†
Two things clued her in that she was not alone. The first was the soft rhythmic sound of a heartbeat and the second, the sweet-smelling warm body curled around her. Gabriella! Trinity’s eyes fluttered open and she turned her head slightly to the side so she could see her lover’s profile. Gabriella was fast asleep, her breathing deep and even. Trinity wished to see more of Gabriella, but knew that if she moved again, she would wake the brunette. Gabriella looked tired. Her face was pale and dark shadows marred the skin under her eyes. Trinity sighed softly. In the few short weeks that they had reconnected, Gabriella had been dragged through hell and back. It made Trinity wonder if she was indeed the stronger of them both in this relationship. For a human, Gabriella showed immense resilience.
Tristan would have killed her, had it not been for Gabriella’s timely interference. Then this amazing woman set out to save the life of an enemy. A knot formed in Trinity’s throat as she tried to suppress the urge to cry in sheer relief at being so lucky to have the love of this woman. Gabriella stirred and as Trinity held her breath, she watched as Gabriella swam toward wakefulness. The dark eyelashes moved and blinked open, revealing sleepy amber eyes. Within the blink of an eye they were razor sharp as they studied Trinity intently.
“You okay, vampire?”
Trinity almost smiled. “I will live.”
“That’s all I’ve needed to hear, my darling.” Gabriella rolled over until her upper body covered Trinity’s. “You gave me quite a scare.”
A lock of dark hair fell across Gabriella’s forehead and Trinity pushed it back. “And you saved my life.”
A shudder coursed through Gabriella’s body as she placed her forehead against Trinity’s. “I had no other choice. I wouldn’t have been able to survive without you.” The last words came out as a sob. Trinity cradled Gabriella against her chest. “You’re my everything.”
Trinity lifted the dark head and looked into Gabriella’s wet eyes. “I am sorry for having put you through all that, my love.”
“You had no choice. He wanted to take you from me and I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Gabriella sobbed softly.
“Hush, now, beloved. We are both alive and safe. We are fine,” Trinity said urgently as she stroked Gabriella’s hair. “I believe Fran and Angel are also safe.”
Gabriella sniffed loudly before she raised a hand to wipe her tearstained face. “Yes, Tahlia moved them to a safe house for now.” She cradled Trinity’s face between her soft hands. “I love you.”
“I know. You killed a master vampire to prove it,” Trinity teased and moaned when Gabriella’s lips slanted over hers.
“I’ve missed you,” Gabriella said against Trinity’s lips.
Trinity pushed her knee between Gabriella’s legs. “I have only been laid up for a day.” She watched as Gabriella’s eyes darkened.
“Even that is too long.” Gabriella murmured as her hands began to roam over Trinity’s body. “Do you think you’re well enough for…” Gabriella kissed Trinity passionately, “this?”
Trinity clutched Gabriella closer. “Let’s find out.”
~~~~
EPILOGUE
Three months later …
She didn't have to read her mind, to know what Trinity was thinking as she looked at her. The green eyes literally devoured her. Looking around, she suspected all the other vampires in attendance could sense Trinity's intention. Even Paloma turned around to face her, her silver eyes teasing. When Tahlia and Jemima also turned to look at her, it was the final straw for Gabriella. She grabbed Trinity by the arm and marched her through the throng of occupied chairs to the back of the garden.
“What's wrong with you?” she hissed. “You have the dirty thoughts, but everyone is staring at me.”
The green eyes slowly trekked down her frame and when they came back to her face, Gabriella shook her head and smiled. She'd expected a reaction akin to what she saw on Trinity's face when she'd put on the red dress. She knew that Trinity would remember what had happened in the fitting room when she'd tried it on the first time. However, Gabriella didn't expect her partner to go hormonal like this. Inger had kept Trinity distracted while Gabriella had dressed for the ceremony and Trinity only saw her again in the garden with more than fifty vampires in attendance.
“You know what that dress does to me.”
Gabriella looked down at the dress.
“I know, baby, but I want you to try and behave until after the ceremony and then I promise to reward your restraint.” She'd planned a sexy striptease show for Trinity later tonight and just thinking about it herself, made her wet. Trinity's eyes darkened and Gabriella knew instantly that she had picked up the scent of her arousal.
“What surprise?” Trinity asked huskily and Gabriella waved her finger at Trinity.
“If I tell you it won’t be a surprise anymore.” Gabriella’s eyes narrowed. “And don’t you dare try to read my mind. Now do we have a deal?”
Trinity's eyes leisurely traveled down the red dress.
“OK. But the minute the ceremony is over, we go someplace quiet.”
Gabriella quickly nodded. They would have to hang around a bit after the ceremony, but to tell that to Trinity now would be a big mistake. She would just have to go with the small lie for now.
“OK.”
They rejoined the guests and just in time, because the judge called for the rings in his booming voice and Gabriella quickly stepped closer.
“Shameless hussy,” Inger hissed under her breath. “I hope you didn't lose our rings while you and Trinity were doing heaven-knows-what behind those bushes.”
