Sally had never been bold before but she needed to take the lead, even if it was just for this moment. After this, she would be lost. She leaned in again and caught his lips. Letting her hands cradle the sides of his face, she saw a fresh scar. She gently stroked it with her thumb as she tasted him. Just like fresh mint, like what’s in my family’s herb garden. She felt his heat and hers mix and go high, felt his hands go in her hair. He was taking over, really fast. Kissing her back, firmly but still gently, he kissed her face, her eyes, purring, murmuring things she couldn’t quite understand.
“When did you cut your hair?” he asked.
Sally dipped her face and felt his kisses on her forehead and hair. “A week ago. You always said I looked like an elf. Guess that’s what my ancestors looked like.”
Odin drew her towards him, his big arms wrapping around her. “Maybe, but I’m remembering longer hair, though the short cut fits you.” He held her for a few moments. “Maybe we should get to your apartment and gather your things.”
* * * * * * * *
As they pulled up in front of the girl’s apartment at the Promenade, which was located at the Foundry, they saw Olivia stash her things in Thor’s Jag. She gave a quick wave and they left. Sally turned to Odin. “I would love to be a fly inside that Jag and see how long before those two start fighting.”
Odin laughed as he got out. “We’ll see if we get a call of distress from one or the other.”
* * * * * * * *
Thor worked his car through traffic. He and Olivia hadn’t talked much since leaving the apartment. He had to admit Sally’s friend had blossomed into a stunner. Most would say she was a little overweight. He had surveyed her while she had run around the girl’s apartment. He felt she was just right, her hair, was a long and wavy dark brown to match her eyes. She wore a pair of black leggings with UGG boots and a bright green sweater. It made her look all warm and cozy.
He drove, weaving in and out of traffic. He enjoyed this car. He appreciated the way it handled. It was like it understood his thoughts before he even turned. They stopped at a light and he saw a movement from his peripheral vision. Taking a quick glance as he stepped on the gas he saw Olivia take out a pack of cigarettes and light up. She sat back, trying to look very confident but she coughed.
He reached for the cigarette, “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
Olivia looked over at Thor and made a grab for the cigarette. “What do you mean? I’m smoking a cigarette.”
Thor put his window down and threw the butt out. “No, you aren’t.”
Olivia reached in for her pack. She had just started this, thinking it would impress Thor. Now, she just felt like pissing him off. She had always had to live in Sally’s shadow with the brothers. Now here she was with Thor, and she just wanted him to think of her as someone older. She quickly took another one out and felt the Jag pull over to the side.
Thor leaned over at Olivia, one arm braced on the back of her seat, the other just above her head.
“Listen, you don’t need to smoke to impress me. Now, I can see by your look that you are thinking of ways to make me mad, that only makes me want to chase you, the hunter instinct, you know.” He saw conflicting emotions cross her face. “You’re an easy one to read, Olivia. You know we’ve both lived in the shadows far too long.” He took the pack out of her hand and placed it between them.
“I think the chemistry between you and I could be something else if you would just let it. I want to learn about you, not the woman you are trying to invent.”
Olivia had never been this close to anyone, any guy, and to have a man, well, vampire saying he thought their chemistry could be something...
She tried to see his face and moved back just a bit. She saw the different shades of his blonde hair, the steel blue of his eyes. He looked more like a Viking than he did an Irishman. She tentatively reached up and felt a cool breeze swirl around them and heard him whisper, “That’s it,” though she didn’t see his lips move. He smiled slightly and watched as his face dipped into hers. His lips skimmed her mouth as his hand came up and cupped her face. Now she wished she hadn’t taken a drag on that cigarette.
“I’ve never,” her words were lost in the kiss.
* * * * * * * *
Odin and Sally pulled up to a light. They both spotted Thor’s jag parked on the side of the road. Odin opened his middle compartment and pulled a Glock out.
Sally looked over, shocked. “What do you think is happening?” They pulled up behind the black Jag and Odin was about to get out when he saw Thor open his door and get out. He saw the smile on his face and then Olivia leaning out and waving.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Thor leaned in and said something to Olivia and then walked over to them.
