vampires of san francisco 07 - suckers lost and found

by mcbrayer, jessica

  “You are warmer than usual. But you are also essentially a little oven right now for the baby. Do you want me to call the doctor?”

  “No, I think you are right. Just think, I won’t be so cold for the next seven weeks.” She sighs contentedly.

  Sebastian smiles down at her and kisses the top of her head.

  “What am I missing? And what does Aidan have to do with it?” Manda asks looking confused.

  “Aidan gave us the chance to get pregnant for a wedding present. We started practicing right away,” Lilith says. She winks at Manda.

  “Does that mean we could get pregnant?” Manda asks immediately. I hadn’t planned on telling her until we got married, on our honeymoon, as a gift.

  “Yes, lover, it does. I’ve rarely wished for something for myself. But this I would wish for a million times with you.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she asks.

  “I was waiting until our wedding night. I wanted to surprise you.”

  She tugs on the lapels of my Armani coat and gives me a kiss, a long and sweet kiss.

  We pull apart and Lilith is clapping and giggling.

  “Let’s get married tomorrow,” Manda says.

  “Yay! We could be pregnant together,” Lilith says.

  “When are you two going to get married?” Sebastian asks us.

  “I was leaving all that up to Manda.”

  “I want a quiet ceremony with your family,” she says pointing at Lilith and Sebastian.

  “Where would you like to have it? It can be anywhere in the world,” I ask.

  “Georgia, now, when the peach blossoms are blooming.”

  Lilith claps again. She’s radiating happiness and if I’m not mistaken has a glow about her.

  “We have a wedding to plan, Manda. Tomorrow. That way we won’t miss the blossoms. Aidan can get anything we will need. I can’t wait to tell Hannah.”

  “I would love your help, Lily. I’m so sorry I missed your wedding,” Manda says. She gets a haunted look in her eyes. Lily quickly reaches over and grabs her hand.

  “We have video and pictures. We should have them in about three more weeks. I’ll show you everything,” Lily whispers. “I’m so glad we found you.”

  “Thank you. I haven’t thanked you for rescuing me. What were you doing at that terrible place anyway?” Manda is notably cooler.

  “The King, Basilio, practically ordered us to go. I had asked for his help in finding you. We had no idea what we were heading into. We were absolutely horrified. We had been trying to get information out of the King for weeks. He said that his enemy wanted us there and that the man was shady. We thought it would be a good place to get more info. Not even the King knew what was going on. Aidan had been scouting. We called him. And well, you saw what he did,” Lilith explains.

  “I didn’t think you would have had anything to do with those fights but I was concerned,” Manda admits.

  “No. We think what they were doing was beyond unconscionable. It turned our stomachs but if we had tried to leave during a bloodlust of about fifty vicious vampires it would have been our death,” Sebastian explains.

  “I understand. I can’t understand why people would find that entertaining,” Manda says and shudders.

  “There are just as many sick vampires in the world as there are sick people. That’s the only explanation I have,” Bast says. He takes Manda’s hand and gives it a squeeze.

  “Lily, I hope you don’t mind, but Aidan told me about a psychologist you were seeing. I know that it’s private and I apologize for intruding but I wondered if I could get her name?”

  “Manda, I think Sophie would really help you work through all this. Do you have a phone yet?” Lilith looks at me and I pull one from thin air and hand it to her. “Thanks, Aidan. I’m programming her info into your phone. Tell her that Helena and I referred you.”

  “Thanks, Lily,” Manda says as she takes the phone and slips it in her purse.

  “Enough of this for tonight. Let’s go dance away our troubles. Manda? Would you care to dance?” Sebastian asks.

  “I’d love to.” She smiles.

  I take that as my cue to take Lilith’s hand. I pull it to my lips and give it a kiss.

  “Come, love. Let’s show them how it’s done.”

  NINETEEN / LILITH

  Aidan and I dance our worries away. After two dances, Sebastian gets restless. He pins me with the look.

  “It is our honeymoon, after all,” he whispers in my ear.

