue his career. “My partner’s a writer and can work from home as well.”
After that, it was a case of signing the needed documents to transfer ownership of the house, once Sand and Andre deposited the sale amount to the man’s bank account. The man didn’t want to take more than a few basic pieces of furniture with him, saying he’d found a small apartment in Portland and didn’t need much to furnish it. “Feel free to keep the rest, or dispose of it,” he told them.
Three weeks later, he was gone and Sand and Andre were the proud owners of a home that was prefect for them.
* * * *
“And so history is made,” Sand said late one night, after they’d finally finished settling into their new home.
“How so?” Andre asked, intrigued by his lover’s statement.
“A vampire and a werewolf, living in conjugal bliss in the middle of nowhere.”
“Damn.” Andre laughed as he hugged him. “I’m not sure it’s history making, but we’re definitely two in a million.”
Sand grinned. “Two million, since the saying is ‘one in a million’.”
“Love, you’re crazy. You know that, right?”
Sand sobered. “Yeah, I am. Crazy in love with you.”
“I feel the same. I mean…”
“I got it. You love me, I love you. That’s how it’s meant to be, as much as we tried to fight it at first.”
“A battle we both lost, for which I will be eternally grateful,” Andre replied, his love for Sand coloring the tone of his words. Cupping Sand’s face in his hands, Andre kissed him deeply—a kiss Sand returned in kind. Then, they finished undressing and tumbled into bed where they made slow yet passionate love before Sand, exhausted after a long day, curled into Andre’s arms and fell asleep.
Andre sipped out of bed several minutes later, crossing to look out the window. The waxing quarter-moon lit the trees surrounding the property, bringing back memories of how everything had begun. He envisioned Raúl as the werewolf walked into sight along the forest path.
If it hadn’t been the full moon that night, so he had to become his werewolf, and if I hadn’t been there to deal with him, I would never have met Sand. From one death, as deserved as it was, came a new life for Sand and for me. A new, wonderful life with everything it entails. Will we have our differences? Undoubtedly. But we’ve overcome the major ones, so what’s a minor spat now and then.
He turned to look at Sand, whispering, “I love you, heart and soul, and I know you love me. In the grand scheme of things that’s all that matters.”
Even though it was too early for his enforced sleep, Andre returned to their bed to wrap Sand in a loving embrace. He smiled when Sand awoke momentarily to murmur, “Love you,” before falling asleep, again.
That’s all I ask, and ever will, that you love me as much as I love you.
THE END
ABOUT EDWARD KENDRICK
Born and bred in Cleveland, I earned a degree in technical theater, later switched to costuming, and headed to NYC. Finally seeing the futility of trying to become rich and famous in the Big Apple, I joined VISTA—Volunteers in Service to America—ending up in Chicago for three years. Then it was on to Denver where I put down roots and worked as a costume designer until I retired in 2007.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an online fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished no matter the genre or content. Since then, for the last five years, I’ve been writing for publication—my first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely ‘romantic.’ More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal to boot.
For more information, visit edwardkendrick.blogspot.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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