Odin let the window down as he put the Glock back.
“We were just having a bit of an argument about something, but it’s worked out.”
Odin laughed. “Are you sure you two will survive the trip?”
Thor smiled “Oh, I think we will be fine.” He leaned down and smiled at Sally. Giving them both a salute, he went back to his Jag and got in and took off into traffic.
Sally looked over at Odin. “What do you make of that?”
“I’d say my brother is getting to know your friend, very quickly.”
“God help him,” Sally said with a laugh as they took off.
* * * * * * * *
Hours later, Odin looked over at Sally as she sat curled up in her seat. “Are you hungry? We could go into Portland and get a bite to eat.”
Sally stretched her legs. “Mmm, that would be good.” She looked at her watch. “Do you have any ideas?”
Odin took the exit. “Duckfat. I know how you like fries.”
They pulled up in front of the restaurant and Sally was looking at herself in a small mirror.
Odin reached over and took the mirror out of her hand. He caught her face. “You’re perfect,” he said as caught her lips and kissed her.
Sally let her hand go up and wrap around his neck. It felt like bands of steel. His lips were on hers, skimming over her face. She felt herself heating up. She wanted to jump on his lap again, she wanted to get under that cashmere sweater, see what he felt like.
“Rein it in, baby, or we won’t be lasting long. I don’t want to deliver you to the family with my scent all over you, just yet. We want to give Colum a chance to get used to us.”
Sally sat back. “Won’t he be happy? I mean wouldn’t that be what he wants?”
Odin put his seat back and pulled her over. Good thing she was tiny. Cradling her face he kissed her nose. “This is not me watching over you anymore. It’s me, making my intentions known,” he raised his hand to her lips. “I know when you wrote to me, it was you starting this. You are just like his daughter, a precious jewel in his eyes. You are a Princess in the eyes of the family, clan and coven. I am from royal blood, but we have to go slowly.” Seeing her look, he smiled and caught her lips, kissing her deeply. Tasting her desperation, her need and desire mixed in was a lethal cocktail. He groaned. “We will be lucky if we last twenty-four hours.”
Sally leaned in and let her head rest on his chest. She didn’t care if they were getting looks from the pedestrians walking past. “Well, I want you. I’ve always known it would be you, but when you started to call to me in my dreams and I could feel you in my sleep...”
Odin kissed her face. “You did? I felt you sleep next to me some nights. I just about went mad on missions. I thought I would go nuts till I got your letter after our last mission.” He caught her face with his hands and kissed her deeply, feeling her respond. “You know once we-we...”
“Make love?” Sally finished for him.
“Yes,” His face close to hers, trailing kisses over her face. “No one will get near you. It won’t be as bad as when your mother, ah, er...”
Sally sighed. The thoughts of making love to this dark giant made her weak. She let her fingers st
roke his chest. “I know but, will it be special for you? Since I know you are not exactly the same age as me.”
“Mmm, yeah, I’m a little over one thousand years old. And yes, it will be special. Especially since it’s for keeps, you will be my mate and are my forever.”
Sally sat back. “But I won’t be changed. How can it be for keeps?”
Odin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to him, burying his face in her hair. “Nothing is going to separate us.”
He didn’t see the shadow fall over them.
They sat close to one another, holding hands. People smiled as they walked past them. “When do you go back?”
Odin smiled and fed Sally a fry. “I don’t, I’m done, home for good. I figure I’m going to have to come to Providence and get an apartment or rent a house for us. There is no way you and I are going to live apart.”
Sally couldn’t believe her ears. She thought for sure he’d be back overseas. “There’s a loft apartment available in our building. That way Olivia would still have us nearby, or we could stay in our apartment and share, I mean maybe Olivia wouldn’t want to live alone.”
Odin put another fry in her mouth and then started to nibble on it till he got to her lips. He saw her smile as he sat back. “We can do whatever, but I don’t think Olivia’s going to be living alone for long. I have a feeling Thor is going to be taming the shrew.”