  We dance the rest of the night together, weaving in and out of the other dancers. Many people come to the club dressed in period clothes. I am wearing a LBD – little black dress and some black Louboutins with rhinestones on the heels and toe. They are quite high so I am the perfect kissing height for Sebastian. He takes complete advantage of this. Squeezing my bottom every once in a while.

  “Get a room,” Aidan hisses as he and Manda float by. He’s laughing so I know he is not upset – just being a pest. Manda is doing exceptionally well and I haven’t seen her stop smiling or laughing all night.

  “Good idea,” Sebastian whispers in my ear.

  “Mmm hmm…” I mumble. He’s kissing and nipping my ear now, it’s hard to concentrate.

  We sit down. Manda and Aidan join us. Manda and I drink more of our drinks while Sebastian plays with my hair.

  “Aidan, I think I’m going to take Lily home. She looks tired,” Bast says with a wicked grin. His eyes are half-lidded and from what I see of them they are smoldering.

  “Right… because vampires get so tired,” Manda says and Aidan snorts.

  “I’m feeling positively bushed,” I counter with a wink. Bast pulls me in closer and nips my neck. It takes everything in me not to moan. I love when he shows fang.

  “Do you want to go somewhere with that? I think the owner would frown on such grand displays of PDA,” Aidan says and laughs.

  “The owner would most definitely be okay with this,” Bast says. “But I would rather take this home.” He picks up Manda’s hand and gives it a kiss and shakes Aidan’s hand. “Bonsoir mes amies.”

  “Bonsoir, Sebastian, Lilith,” Aidan says and kisses my cheek.

  “See ya!” Manda yells above the music. I wince. I think she forgets we can hear so well. She will learn.

  “Bye,” I say and wave as I collect my clutch. Then Bast sweeps me out of the club. A perk of being the owner is having your car close to the door. It takes no time to retrieve and we are on our way.

  We get home. To our home and it is the first night we will be spending away from the family by ourselves. Aidan and Manda aren’t going to be home until bedtime. Something about seeing the sunset somewhere exotic. Sebastian picks me up and carries me across the threshold. I start my assault on his body. Kissing his cheek, his ear and neck. I scrape my fangs across his neck. He shivers.

  “Cherie, you’re going to make me drop you if you keep that up.”

  “Let’s take a swim, Bast. Naked.”

  “Mmm… I think I could do with some exercise.” He carries me to the atrium where the pool is. The blue mosaic tiles remind me of the places we visited on our trip. The pool is a salt water pool so there is no harsh chlorine smell. It’s good because that’s a harsh scent for a vampire.

  I have his shirt half off when he puts me down. He starts unzipping my dress and lets it fall to the floor. I get his shirt the rest of the way off and move in for his pants. He pulls away and looks me up and down, savoring.

  “Bast, you are so naughty.”

  “Not naughty,” he scoffs. “I’m just appreciating a beautiful piece of art. The lingerie, your long legs ending in those great shoes. I want you like this.” He moves in to me and pushes me against the wall and lifts one of my legs around his waist.

  OMG

  This is so hot. He unbuckles his belt and pants and slips my panties to the side and enters me hard and fast.

  “Yes,” he hisses out. He stays still, buried in me. Then he tilts his
hips so he fills me even more and I groan into him. Drawing my nails down his chest. He moans and then he attacks my mouth and starts to move. Fast and hard.

  I’m having a difficult time staying upright. Sebastian grabs my ass and pulls me up so both legs are around him. Aww it’s so fucking deep this way. He kisses my neck and nips it before sinking his fangs into me and drinking. I come instantly and gloriously, throwing my head back and letting out a jumbled version of his name.

  I feel him lick the wound and smile into my neck. Then he gets serious about pounding into me. I feel an inevitable pull starting and I know I am going to come again. When I get close I know Bast is close too so I pay him back and strike. His blood is so good that it shoots me over the edge and I take him with me.

  Bast slowly lets me back down and my knees buckle so he scoops me up and carries me to a chaise lounge. Holding me close he starts kissing my shoulder and down my arm making me shiver again. He stops at my wedding and engagement rings and smiles.

