Everyone smiled when Evelyn blushed.
“I want to thank you for the book about lifemates, Sister.”
“You’re welcome, Louis.”
“I’ve brought it with me to study.”
Max’s attention changed and everyone stopped talking. They turned to see what he was looking at. Hatcher was moving fast through the crowd carrying something. He went to Noble’s side and knelt.
“I was informed a package had arrived for you, Princess, so I went back and got it.” He handed the small box to her.
“Thank you, Hatcher.”
Noble grinned. “It’s from my brother Răzvan in Romania.” She opened the letter and read to herself and smiled. From the box, she took out three smaller boxes. Opening the first box, she said, “He says that this one is the opal bracelet for Evelyn, Max’s queen. White for her purity of heart that Max keeps talking about.” Noble passed the box to Evie. She opened another box, the stone was a bright yellow. “This one, he says, is a Canary Diamond. Very rare, for the lightning throwing wife of my brother David. For Laura.” Noble handed the box to her. Then she opened the final box and was silent.
Donovan took the letter and read. “This is for you, Bless. A bracelet of the finest green jadeite. Jade is the traditional stone of friendship, and you have always been my friend as well as my sister. I endeavor to see you soon and also finally meet Laura and Evelyn, and Donovan, the husband you write so much about. My love and a blessed Christmas, signed Răzvan.”
Noble took the bracelet out of the box and put it on. Taking back the letter, she folded it up and put it inside her small dark red beaded purse.
Donovan stood and offered his hand. She took it and he swept her up into a dance. Leaning against him, hearing his barely beating heart, she snuggled against his warmth.
“Sha, are you happy?”
She looked up at him and laughed. You always make me happy.
I didn’t mean that. I meant about your brother.
We still should go to Romania to help him. What makes him so busy that he can’t leave to visit on Christmas? Something is wrong there.
Donovan kissed her and she was captured by his allure, hot and sweet and sexy all at once. Noble didn’t noticed the music stopped. How long had they danced? Were they all slow dances?
He chuckled. “Gotcha, Sha.”
Max came up beside them. “The family is gathering at my house for a special gift. Are you coming?”
“Sure.” Donovan draped his arm around his wife, and Noble smiled.
“Sure.”
The dance was winding down with hugs and kisses. Hank and Lily Snow were staying overnight in Noble’s suite of rooms at the Arnhem Society. No one wanted them to drive home at night in the growing storm. Those from a distance would stay at the Arnhem Society. Everyone local teleported or flew home.
Max’s home was festooned with boughs of evergreen and red velvet ribbons. The Christmas tree in his living room was surrounded by beautifully wrapped gifts. “We’re not stopping here until tomorrow. Follow me.”
He opened a hidden door in the hall, and they all climbed up the stairs after him. As they climbed, Noble got a funny notion in her mind.
Does Father and Evie have an attic room like ours?
She felt Donovan’s silent baritone chuckle of amusement tickle throughout her body.
Are you in on this?
Above them, Max pushed open a door. Everyone walked into a large clean attic room with curtains on every side. Plush mattresses with blankets and pillows were spread across the floor.
“What is this, Max?” Jacques asked.
Max waved his hand and the curtains parted on one wall, revealing a picturesque view of the Statue of Liberty at night. Snow fluttered silver in and out of their view.
“We’re going to watch the sunrise of Christmas morning together.”
“You want to kill us all?” Louis threw up his hands in confusion.
“No,” Noble intervened. “This glass is the same as in La Maison Rose and Max’s jets. It was created by the vampire inventor Sydney Lucente. Donovan and I have a similar room in our house, and we watch the sunrises and sunsets all the time. The rays that would cause cumulative damage to a vampire can’t touch us. You won’t even get a little sunburn.”
“Really?” Louis plopped down on a mattress.
David and Laura took a mattress nearest the door. He stretched across it, putting his head in Laura’s lap. She laughed and caressed his face.
Max and Evelyn took a mattress closest to the window. Noble knew he did this purposely to show there was no danger. Noble and Donovan also chose a mattress in the front. Jacques and Margot took the one behind them.
The sky lightened that pale version of dark blue. The snow stopped and a few bright stars hung in the sky like hard, uncut diamonds.
Louis stood. The horizon turned golden. The clouds were muddy at first but gave way to pink and purple. Each color becoming paler as golden light pierced it.
Louis outstretched his arms, as if to embrace the morning.
Noble sighed. Donovan lay behind her with his arms around her, his cheek against hers.
The sun blazed with blinding gold light stretching across the city.
Margot wept. “I have not seen a sunrise, since when I was human.” Jacques gathered her to him and wrapped them both in the blanket.
“It really won’t hurt us?” Louis stood transfixed by the light.
“I would not bring you up here to hurt you. You are my family,” Max said.
Louis smiled and did a little dance.
Noble sat up with Donovan to watch. She giggled and jumped to her feet to dance with her new brother. Laura and David joined them. There was no music, just the joy of seeing the sun after centuries in the shadows.
Donovan went over to Evelyn and Max. “Are you feeling well, Evie?”