* * * * * * * *
Colum came and stood behind Katherine’s back. She stood at the sink and took a deep breath. Wrapping his arms around her growing middle he laid his head on her shoulders. “Would you go and put your feet up. This working and walking around isn’t going to bring her home any faster. It’s also not going to help you with the baby. This is a different pregnancy for you.”
Katherine let her hand rest on top of Colum’s. She stretched and felt the baby jump. Both of their hands rubbed her belly. She felt Colum turn her and then he knelt down. Lifting up her tee shirt he kissed her belly, which looked like it was about to pop. She was growing daily and would soon be off her feet till the baby came, which was about in a month. He felt Kat’s fingers work though his hair.
“How are you going to handle Odin’s attentions to Sally?”
Colum got up and held Katherine close. “I won’t deny it, it will be hard, but this day has been coming from the day I assigned them to protect her. It was just a matter of time. I will have an Uncle and future son-in-law talk, and make sure we are on the same track, make sure he knows what he is getting into.”
Katherine hugged her husband. Since the day she had awoken from death and realized she was no longer a human but a created being, a vampire, she was different. She was thankful the male to female ratio was lower when it came to vampires. She knew Thor wouldn’t be a threat. Sally had text her and said Olivia was with Thor riding home. There would only be Travis and the Cormac, the now former King, who lived up the hill. Her sons were still human.
“I’m sure he will welcome that talk sooner than later, you know she probably has his scent all over her.”
Colum growled. “If he’s smart, he hasn’t.”
“They probably haven’t made love, if that’s what you mean but don’t expect them not to.”
Colum hugged his wife and stepped back as he heard the underground garage door open. “Well, they are here.”
Chapter 3
Sally entered first, holding Odin’s hand. She heard her brothers come running down the stairs but she saw her mother and Colum first. She felt herself being hugged by her Mom, and did all she could do to get her arms around her, considering her belly size. She held her mother at arms-length and marveled at her beauty. She had become even more stunning when she’d been reborn. She had always been beautiful, but now she glowed, and it was only partly from her being pregnant.
“Hey let me get a hug in.” She smiled at her mom and felt herself swept up in the arms of her step-father, Colum. She heard the door open and in walked Travis. As she stood back from Colum’s embrace she saw Travis giving Odin a hug and stepping back.
“Mom, Colum, Travis, hey, John and Pat.” She hugged them quickly. Stepping back she took Odin’s hand again. “I have something to announce, officially.”
Pat looked at his sister and Odin, her bodyguard. He knew something must be up because Travis was all tense.
Sally pulled Odin in, no small feat. “I’ve made my choice. Odin is the one I want.”
Pat knew from the look on Colum’s face that he had been expecting it. “Did you guys know already?” Pointing to his mother and Colum.
“Yes, honey, we only found out, really, this morning, but it’s not like we haven’t known this was coming for a long time.”
Pat really didn’t care but he wanted to milk it. “Well, when are you guys getting married or are you expecting to tell all of us at the same time?”
“Shut up Pat, stop making a big thing out of nothing,” John said after hugging his sister and shaking Odin’s hand. “I say, who wants a friendly game of air hockey?”
* * * * * * * *
Katherine sat with her feet up, a fire blazed in the fireplace. The guys were playing air hockey. Katherine looked over at her daughter, who watched Odin’s every move.
Sally glanced over at her mother who looked about ready to go to bed. “What’s it like?”
Katherine studied her daughter. “What honey?”
Sally pointed to Odin and Colum. “Being loved by a man who isn’t human, who has more strength than is good for anyone, who has no fear?”
Katherine took her daughter’s hand. “Oh, honey, you’re wrong, they fear. They fear for us when we are mortal. For themselves, there isn’t much that scares them. Odin is always going to be scared for you, it will make him that much more protective, sometimes more so, but it also makes him, and your step-father, more deadly. You’ll get used to it.”
