Bite Mark

by Lily Harlem

  “Too right,” Dad said, shoving it into a drawer. “And thanks, bloody good job you turned up when you did. I think he would have really hurt my Bea.”

  “Yes, I think you’re right.” Aimery pressed his palm over my sternum, as though feeling my racing heart. “Are you unharmed?”

  “Yes, just shaken.” His touch was the balm I needed to steady the wild beating in my chest.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you earlier. But I had something to do—”

  “Are you okay, son?” Dad said, tipping his head and studying the ripped material at Aimery’s side. “Should we get you to a hospital?”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” Aimery said with a confused frown.

  “But I just thought, well…” Dad tugged on his bottom lip. “It seemed like he brought that knife down on you pretty hard.”

  “Ah, yes, that.” Aimery poked at the hole in the side of his jacket. “I wear a vest, you know, bulletproof. Makes sense in my line of work. I have a lot of dealings with gangs, in court and in the police headquarters. Some of them take offense to being caught up to no good and then put away, by me.”

  “Of course, you’re a lawyer, right.”

  “Right.” Aimery nodded and glanced at Tony. He’d got to his feet, but he was still bent over, dragging in noisy breaths.

  “Get the hell out of here,” Dad shouted, stepping toward him and pointing at the door. “And make sure you stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you. And I mean permanently.”

  Tony said nothing. He just gave Aimery a wary look and slunk off.

  “We could prosecute,” Aimery said.

  “Nah, I’ll have him kicked off the market within the week,” Dad said with a shrug. “No one will want him here after that and I have favors owed that will make sure he gets the hell out of the city forever. He can bugger off back up north.”

  “Good,” Aimery said then looked at me with a line creasing between his eyebrows. “I had to go to chambers for a meeting with Master Concorde. You were gone when we, I mean I, got back.” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “Where did you go? I was so worried.”

  “Home, I had to get home and see if my father was okay.”

  Aimery turned to my father. “Did you take a turn of ill health?”

  “No, I’m fine. Apart from all this tax stuff, the bloody Inland Revenue is crippling me.” Dad groaned. “And I felt a damn sight better before I saw Tony threaten my daughter too.”

  “Yes, to think that her precious blood was nearly spilt in malice makes me feel quite murderous,” Aimery said with a shake of his head.

  “Couldn’t agree more,” Dad said, winding his hands together.

  Aimery stroked his thumb down my cheek. “So why did you run off without saying goodbye, Beatrice. Did I do something wrong?”

  Suddenly I felt terrible. It was the look on Aimery’s face. His confusion told me I’d been so far off the right track I’d been heading in the opposite direction. He hadn’t been out hunting down my father at all. He’d been in the company, doing business.

  Tears welled in my eyes. I could see them brimming on my lower lids like dams about to burst. My throat was kind of cloggy and my nose tingled. “Oh Aimery, I’m so sorry,” I sobbed, “I just thought…”

  “Shh, shh.” He pulled me close, wrapped me in his strong, cool arms and kissed the top of my head. “Everything is okay now.”

  “But it was terrible of me, I thought, that…” I paused, swallowed a sob and raked through my fuddled thoughts for a way to explain to Aimery what I’d so wrongly presumed. “I spoke to Elfrida, she said that you were sorting out the problem that stopped us being together.” I looked up into his face, willing him to know what I meant without having to spell it out in front of my father.

  Aimery opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again, as though not knowing what to say. A look of hurt crossed his dark eyes and he tightened his lips. “You thought I and Ryle would actually…” He shook his head and I knew he understood the reason for me leaving in such a hurry.

  “Well, no, yes, no…I mean yes, but I don’t anymore.” I touched his jawline, hating myself for causing him pain.

  “That would have hurt you, Beatrice, and I thought you understood that your happiness is our…” He paused. “My priority.”

  “Yes, I know, I get that now.” I shook my head and remembered how he’d used the word love earlier. It was how I felt too. I was falling in love with him hard and fast. This vampire of mine was everything and more than I needed, add in Ryle and life couldn’t be any better. “I’m so sorry.”

