Ethan no longer cared about the mess Sophia made of his kitchen. What else could be done? If they wanted to be together, they were at the mercy of the vampires who protected them. Danielle understood it, but her emotions were becoming raw and she knew she could easily crack.
Today—Sophia had been particularly obsessive about keeping their stomachs full. The coffee table in front of Ethan’s settee was buried with trays and plates holding everything from breakfast sausages, scrambled eggs, and waffles, to sandwiches, pastries, fancy hors d’oeuvres, berries and bananas, two teapots now holding cold tea, along with teacups, honey and cream. Not to mention, English scones with jam and clotted cream. All of that brought to them by noon!
They’d eaten as much as they could, but Ethan said he was beginning to understand why Danielle complained about the over-the-top portion sizes he used to try feeding her when he was a vampire. It just wasn’t physically possible for either one of them to eat the enormous amounts of food Sophia felt the need to make.
“Does she know when to stop?” Ethan asked.
“You’ve known her longer than I have.”
“It’s a few hours before dinner, perhaps she’ll settle down until then.”
Danielle burst out laughing. “Really? You think she’ll forget about the traditional four o’clock tea service with little sandwiches, cakes and whatever other finger foods she dreams up?”
Ethan groaned, obviously knowing it was inevitable.
A sexy song by Black Lab, entitled Weightless was playing softly in the background. The breathy voice of the male singer created a romantic mood which was perfect for snuggling. Lying curled around each other on the leather settee, Danielle snuggled closer, dragging her bent leg over his and settling the bottom of her foot against his denim-clad calf. Even knowing this was definitely not nineteenth-century appropriate behavior, she decided she didn’t really care at this point and was glad Ethan was letting her get away with it. They were engaged to be married! Most ordinary twenty-first century couples would have slept together by now. But they had agreed to save those intimacies for the wedding night. Secretly she wanted that regency-romance-novel honeymoon of innocent exploration the ideal promised. The thought fulfilled many of her girlish fantasies, and Danielle knew she’d found her very own Mr. Darcy willing to give it to her.
Yeah, he didn’t seem to have an issue with showing his affection for her publicly, but he also strictly felt anything more would disrespect her. Ethan had said he didn’t want to spoil the innocence of his own bride. Respecting him for that, she shifted closer, because despite those feelings, Danielle was beginning to wonder how long she could last in the face of temptation. She wanted to wait, yet….
In this position and with his lips so close to hers, she couldn’t resist that particular enticement and pressed her mouth against his as she wove her fingers into his hair. Ethan went along, and then slid his hand up the length of her spine. By mistake, her blouse came up with his fingertips, allowing them to graze along her bare skin.
They both froze, pulling in a sharp intake of air. Danielle disengaged her lips and stared into his eyes. Ethan closed his and let his fingers glide along the flesh of her lower back a moment longer, then exhaled abruptly and yanked her blouse back to its proper position.
“I’m sorry, Danielle. I didn’t mean—”
“I know. Truthfully, I liked that much more than I should have,” she confessed.
This long engagement was becoming physically painful as their desire for one another grew—as it naturally should. It would’ve been best in this situation to get married sooner than later, and therefore avoid the allure of what they’d forbidden themselves by choice.
“You shouldn’t tell me you liked that. That really doesn’t help,” Ethan groaned.
Smiling a guilty smile, she said, “Sorry.”
“This is getting massively frustrating, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and you know how impatient I can be.”
“How could I forget? Waiting till you graduate must be killing you.”
She laughed, and mumbled, “That’s an understatement.”
“Honestly, I’m getting to the point—I’m tempted—or rather, I’m tired of—Yet…” Apparently he was unable to even finish one sentence, and she realized then that his patience was waning as well. This Edwardian boy was reaching his limit. With his gaze suddenly smoldering, he twisted so she was beneath him, and came down on her with one hot kiss that stole her breath. Eyes going wide, Danielle wondered if maybe he’d changed his mind about waiting and then closed them in bliss as his mouth moved over hers. How far...?
Two soft knocks interrupted the party. Never mind, she thought irritably. Could only be Sophia, and what timing!
Ethan kissed her nose, and pushed himself from her. “Sophia to the rescue, yet again.”
Danielle moaned.
Opening the door to reveal Sophia standing there with tea service for two, Ethan directed the pretty vampire inside. Sliding her gaze to the clock on Ethan’s fireplace mantle, Danielle noticed it wasn’t even four o’clock—yet. Her eyes narrowed, Sophia was early!
Ethan thanked her and took the tray, then brought it to the settee because there was no room for it on the table. Sophia left.
“In the mood for tea?” he asked.
“Actually, yes. What about you?”
“Now’s as good a time as any,” Ethan said, seating himself next to her.
As Ethan poured the hot liquid into her cup, she watched as something new began swimming in the depths of his deep blue eyes. He muttered quietly, almost to himself. Then his gaze turned scheming as he poured honey and cream into her tea and held the cup toward her.
She took the cup and saucer, and asked, “What are you thinking?”
“Hm?”
When he wouldn’t make eye contact, she accused, “You’re plotting. What is it?”