Sally sat holding her mother’s hand. It was funny to feel a cool hand when she was really warm. “I don’t know how he can be any more deadly, I mean look at him, and Colum.”
Katherine wrapped her arm around her only daughter. “They can become precise, blind killing machines when it comes to a loved one. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that again, but know that any of us would do that for you or your brothers. I’ve never had to go into battle for anyone yet, but I do know the ability is there.”
Odin glanced over and saw Sally curled up in her mother’s arms. He smiled at her. He knew tonight wouldn’t be the time to get her alone. The faster the better, though. He wanted her to really be his.
Later that evening, Sally stood with Odin, held in his arms. She could hear his heart. It was faint, but there. He hardly breathed. She let her hand span his chest, wanting to touch his skin, but knew better. Looking up at him she saw his smile.
“Where are you staying tonight?”
Odin buried his face in her hair. “I’m staying at my house on Timber Cliffe Drive. I think it’s better if I’m not on the property tonight.”
Looking up, Sally was met by hooded eyes. She watched as his hand stroked her face. “I want you,” she whispered, “I don’t know if I can wait.”
Odin scooped her up. Taking her lips with his, he let the kiss go deep. Heard her whisper in his head, Come to me. He growled and thrust his tongue in her mouth, met by hers. He heard her whimper. I want you, I can’t wait, don’t want to
“God help us,” he groaned, feeling the silken touch of her lips and the gentle dance her tongue playing with his. She had her legs wrapped around his waist, pressing into him. Her fists shoved down the back of his sweater, touching his back with her hot little hands. He kissed her one last time, not wanting to, but knowing they were moving in a dangerous direction with Colum upstairs, who was probably hearing everything.
“Baby, we have to stop, not tonight. Give them twenty-four hours to get used to it, tomorrow,” he said in between kisses. He knew the blinded feeling, nothing but I want you, come to me kept breaking through his reserve.
“After tomorrow we will always be together, nothing will separate us. Nothing.” He looked down, into her eyes and saw a tear start sliding down her cheek. He licked it off. “Don’t cry, after tomorrow.” He kissed her one more time and then putting her down he walked out and away from the house and her.
Sally stood alone in the hallway for what seemed a long time and then she ran up the stairs and to her parents’ room. Knocking once, she opened the door and ran to their large bed. Colum was up and fast. “I’ll kill him. What did he do to you?”
Katherine was lying on her side and had a bit more difficulty getting up. She put a restraining hand on Colum as he pulled himself out of bed.
“Honey, I don’t think that’s it, let her talk.”
Sally sobbed out her story. She didn’t see the look on Colum’s face. It was probably a good thing, too.
Katherine wrapped her arms around Sally. “Honey, it’s good you two have this night away from each other, believe me, when it happens it will be intense. He is protecting you because if he has this restraint now, then he can control that urge when you two make love.” They both turned to the growl that came from Colum.
“He’d better resist the urge or he will be dead within minutes. I think I am going downstairs, maybe out.” He kissed Sally’s wet tear stained face first and then Katherine’s. “I’ll be back soon.”
Sally stayed on the end of her mother’s bed. She looked up at her mother shyly, at first. Even at age eighteen, she still felt shy talking about sex with her mother. “Let me tell you what it’s like to have a vampire love you, in every way.” Her mother said as she pulled her daughter to her.
* * * * * * * *
Colum left the house at a sprint, following Odin’s scent. He was trying to mask himself but doing a poor job. As he ran through the woods, crashing in the underbrush, he picked up sounds and other scents. A herd of deer was nearby and had taken off in a panic. He flew over the stream that ran into his property. Soon he was flying through the cemetery and took a flying leap over a Roscoe LeRoy Carver’s grave, then down in the gully and over another stream. He landed lightly on his feet just before the clearing. The moon bathed the space in an ethereal light. He stood perfectly still and then he heard the sound he had been waiting for; a deer in its last moments of life; the sound of resignation, death but victory.
I've Been Waiting for You Page 3