  “These are very sexy.”

  “Not as sexy as yours, Bast.” I take his ring finger and lick it from tip to base making him groan.

  “I love you, Lily St. John. You know that, right? More than my own life.”

  “I know it, Bast. And I love my new last name.”

  “My wife.”

  “Your wife.”

  “Mine.”

  “Yours.”

  Bast takes off my bra and panties and with a shake of his head he takes off my shoes. I think he likes them. He puts them on the chaise next to him and takes off his pants and boxers, socks and shoes. Then he pulls me to my feet and we descend into the pool.

  Floating in the water feels heavenly. We play for a while and swim together. Then Bast takes me again, from behind while I hold on to the edge of the pool. The water swirls around us and laps over the edge as gentle as our love making.

  It is getting close to dawn and we want a shower to rinse off the salt water. Streaking naked through the house we reach our bathroom and quickly rinse off. I put on a night gown and crawl under the blankets in our bigger than king size bed. I sink into the mattress and pillows. Sebastian wears a pair of pajama bottoms and slides in next to me.

  “Aww… I wish I could sleep just so I could enjoy this bed more,” he groans and he pulls me into him.

  “There are other ways to enjoy a mattress, Bast,” I say innocently.

  “I like the way you think, ma petite maman.”

  “I’m so excited. Now I can’t sleep,” I say.

  Sebastian laughs because he knows I have to fall asleep. I have no choice. And that’s what I do.

  TWENTY / SEBASTIAN

  I lay awake watching Lily sleep, imagining the miracle that is growing inside her. According to the nightstand clock she will wake up in five more minutes. I can hardly wait. I pray for her health and our little one. She will be an amazing mother and I want it for her as much as I want to be a father.

  “Good morning, cherie.”

  “Good morning, Bast. Have I told that I love you yet?”

  “No, no you haven’t.”

  “Well, I love you and I love this baby growing inside me. I love that it is half you and half me.”

  “Me too, cherie.” I scoot down in the bed so I can rest my head on her belly. She runs her hands through my hair as I listen for the faint sound of the baby’s heartbeat. I can’t help my grin when I hear it.

  She sighs when she sees my face.

  “I wish I could hear it too, but my heartbeat overwhelms it.”

  “Ma petite mamman, you get to hold our baby. At least I have this.” I give her belly a kiss before I pull her nightgown back down. She already has a small bump and I rub it. She gasps when she realizes that she is showing. Her hands fly down to mine and we hold the baby together.

  TWENTY-ONE / LILITH

  Helena talked Hannah and Diel into staying in our old suite while Giulia might be here. She wants everyone close by. Hannah grumbled some because her house is set up for the twins, but agreed it is better to face our situation together. Diel had to promise her she could tell me all the horror stories of pregnancy and labor. That put a spark in her eye. And Aidan had everything whisked over before she could reconsider.

  Diel also whispered to Sebastian that he is going to talk her into looking at houses too.

  Manda sleeps a couple hours longer than me so I take a leisurely shower with Sebastian. After getting dressed I look for Manda.

  “Aidan, is Manda up yet?” I ask him. He is impeccably dressed as always.

  “Yes, she’s taking a shower right now though.”

  “I want to start working on wedding stuff today.”

  “I think she wants that too. I only ask that you hurry. I’m anxious to make her my wife.” He grins. I give him a hug.

  Aidan shows me into their room, which is decorated like a Parisian hotel including the view of the Eiffel tower out their window. I think it is an actual view because it starts raining there. I shake my head and go sit in a chair while Aidan lets Manda know I am out here waiting for her.

  TWENTY-TWO / AIDAN

  I leave Lilith and Manda and head for the front room. Time for fun is over and we need to tackle this situation with Giulia. I find everyone already in the process of studying the intel Basilio sent us.

  Sebastian nods. Liam is studying the information Sebastian printed out like the lawyer Liam is but Andrew is fidgeting.

  “Andrew, what’s wrong,” I ask him.