“Pardon?” Ethan asked, feigning innocence, stirring his tea.
“Nice try. Tell me what you’re planning.”
“I’ll tell you later. I need to do some other things first.”
“Like what?”
“Drink your tea, Danielle, I’m not telling you now.”
“Humph.”
They drank in silence for a few moments, and she considered seducing it out of him as she’d done with his sword. But just as they were finishing with their cups and before she could even attempt it, Ethan attacked.
He plopped the china-littered tray onto the floor a bit too roughly. Before the delicate porcelain even stopped clattering, he’d pinned her to the Chesterfield settee, and she squealed when he assaulted her neck with as storm of kisses.
“What’s gotten into you?” She laughed as he tortured that ticklish spot.
Another three raps at the door came before Ethan’s answer, and the look on his face told her everything.
“Was that your plan? Did you know she’d do that? Is she standing right outside the door? Because that can’t be coincidental.”
“No, my plan is entirely different. However, I was testing her…. It seems you may be correct,” Ethan whispered and shook his head. “This needs to end.”
“What are you going to say to her?”
“Nothing. It would hurt her feelings. I have some other strategies up my sleeve this time.” Ethan kissed her one more time and made his way back to the door.
Sure enough, Sophia stood behind it. “Darlings, I noticed how many dishes you have cluttering the table. I came to clear some of it away.”
Gaping, Danielle thought, smooth!
“Thanks, Sophia.” Ethan then helped her stack and gather things up.
“Ethan, dear, I’ll do the dishes today; you needn’t worry yourself about it.”
“I appreciate that, Sophia. Thanks for taking such good care of us,” Ethan said.
Impressed that he always remained sweet and respectful toward Sophia, regardless of how many times she interrupted them, or demolished his kitchen, Danielle fell a
bit more in love with him for that. He had the patience of a saint.
Sophia paused, considering them suspiciously. “Now please, Ethan, consider her rep—well … oh, never mind. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon,” she said as she bustled from the room, her arms filled to the brim with trays and dishes.
Danielle stared after the lovely immortal, shocked. Was Sophia going to say what she thought she was going to say? Her gaze shifted to Ethan, and he responded to the question apparently written on her face. “Yes, Danielle, she was thinking that.”
“So that’s why she’s been lingering by your door?”
“She just wants to help. She wouldn’t want you ruined in the eyes of the ton.”
“The what?”
“The ton is the fashionable scene in London. It’s a Victorian term.”
“Oh. Same as the notion of being ruined—old-fashioned.”
“Indeed,” was Ethan’s antique response.
Exhaling a frustrated groan, Danielle shook her head. While she too wanted to wait, she also knew long engagements were not a smart way of holding onto virtue. Danielle pushed upright. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I’m going to school nonstop. I have homework I should be doing right now, but I’d rather not. It’s become a tedious task trying to rush through it. I’m tired of feeling threatened. We all know Lucas and Celeste have started plotting against us again, and I’m tired of being followed or interrupted constantly.” She looked at the engagement ring on her finger, and twisted it once around her finger. “I … I….” But she didn’t really know what else to say.
Ethan sat back down, lifted her left hand, placed a kiss on the ring, then spoke, “Danielle, I have a plan.”
“Tell me, please. Right now.”
Ethan didn’t answer right away. He just peered into her green eyes with his sapphire ones. Then after a moment or two, he closed them and rested his forehead on hers. His other hand twisted through her hair. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“Seems I’ve heard that before.”
“And did I keep my word?”
“Yes.”
“I need to see if it’ll work first. I don’t want to get your hopes up if it won’t.”
“Fine, tomorrow then.”
“Shall we test Sophia again?” Ethan whispered appealing as he dropped his mouth against hers.
Danielle laughed, and succumbed easily. His lips parted as he exhaled his delectable breath into her mouth. Even though it wasn’t new, she was surprised at how much she liked that, and with anyone else that may have been kind of gross, but not with him. Her hands traveled their way around his waist, pulling him closer, knowing Sophia would begin rapping on the door any second.
This time the door flew open. Startled, she jerked reflexively away from Ethan. However, it was Nadia this time. The black-haired beauty noted their intimate position with one look, then ignored it altogether.
“Guess what!” she said with untamed excitement radiating off her.
“What?” Ethan grumbled. He didn’t release his hold on Danielle, but rested his cheek against hers with a sigh.
“The room is almost finished! Soon you’ll be able to bite me and turn me into a mortal!”
“That’s nice, Nadia. Does that mean you’re going to lock yourself away right now?” Ethan asked, apparently hoping she would soon leave.
“Beon said it’ll be ready in a month or so, and then he’ll lock me in for two weeks.”
“Two weeks, locked up with no food. That sounds horrible,” Danielle mused aloud.
“It won’t be as bad for me as it was for Ethan. Beon is stocking the room with books and other things like that for me to do.”
“Great. Things for you to throw at us when you’re at your grouchiest,” Ethan complained.
“Was it that bad? Danielle, was Ethan mean?”
“Um, not at first … but then, yes, he became sort of scary.”