  He touched his lips to mine. “No apologies. And I’m glad we have straightened that misunderstanding out. Now let’s get out of here.” He turned to Dad but still held me close.

  My embarrassing crying came under control and I sniffed and wiped my cheeks.

  “Mr. Benton,” Aimery said. “I would like to take Beatrice away for a while, all at my expense of course. We have become close, very quickly, and I can see that a rest, some sunshine and a break from work would do her good. Do I have your permission for that, sir?”

  “Well, I—”

  “I have a second home in the Caribbean,” Aimery went on. “It is quite lovely and very safe. I promise you I will take exceptionally good care of her.”

  “Well, of course you will,” Dad said, glancing at me then back to Aimery. “I can see that you feel very strongly for my daughter, and after that…” He gestured to the wall Tony had been pinned against. “I have no worries about your ability to take care of her, but…”

  “But?” Aimery prompted.

  “But she’s only been out of London twice and certainly never been on a plane before.”

  “Dad, I’m twenty-six.” My head was spinning. The Caribbean, sunshine, a trip with Aimery. Would Ryle come too? Oh, just the idea of it was bliss. Of course I didn’t need parental permission, but I could tell that Aimery wanted it, needed it even. It was sweet in an old-fashioned kind of way. But could I leave Dad with Elfrida and her stirring, threatening ways still about?

  No.

  That was a risk I couldn’t take. “I don’t know, Aimery.”

  His smile dropped.

  “I’m just not sure I can leave my father alone.” I willed him to understand what I was really saying.

  Dad frowned. “I think I would feel better if you were out of the way for a while, Bea, so I can deal with Tony.”

  I stared up at Aimery. He had to realize it wasn’t the blokes on the market I was worried about. My father had been dealing with them all of his life, trouble was nothing new here. Bitchy vampires with no regard for me and my family were the issue.

  “It will be absolutely fine,” Aimery said, with a gentle smile.

  “How can you be so sure?” I asked.

  “I have more influence than you give me credit for. If you could just trust me.”

  “I do trust you.”

  “Good, so come with me and I promise everything will be all right. No harm will come to anyone.”

  My heart swelled. His words, his voice, just his presence made me feel okay. And if he promised my father would be unharmed then what was I waiting for? I turned to Dad. “I haven’t taken any time off all year. Not even a week in the summer because you had that big barbeque contract to fulfill.”

  “No time off all year?” Aimery raised his eyebrows. “In that case we should go for at least a month.”

  “A month,” Dad and I said in unison.

  “Yes.” Aimery laughed. “Why not? You only live once.”

  “Absolutely.” Dad slapped his hand on Aimery’s shoulder. “I think it sounds perfect. My Bea is a good girl and a damn hard worker. It’s about time she took a break and after what just happened I can’t think of anyone she would be safer with.”

  * * * * *

  We’d only just stepped on to Smokehouse Yard when Ryle dashed up to us. He wasn’t even vaguely out of breath when he stopped in front of me
.

  “Hey, you found her. Is she okay?” He cupped my cheek. His palm was icy cold but his eyes flared with concern. “We were so worried about you when we realized you’d gone, Bea. And then I had this vision of a fat guy in a black and white striped football top and a knife—”

  “I’m fine. Aimery was there.”

  “Yeah, I sent him as soon as I had the vision.” Ryle stroked his finger over my neck. It was a little tender where the knife had been but I wasn’t sure if it was psychological or not. “Looks like he was only just there in time, though.” His face darkened. “I can see a red line here.”

  “You weren’t specific,” Aimery said. “I went to her home first.”

  Ryle frowned and a low gurgle, almost like a growl, rumbled up from his chest. “I told you to go to the market. I went to Davies Street.”

  “You did?” Aimery sounded surprised. “So how come I didn’t see you there?’

  “That bitch Elfrida cornered me,” Ryle said. “Spouting off that we were hiding a Bombay. I told her she was talking nonsense and we had not only claimed Bea as our mortal but also been given special permission by the Master to proceed with affirmation given the family circumstances.”

