by Maya DeLeina
Steffan took in a deep breath.
He said nothing.
There were no words to articulate his emotion, no emotion to convey the depth of his euphoria.
For so long, his existence had been guided by solitude, the darkness his nightly companion. The thought of being liberated of his lonesome enslavement, to live for the purpose of tending to someone else’s needs and happiness, to love with his soul, besieged him. Love was the ultimate possession. All of his wealth and belongings could never amount to what he was about to give and what he was about to receive, unconditionally, without limits and in complete totality.
“You did it, Steffan. You found your mate. And she’s not bound to Ryan. You can freely start your quest!” Eilian looked down at his watch and smiled. “It’s time.”
As the two men made their way to the glass breezeway that connected the house and the garage, an overwhelming sense of anticipation filled Steffan. He suddenly broke into a sprint and Eilian followed suit.
They raced each other down the grand staircase, past the foyer, the great room, and kitchen to the long hallway that led to the breezeway. Steffan could barely control his emotions as they reached the door that opened to the passage. Eilian entered the code on the key pad as Steffan stood back in the darkened hall.
Slowly, the door opened.
Sunshine immediately filled the darken hall, and Steffan shielded his eyes momentarily as he adjusted to the sudden flood of light.
Eilian entered the light first and made his way to the middle of the breezeway.
“C’mon Steffan, let’s try this!”
Steffan took drawn out, methodical steps. He could feel the temperature change around him as he neared breezeway. He fought every pining instinct to retreat into the darkness for fear of the scorching pain that would consume him.
Cautiously, he entered the light.
One foot, one hand, he moved with calculation until they were totally engulfed by the sun.
He stilled and waited.
No fire from the sun. No burning in his veins. No pain.
Nothing.
He delved deeper, inch by inch. His corded, muscular frame was drenched in sunshine. And still, there was no pain. The warmth washed down his chilled body, and an undefined welcoming sensation enveloped him. It was a feeling he had almost forgotten.
Never before had he felt more human than this moment.
Suddenly, the light dissipated, taking its radiance and life with it. Steffan looked up at the sky in bitterness. A cloud floated leisurely by, consuming the brilliance. He tilted his head, evaluating the formation of the cloud, and smiled. Patiently he waited, the air heavy with expectation.
And there it was.
A beam of light penetrated through, striking its ray directly where Steffan stood. He closed his eyes, spread out his arms, leaned his head back, and let the light saturate him.
“Eilian! It’s working! My god, I haven’t felt this warmth for so long! This is amazing!”
“How do you feel?” Eilian asked with exuberance as he watched Steffan experience the sunlight for the first time as a vampire.
“Alive!” Steffan opened his eyes to look at Eilian. Tears dropped from his eyes.
Eilian backed up against the glass as Steffan began to run the length of the breezeway like a child. On his last pass, Steffan grabbed at Eilian’s shoulders and wrapped his arms around him. “Thank you, brother. Thank you.”
“Let’s get you inside. You need your rest. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. You’re going to meet your mate.”
Eilian and Steffan walked back into the darkened house side by side with their arms around each other’s necks.
“Let me try one more thing,” Steffan said as Eilian closed the door to the breezeway behind them.
Steffan carried himself to the great room with eagerness. Out of breath, he leaned against the long wall as he entered a code on the keypad. Simultaneously, the Roman shades in the great room retracted. The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the sunlight to spread like long fingers stretching across the dark, exotic wood floor.
Light spilled onto everything in the room, uncovering and highlighting areas one by one. The sculptures, antique furniture, rugs, and paintings all sparkled with brilliancy and vividness. The illumination accentuated the details of the Buddha carved from the granite boulder that jutted through the wall just above the modern fireplace. The décor’s palate of brown, sienna, gold, burnt orange, caramel, and moss created a fusion of color that cascaded up past the distressed wooden beams and bathed the ceilings in an earthy spice. Steffan relished the transformation of his interior as he walked toward the expanse of windows.
“This view is spectacular! Look at the penetration of vibrant colors and textures, the depth, the life out there. The mountains, they look so…so…animated. I never saw purple quite like that,” Steffan said in amazement as if looking at his surroundings for the very first time.
Steffan took a step back and situated himself on the carved daybed that sat in front of the windows. One by one, he slowly pulled his legs from the floor to his chest and crossed them in a seated position.
Eilian smiled as his eyes remained fixed on Steffan.
Steffan continued to scan, explore, and discover all of the new visions nature’s light afforded him. It was as if his eyes couldn’t keep up with his demands to see further and farther. He sighed in pure contentment as he let his arms rest on each side of his lap.
Eilian moved in to take a seat next to Steffan.