Ethan cringed at her words. Okay, she admitted in her head, he was completely terrifying, but Danielle kept that to herself.
Nadia frowned. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.”
“I came damn close to it.” Danielle could almost feel the wave of guilt that seemed to crash over Ethan. It was true though, he had been rough in his handling of her while they’d been trapped together and the curse began to poison his mind. She figured his tortured expression was due to the memory, and he pulled her onto his lap into the cradle of his arms, then tucked her under his chin as if he felt the need to protect her again.
Nadia’s eyes grew substantially with worry, and her sable brows twisted upwards. She sat down next to them, and placed one hand on Ethan’s. “Ethan, will I be able to do this? Or will I just end up trying to kill Danielle?”
“We won’t let you kill her. But I won’t lie to you, it was extremely difficult. You have to really want the cure.”
“Danielle, are you sure you want to do this for me?”
Danielle understood that for the curse to be broken, Nadia had to willingly submit to a bite from a mortal while extremely thirsty, with the power of the curse at its strongest. And she knew that vampires were most dangerous and most likely to lose control in that condition. But for Nadia she was willing to try it, knowing Max and the others would be there to prevent Nadia from harming her. “Yes, I’m certain. I want to do this for you. It’ll be fine. Ethan and I were alone, but you’ll have support from friends.”
Nadia kissed Danielle on the cheek and hugged her hard. “All right, I’ll leave you two alone for now.” And then she left.
“Would you like to take a tour of the dungeon?” Ethan offered.
“Sure. You know, it’s kind of funny, you said you didn’t have dungeons before, yet now you do.”
“And I’ll bet money Beon has it connected to a secret passageway.”
“You still never showed those to me.”
“Well, it seems now is the time.”
“Oh!” Halting Ethan with a hand on his chest, she dropped her voice to a whisper and said, “Would those be a good way of escaping Sophia?”
Ethan laughed. “Don’t you think I’d have already taken you there if that would have worked?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” she replied, deflated.
One of the well-lit passageways led to the new dungeon, which looked depressing at the moment. It was lined with thick, reinforced cement, and the walls were plain, but the furnishings Nadia had described would make it nicer than the one she and Ethan had been trapped in. Though, to Danielle, it still looked like an extremely bleak place to spend two weeks.
Chapter 7
White Roses
It was another day of digging through mountains of homework. Brianna, who was seated on Danielle’s bed reading, snickered when she groaned a third time.
Danielle was working on painting a still-life…. She didn’t like still-lifes. In truth, she preferred painting landscapes, people or any other living creature. Painting inanimate objects on a table bored her. And her heart wasn’t in it, which was showing in her work. Just get the grade, she kept telling herself. She’d thought choosing a subject she liked would help as she’d gathered up some of Aunt Charlotte’s things for tea and arranged them artistically for a model. Still she struggled with getting the shape of the teapot and teacup correct. It took much longer than usual. Rubbing her temples she considered the flaws and how to fix them another time.
Unfortunately for her, there were other reasons she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Celeste and Lucas were constantly lurking in the back of her mind. Would they do something to her family to get at her? Her gaze wandered to Brianna, and a stab of guilt severed her nerves. They can’t hurt her, she pondered with panic slicing through her gut. She couldn’t live with herself if they did. And now she had a bellyache, she thought as she rubbed at her midsection.
Danielle jumped when the doorbell rang. Brianna noticed. “Are you okay, Dannie? You seem skittish.”
“I’m all right.”
&
nbsp; Brianna’s brows knitted together, and Danielle knew her cousin hadn’t bought it.
Aunt Charlotte called up from the bottom of the stairs, “Danielle, it’s Ethan. He wants to study with you.”
“Send him up,” she called back, relieved. He’d said he would tell her his plan today. She really needed to know what it was, and hoped it would help settle her nerves and rioting stomach.
Ethan entered, strolled to the desk and dropped a huge stack of books on top of it.
“What’s all that for?” she asked, experiencing another spike of pain.
“It’s your homework,” he said, standing next to her now as he considered her crappy artwork.
Fighting an urge to cover it, and wanting to say, don’t look at that mess, she instead said, “I’m sorry ... what?”
He leaned down placing his lips to her ear. “You’re testing out.”
“Excuse me?”
He took her arm, tugged her to the desk, forced her to sit, then dropped to one knee in front of her. Again, he spoke softly into her ear, “We need to get married sooner. It’s the easiest way to protect you … us … and they’ll have to leave us alone. No more interruptions.”
“But—but— How do you expect me to get through all of this? I already have way too much homework as it is!” Her eyes narrowed on the stack of textbooks and then shifted to the previously existing pile next to it. The pains inside twisted and she wondered if she might actually vomit.
“Forget that. If you test out, you won’t have to do it.”
“But—what about my artwork?” Danielle tossed a despairing look at the mess of a painting called a still-life. “That’s part of it.”
“They can judge by your past works, and I have the tests from Beon. I know what you need to know. So…” Ethan stood, grabbed the chair next to her fireplace, slid it up next to her, and settled into it. “Let’s get started.” He then snatched the first book and flipped it open.
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