  “Did she buy it?” Aimery asked.

  “I doubt it. Though because she’s never tasted Bombay there’s no way she can know for sure just from Bea’s scent. Perhaps we should lay low for a while and hope that her curiosity fades.”

  “Yes, I agree,” Aimery said. “In fact, I have already made plans. Go and pack, we’re heading to Coral Cove at sunset.”

  “We are?” The tension seemed to drain from Ryle. “Man, we haven’t been there for so long. Bea, you’ll love it. It’s beautiful and private and relaxing.” He twitched his eyebrows cheekily. “Perfect for lovers.”

  “I can’t wait,” I said, kissing him. “But are you both sure my dad will be okay with Elfrida on the loose?”

  “Yes,” Aimery said. “I will report her actions to Master Concorde. She is not allowed to visit a mortal’s house without permission and certainly not able to interfere in our relationship with you. She will be lucky to keep her seat in chambers if she breaks another regulation.”

  “So you’re sure he’ll be fine?” The thought of any kind of incident with my father and Elfrida made me feel sick. I didn’t want him getting anywhere near those evil fangs of hers.

  “Perfectly.” Ryle wrapped me in his arms and kissed me again. “Elfrida won’t be able to go anywhere near him without there being severe consequences. Consequences I know she won’t be willing to face. Besides, it’s not him she wants, it’s you.”

  I shuddered and held him tight.

  “But she won’t get you,” he whispered. “Ever, so just relax.”

  I managed a sharp little nod against his chest.

  “So who was the guy with the knife?” Ryle asked Aimery over my head.

  “Sean’s uncle,” Aimery said.

  “Sean, that piece of shit I took out?”

  “Yep, that’s the one,” Aimery confirmed.

  “Fuck, we’ve got to get away and chill out. Thank Benedict you have that place, Aimery.”

  “It’s come in handy on more than one occasion,” Aimery said. “The sooner we get there, the better.”

  “Definitely,” I said, drawing in a deep breath. The thought of sun and sea and being a million miles away from Elfrida and Tony was incredibly appealing. I slipped an arm around each of their waists and tugged them close. “The sooner the better.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Coral Cove turned out to be so much more than a stunning villa. Its grounds were an entire private island covered in lush vegetation and surrounded by beautiful beaches. To see another person we had to motor for nearly an hour on Aimery’s sleek, silver speedboat to a neighboring island’s harbor.

  That was where we were now, in the market, searching for delicacies for me to feast on.

  “Do you want more papaya?” Ryle asked, holding up the bulbous fruit.

  “Mmm, yes,” I said, licking my lips and almost tasting the rich fleshiness of the fruit.

  “And mango,” Aimery said, passing one to the stall owner to add to the bag.

  “Great.” I smiled.

  Aimery paid and we wandered to the next stall.

  Ryle casually flung an arm over my shoulders and his hard, chilled skin was a welcome coolness on my sun-hot flesh.

  “We should stock up on fish,” I said, pausing at a large stack of ice piled with fish of all shapes and sizes, their beady, sightless eyes glistening in the sun.

  “Sea bass?” Aimery asked. “You liked how I cooked that for you last week.”

  “Mmm, definitely and perhaps some lobster too.” I’d developed quite a taste for lobster and crab. Having rarely eaten seafood before, now I couldn’t get enough of the stuff.

  “And some shrimp,” Ryle said, “I could do you a nice papaya salad to go with them.”

  I hugged him tighter and smiled up at his eager face. “You’re quite the chef, aren’t you? I never would have pictured you a cook.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I don’t eat the stuff but it gives me pleasure to prepare it for you and see you enjoying it.” He stooped and touched his lips to mine.

  “I do appreciate it,” I said, then turned to Aimery and squeezed his hand. “From both of you.”

  Aimery gave a stiff nod, though his eyes sparkled, then he turned to the fishmonger and started a long list of orders. Probably far too much for me alone to eat in a week but I would have a good go.