Both men closed their eyes, leaned their heads back, and allowed the sunlight to saturate them.
All was still in their exchange.
The silence was deafening.
“Steffan, I also examined the latest transgression reports on your behalf.” Eilian’s voiced pierced the quiet.
“And?” Steffan said, his eyes still remaining shut.
“Nothing of any notable interest, two mishaps with feeders and a recent case of a rogue near the reservoir in Woodland Park. The families already took care of the perpetrators while you were…indisposed. The rogue is still in the Nemesis as we speak. Anyway, M.J.’s team filed the reports as a suicide, a backcountry skiing accident, and in the case of the rogue, a wild animal attack.”
Steffan opened his eyes. “Let’s schedule the meeting with all of the families to discuss this latest rogue attack. We’ll want to get a handle on this before we start to cause panic in the community with reports of more and more mountain lion and bear attacks. I don’t want to place these animals in jeopardy once again when it’s none of their doing. It will also be good for the family to see me, to be reassured that I’m still in control and mindful of protecting our existence. ”
“Will do.”
“Has anyone asked about my condition?”
“Yes. Everyone had sensed you were on your quest. They’re all eager to meet your mate, when it’s time.”
Eilian placed his hand at either side and grasped the edge of the bench. “So when I had M.J. pull Anise’s report, I also had her pull IDs, legal filings, anything on Anise, Anya, and Ryan from the database.” Eilian paused and spoke softly, “Steffan, for some reason, we can’t get much on Anya, I had to piece a lot of it together myself. But from what I have read about her family background, she’s been through a lot of misfortune and heartbreak in her life.”
Steffan moved to let his feet rest on the floor.
He looked down at the floor, stricken with a stinging pain in his chest as he thought of his mate’s sadness. He remained with his chin resting against his chest as he readied to receive the information. “What happened to her, Eilian?”
“Anya has no family left. Her parents died in a helicopter crash when she was a freshman in college. After graduating, she married one of her father’s close colleagues. One year later, he too passed, of a brain aneurysm. Even though that was seven years ago, she only recently changed her name from Anya Somar back to Anya DeVera. She did this around the same t
ime Anise died in a car accident. Maybe she felt the need to retain her given name once again after she realized she was the only one left of her family.”
Steffan shook his head in disbelief. He walked to the windows and peered at the town saturated in sunlight.
“Eilian, how could one person go through so much pain and tragedy in their lifetime? She’s been on earth for only thirty-something years, and yet she’s experienced all that pain? How does this happen? Why does this happen?” Steffan closed his eyes. “I want her more than ever right now. I want to hold her and make her feel love and happiness. I want to shield her from ever feeling pain again.”
“Listen, Anise’s case—it was handled by the humans. Anise was a mortal with a clear cause of death, so M.J.’s team had to back off. The filed reports have accounts from eye witnesses at the crash scene. Anise was driving along the interstate when the tire on the car traveling in front of her had a blowout. To avoid hitting the car, she swerved out of the way, but ended up slamming into the concrete median head-on instead. Anise died instantly upon impact and the vehicle burst into flames, burning her body. Dental records identified her charred remains. Get this. The report also states that her fiancé, Ryan Evans, could not be reached for notification and they also learned from his business associates that he mysteriously went missing weeks earlier. We’re gonna have to get him back out in public soon to clear this part up.”
Eilian stood up and walked toward the windows. As he gazed at the view, he asked, “So now that you know everything about her past, do you think the choice will be easier for you?”
Steffan slipped his hands deep in his pockets, his eyes glistening in the sun as he spoke. “Our connection to each other is very strong. I have no doubt that once she understands who and what I am, she will still choose to become my mate, an immortal, of her own free will. For me, knowing that she’s out there all alone makes the decision of claiming her easier to accept.”
Chapter Eight
She stood there stripped, almost bare.
He insisted that she remain in her black high heels and black lace thong. A cascade of pearls maneuvered their way between her plump breasts and came to rest at various lengths along the span of her bare chest and navel. A black silk scarf rested gently over her eyes. The smooth fabric smelled of lavender and combined delicately with the spicy aromatic release of the incense suspended in the room.
She stood still, delighting in the way her senses were finely tuned, compensating for her temporary lack of sight. A gentle wind coiled around her and dissipated slowly, imparting her body with a tingling sensation.
Then she felt the heat of his scorching eyes fixate on her from every direction.
She was entranced by his rhythmic gait radiating completely around her as his heavy breathing accentuated his cadence. She was the exposed prey being methodically encircled by a ravenous beast. The thought of her weakness in his dominance was stimulating.
What is he going to do me?