“Yes, Papa. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Donovan hugged Evie and Max. Then he went over to Noble who was still dancing and lifted her off her feet.
“Aw, dance with me, Donovan.”
“We’ve danced the night away, Sha. Time for sleep.” He carried her back to their mattress. She smiled and lay back down. He lay beside her and covered them with a blanket.
Sunlight filled the room, and the family retreated to their mattresses and blankets. Max waved his hand and the blackout drapes closed over the huge expanse of window.
“Aw,” Louis said.
“You can come up here any time you want and spend hours watching the sky and sun. As often as you’d like.” Max pulled up his blanket over himself and Evie, who was snuggling into his chest. “Merry Christmas, family! We’ll open presents around suppertime. Sleep well.”
Several more Christmas wishes were expressed and the room fell silent.
Donovan could see very well in the complete blackness that engulfed the attic. Noble looked up at him and rubbed tantalizingly against him.
Not here, Noble.
She made her sad face to tease him. I want to go home then. I want my Christmas present in my bed at home.
He chuckled Your present is beautifully wrapped and downstairs under the tree like everyone else’s.
That’s not the gift I had in mind, Sha. She imitated his accent in that sultry voice of hers in his head.
Donovan bit his lower lip. He was about to try something he’d never done before with her in the daylight, and he didn’t want to upset the family by doing it.
Max.
Yes, Donovan.
I’m taking Noble home. We need some time alone.
Understood. I figured as much.
I’m going to teleport us home.
He heard Max laugh in his head. Just let me know
that you’ve arrived safely.
Sure.
Donovan caressed Noble’s face. I need you to trust me.
She nodded. What do you want me to do?
Close your eyes, hug me tight, and think only of me. He kissed her.
Noble felt the slightest “whoosh” and then the softness of her sleigh bed’s mattress on her back.
“Open your eyes, Sha.”
They were in their bedroom in their house. Donovan left the bed to make sure the window curtains were drawn and the doors locked. He could have just waved his hand, but he was up to something. As he walked toward her, his clothes disappeared and folded themselves on the nearby chair. Her clothes disappeared as well.
“God, you’re good at that.”
“It’s not the only thing I’m good at,” he said, climbing back into the bed.
“How did you teleport us here in broad daylight?”
“I’ve been practicing for the last two weeks.”
“You had to carry someone. Who was your guinea pig?”
“Hatcher. I told him it was for a noble cause, and he agreed.”
“Aw. Poor Hatcher.” She giggled, but it only lasted for a second before he covered her mouth with his. He kept kissing her, then he rubbed his fingers and knuckles over her lips until she panted.
Biting her lower lip, Noble gasped. “I’ve been studying that vampire sex book that you have hidden in your sock drawer.” Her breasts rose with each raspy breath.
He laughed and lay his head against them as he fondled a nipple. “Why would you do that, Sha?”
“I want to please you.”
He gazed into those lovely green eyes of hers. “Oh, Sha, you have no idea how much you already please me. I love you, Noble. My heart beats because of you, only you. I think back to when we danced at Max and Evie’s wedding. I should have known then. Do you remember what I said right before we made love the first time?”
“You said that if we made love then I would be yours.” She smiled and reached up to him, tousling his dark hair. “I’m so glad I’m yours.”
He grinned and felt his fangs descend. Noble could tell other parts of him were equally excited.
“Donovan, please, be my blanket tonight. I want to feel warm and loved and safe in your arms. I want your passion rushing through me. And most of all, I don’t want to be in charge.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Really, Sha?”
She nodded and reached below the blanket.
“Un, un, un. Remember, I am in charge now, Noble.” His gaze locked onto hers, as he lowered himself onto her. His lips took possession of her mouth at the same time his shaft burrowed deep inside her.
In her mind, she heard him say, When I was small, I wished upon a star for an enduring love. You don’t think men do that, but they secretly do. I wished for you.
Also from Soul Mate Publishing
and Susan Hanniford Crowley:
VAMPIRE KING OF NEW YORK
Max Vander Meer, is a modern day Viking, CEO of VMeer Industries, and a Vampire. He makes a plea to the Goddess Freya to find the only woman who can heal his heart, the woman haunting his dreams. But, the Goddess strikes a bargain with him. To find this special woman, Max must return to the city he helped build–New York, which is threatened by an ancient terror. When he meets Evelyn, he is astounded. Could she be the one who inhabits his dreams? But Evelyn is haunted by loss and betrayal. How can Max win her love when she doesn’t trust him as a man, and she doesn’t want to be a vampire? If Max returns to Iceland without her, he will be encased in ice . . . forever!
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/zcob6lf
About Author
Susan Hanniford Crowley
Susan is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA) and the Romance Writers of America (RWA). She is the founder of the Nights of Passion blog.
Married with children and grandchildren, Susan enjoys her two cats, walking on the beach, collecting shells, and dragons. “I write to give the world more options for fun.”
Visit Susan at her:
Website: http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com/
Blog: https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanHannifordCrowleyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shcrowley
At Soul Mate Publishing: http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/vampire-king-of-new-york/
Vampire Princess of New York (Arnhem Knights of New York) Page 30