  Before we re-boarded the boat, we sat at a table next to the pier and ordered drinks. Ryle and Aimery didn’t eat or drink, ever, but they ordered a beer each for appearances’ sake and a pineapple filled with piña colada for me.

  I took a sip, sat back and sighed. Looked out to sea and twirled the gold ring on my left ring finger. Life was good, more than good. It was perfect. The sunshine had lifted my mood the moment the private jet had landed us in the Caribbean. Then spending time with two adoring, intelligent, sexy men had been the ideal balm for my soul.

  Sometimes I wanted to pinch myself to be sure it wasn’t all a dream. I would never have believed a month ago two devastatingly gorgeous vampires were my destiny. But it seemed that was what fate had mapped out for me and I couldn’t have been happier.

  “Dolphins,” Aimery said, pointing into the distance with his cane.

  I shielded my eyes and spotted several dark, sleek figures leaping out of the water and neatly curving back in. “Oh wow. I haven’t seen dolphins before.”

  “They’re great, aren’t they?” He reached for my hand, smoothed his thumb over my ring. “There are many wonderful things in the world Ryle and I would like to experience with you for the first time.”

  I couldn’t tear my gaze from the dolphins.

  “We’ve been thinking,” Ryle said.

  Okay, that had my attention. “What about?” I turned to him.

  Ryle shifted his black wraparound shades onto his head. He squinted in the glare of the sun though his attention was clearly on me. “Well, now that you’re our wife we all need to decide what to do next.”

  A shiver of delight went through me. I still couldn’t get used to the fact that I was a married woman. Not only that, I had two husbands. How lucky could a girl get?

  Master Concorde had performed a private affirmation ceremony for us before we’d left for Coral Cove. I wasn’t sure how much Aimery and Ryle had told him about me, but at one point he’d looked at me rather hungrily and then turned away, as though composing himself. He’d muttered something under his breath about lucky twice in a row and then performed the ceremony quickly and efficiently.

  However they’d managed to persuade him to affirm us, I was glad they had. Aimery told me it secured my safety from unscrupulous vampires more than anything else. Many would drink a Bombay dry, unable to stop themselves. This was one of the reasons my blood type was so rare. In the thirteenth century, in the north of India,
Bombay blood had been so sought after that vampires had flocked from all over the world for a frenzied feast on humans.

  It took a direct order from Benedict’s ancestors to stop the annihilation of the blood group. And ever since then, any Bombay, by vampire law, had to be presented to the London Order for documenting and, in theory, protecting. I had been very quietly, and extremely secretly, presented to the highest-ranking member and couldn’t think of two more capable vampires to protect me than Aimery and Ryle.

  “What do you mean, do next?” I slugged on my drink.

  Both men watched me wrapping my lips around the straw.

  “Um,” Aimery said and then shifted on his seat.

  I knew he was remembering how I’d sucked his cock in the shower that morning until he’d roared his pleasure louder than any lion.

  “Do next?” I repeated. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, we kind of thought we could winter here,” Ryle said. “The temperature is so much more warming for you. London fog and ice don’t give you the pretty tan you have now.”

  “Winter here? We can’t stay all winter in the Caribbean. Are you mad?”

  “Why not?” Aimery asked.

  “I have to get back to work. Dad will be missing my help. Teddie’s good but he’s getting on a bit and he reduced his hours a few months ago because of his arthritis.”

  “Your father will cope just fine,” Aimery said.

  “He won’t.” I shook my head. Tempting as it was to stay in paradise living the dream, my father needed me to help with the workload. “I have to go back and help him.”

  “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Ryle said, folding his arms and tipping his head to study me sternly.

  “I do, I—”

  “Your father is absolutely fine, Beatrice,” Aimery added with the tiniest shrug.

  I hesitated. “What…what are you talking about?” I knew Aimery well enough to know he was holding something back.

  And I also knew Ryle well enough to know he was bursting to tell me what it was. It was the way he twitched his lips and then tugged at his bottom one, as if trying to hold words in.

  “What is it, Ryle?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.