  “I’m so worried about Miss Lily. I was so excited when I found out I was going to be an uncle again. Even more so than with Ms. Hannah. Miss Lily and I have a special friendship. She rescued me and I believe I have been a good friend to her, teasing aside.”

  “You have been, Andrew,” Sebastian assures him.

  “I just feel hopeless all of a sudden. Next to Liam I love Miss Lily with all my heart. I couldn’t bear anything happening to her and that includes her losing this baby if that wicked witch stresses her too much. I want to do something.”

  “Bring her herbal tea, talk with her and try to ease her worries. That would be something no one else can do,” Liam says taking Andrew’s hand. I see Andrew squeeze Liam’s hand and a brief smile flits across his face.

  “I’m going to go out right now and buy the best herbal teas I can find.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Liam says. The two of them give Helena a peck on the cheek and then leave with a mission.

  “We’ll be drowning in tea soon,” I say.

  “I’ll study this information some more and make some calls to my old contacts in Italy. We’ll reconvene later?” Julian asks.

  “Yes, why don’t you all come over in two hours. Will that be nap time for the twins?” Sebastian asks.

  “I think they spend most of their time sleeping in their parents’ arms,” Helena says and smirks.

  “I don’t blame them,” I say. “We’ll see you all later then.”

  “Bye,” Julian says as he gives us a distracted wave goodbye.

  “Let’s see what the women need from you, Aidan. Because you know that Lily will not be happy unless you have every creature comfort for you and Manda,” Sebastian says.

  I laugh because he is so right.

  We find them in the bathroom of our new room. Lily is throwing up. Sebastian rushes to her side. He rubs her back and strokes her hair. Manda and I quietly leave to give them privacy.

  “What happened?” I ask.

  “She was fine one minute and then she was rubbing her stomach. The next thing I realized she was running for the bathroom and getting sick. Poor thing. At least with as fast as this pregnancy is going to be she shouldn’t have morning sickness for long.”

  “I thought morning sickness only happened in the morning.”

  “Silly Djinn. It can happen any time of the day. I guess it happens more in the morning and that’s why they call it morning sickness.”

  “I didn’t know vampires could get sick,” I muse.
>
  “They aren’t supposed to be able to,” Sebastian says supporting a very pale Lilith. She smiles weakly at us.

  “I’m sorry I threw up in your bathroom.”

  I wave my hand.

  “There, all clean again. No worries, my love. How are you feeling?”

  “Rotten. I think I am going to go lie down for a while. If you’ll excuse me,” she says and wobbles toward the door.

  “I am going to see to Lily and call Dr. Hildebrand. You might take Manda to feed,” Sebastian says.

  “Of course, go Sebastian,” Manda says. I pull her into my side as we watch them go.

  “Do you need to feed, love?”

  “Maybe, but I can think of better things to do with our time at the moment,” Manda says and eyes me coyly.

  “Oh, lover, you only have to ask.”

  “I’m asking,” she says and runs and jumps on the huge poster bed. It has curtains to close out the sunlight for day sleepers. With a flick of my wrist I close them and the door.

  Manda giggles and then pulls me to her. I secretly soundproof the room. I just feel hesitant about Lilith being in the same house as Manda and me as we make love. Now no one can hear us. I celebrate by pulling her t-shirt off with my teeth.

  TWENTY-THREE / SEBASTIAN

  I get Lily settled on the bed. She didn’t even protest when I picked her up outside of Aidan’s room. I wanted to make sure she didn’t have to jostle or jump up into this tall bed.

  “I didn’t think I could get sick, Bast. Do you think everything is okay?” she asks. Her voice is so low. She looks so pale. She is pale by nature but this is extreme.

  “I think this is normal for a typical pregnancy. But let me call Dr. Hildebrand to make sure.” I kiss her gently on the forehead and she closes her eyes.

  “Dr. Hildebrand. I’m sorry to interrupt your day.” He was available instantly. Thank the Goddess for HellMobile.

  “No, Sebastian, it’s fine. What’s wrong?”