Gabriella handed the rings to Paloma. She was so happy for the both of them. About a week after the showdown with Tristan, an emotional Inger had searched out Gabriella one night. Realizing how easy it was to lose the love of your life, she had asked Gabriella’s advice on how to approach Paloma on the issue. Apparently Paloma had proposed to her once eighteen years ago on Tahlia and Jemima’s wedding day. Inger’s gentle let-down had stopped the vampire from asking again. It had in no way affected their relationship, but it seemed to have bothered Inger that Paloma hadn’t asked again. With Trinity underground locked in a battle fighting for her life, Inger had waited until everyone was gathered in the garden one night, chatting around the fire. She went down on her knee and proposed to the stunned vampire. The looked that came over Paloma’s face would stay with Gabriella forever. It was a mixture of shock, relief, fear, humility and tender love. That same night the two of them had left for some unknown destination only to return a week later, looking deliriously happy and worn-out.
“Please, just get on with the ceremony before Trinity forgets her manners and drags me away by my hair. It was your idea after all, that I should wear this dress.” She quickly stepped back and gasped when she felt her heel buckle. Two strong hands curled around her waist and she didn't have to turn to see who it was. Trinity always had her back. The hands lingered longer than necessary and she shamelessly leaned backwards until she was brushing lightly against Trinity.
Trinity's voice brushed through the corridors of her mind and Gabriella smiled.
†
Sitting in the last row, hidden in the shadows, Clarissa watched the couple, her brown eyes sad. As painful as it was to see them together like this, she knew now that they belonged together. Her eyes touched on the hands lingering around Gabriella’s small waist and how closely they stood to each other. She too had sensed Trinity's lustful thoughts earlier and the pain was almost paralyzing. It could've been her...in another life.
Clarissa looked at Gabriella. At least Trinity will be happy and that was the perfect revenge. She prayed that, wherever he was wallowing in the pits of hell, Tristan could see how happy Trinity was. He'd failed again the second time round. Bastard!
She came to he
r feet and the redhead turned in her direction. Green eyes met brown ones and they stared at each other for a long moment. They were good together, but Fate gave them only a few years together in such a long lifetime.
Gabriella followed Trinity's gaze. There would always be a link between the two of them—a blood link. Looking at the woman Clarissa felt her admiration for Gabriella growing. She was strong, brave, and compassionate. Trinity was exceptionally lucky to have her. Over the course of the three months she was recuperating, Gabriella had looked in on her every day and they'd become well acquainted. Maybe they will never be able to call each other ‘friend', but nor will they ever call each other ‘enemy' either.
Nodding curtly, Clarissa turned and disappeared into the shadows. She would travel the world one last time and then she would do what she should've done a long time ago. Life had no more purpose for her. Death was the best gift she could bestow upon herself.
The End
About the Author
Stein Willard
Born and bred in Windhoek, Namibia, Stein has considerable experience in the media field and has worked as a journalist, TV producer, and PR consultant before starting her own small media production company. Her hobbies include writing, reading, cooking, travelling, photography, and watching soccer.
Stein started writing at the age of thirteen after feeling cheated by the ending of a novel she was reading. She took the novel and rewrote it from the ending back to the front, adding 200 more pages to it. Up until then she's only written in her native language, Afrikaans, a derivation of the Dutch language.
In 2007 she decided to experiment by writing a few short stories in English. By pure accident, she came across platforms on the internet to publish her work and was encouraged by a friend to try and post some of her stories.
Stein resides in Windhoek.
Connect with Stein online:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stein.willard
BOOKS IN THE GUARDIAN SERIES
Book One: A Guardian's Touch
For two thousand years Tahlia had lived on the fringes of humanity as one of the most powerful and feared Royal Vampires in existence. The only ray of light in her endless brutal existence is the reincarnation of her human love, Aurora. For the past twenty centuries, the blue-eyed beauty’s love added a gentle touch to the otherwise deadly veneer of the Vampire Queen. As protector and lover, Tahlia passionately loved her mortal partner and jealously guarded her existence. But all that changes when her lover’s birth coincides with the resurfacing of a cunning and elusive enemy set on upsetting the Vampire Hierarchy. This time is target is not Tahlia –directly. It does however; threaten the Vampire Queen’s very existence.
Book Two: A Guardian's Love
Her name is synonymous with death. Paloma. As the Assassin of the Royal Vampire Clan, Paloma had followed orders without question. But the killing became too much even for her. At the risk of losing the last sliver of humanity she still possessed, the deadly Enforcer went to ground only to resurface five centuries later. But in her absence the world had changed, as would her life.
Meanwhile, the daughter of two powerful vampires, twenty-year-old Inger Marsden was a free spirit who frequented pubs and nightclubs for two reasons: to hunt and destroy renegades hiding amongst humans and to find gorgeous women for no-strings attached liaisons. Life couldn’t get any better for the young slayer—or so she thought.
Published by Desert Palm Entertainment (CC/2007/2385) trading as Desert Palm Press
Swakopmund, Namibia
A Guardian's Passion Page 20