Her body swayed. Her legs shuddered in their place. Every shard of concentration she had left was summoned to the balls of her feet as she fought to keep herself balanced and stable.
Suddenly, the pacing movements stopped dead in their tracks. She felt his heavy breath releasing behind her like a hungry creature ready to pounce. The heat radiating from his body tingled her backside. It seemed like an eternity that he stood there motionless, without a word, calculating his attack. She directed her focus on the ethereal flavor of the instrumental piece softly playing in the room as she awaited his touch.
The music was his parallel, sensual and mesmerizing.
He lightly swept back her long, silky hair and laid it to rest on her back, exposing her neck and shoulders. The movement caused the back of his hand to caress the sensitive flesh behind her neck and sent her into a quiver.
His fingertips landed on the top of her hands.
Slowly, he traced her skin, up her hand and through the length of her arm with a feather-like touch until his strong hands came to rest, cupping the tips of her shoulders. She drew in heavy, swift breaths. Her nipples hardened at his touch.
Her flesh was tender, her knees weak. The intense sexual arousal, the pure eroticism of their connection, was consuming.
The simplicity of his touch, his breath, his scent was enough to send her over the edge. The encounter with this man was unlike anything she’d experienced in her life. He was so in tune with what her body craved, little things really, a touch here, a rasp there. He knew the level of intensity he wanted to flood her with, sending her into overdrive. It was like he was made just for her and her for him. Ultimate satisfaction, nothing left unexplored, no one left unfilled. All that remained was longing for more.
In one fluid motion, he bent over, dipping his head into her and slowly kissed the column of her exposed neck. A moan escaped her lips as a shot of numbing electricity penetrated her, traveling from his kiss down to her toes. He released her neck and moved to the opposite side, planting his warm, wet kisses from the crease of her neck up behind her ear.
This sensation was overwhelming.
Goosebumps spread like wildfire all through her body. A spasm erupted in the pit of her stomach and rippled its way down to her pelvis. Her toes curled in a spontaneous response. She rocked her hips gently to spread the moisture being released between her legs.
He pressed his body to mold against her backside as he entwined his fingers into hers. Gradually, he raised her arms above her head, splaying her in all of her vulnerability. He released a lustful breath in her ear as he worked his hardness against her, gently grinding his hips up along the curves of her ample rear. With her arms fully extended, he slid his hands down the length of her inner arm, causing the sensitive skin to shudder under his touch. Tenderly, he bent her elbows and wrapped her arms around his neck until her back was fully arched. She leaned her head back against him, allowing him to take in her image in its most uninhibited and raw form.
She was entranced with the way her body and her mind naturally responded to him.
She released a sudden gasp as he cupped her breasts. He gently squeezed and kneaded her mounds, massaging her hardened nipples between his fingertips. His tender touch became increasingly needful with every second. His fingers slowed their worship on her and dug deeper, seizing a wider grasp with great intensity.
His breath was hot against her skin and slowly shifted into animalistic pants. Suddenly he released a delicious moan in her ear that set off a wild release that saturated her thong with marked wetness.
He rocked harder and harder against her. His masculine hands seized each side of her rib cage, his control slowly unraveling.
He spread his fingers and pressed his flat palms firmly against her as he crisscrossed over and down the length of her abdomen with intense need. He pushed down on her back, bending her over until her firm, plump ass pressed against his hardness. He held on to her shoulders and ground obsessively into her.
He fisted the material of her thong as she remained bent over, holding on to the sides of the floor-length mirror for support.
The sound of fabric tearing with his insatiable need was electrifying.
The material hit the floor and her lace thong was nothing but small remnants of an unidentified garment.
He was losing his control. A ravenous beast now stood next to her.
The heat of his body faded in an instant as the blindfold knot released behind her head. The black silk scarf fell to the floor. She turned around, gasping for breath and found him standing with his bare back facing her. He stood barefoot and breathless with his hands tucked in the pocket of his black trousers, trying to regain his composure.
The canopy that suspended high over the bed sent white fabric pouring down from the ceiling, pooling to the floor. The waterfall of sheer fabric floated around the room with the evening breeze, seemingly in a dance to the music that resonated through the room.
She walked to him, her heels echoing and signaling her path
to him. She was untamed in her approach. This was no time for him to fight for self-control. She wanted to release the beast inside him. She needed him to occupy every space in her mind, body, and soul.
He released his hands from his pockets and dropped them to his side in anticipation of her assault.
She pressed her breasts up against his bare back and grasped his hips. She traced her hardened nipples up and down his moistened back and took a deep breath.
His scent was intoxicating, a mixture of spicy musk with a subtle hint of clean citrus.
Her crafty hands reached in front of him, unfastening his belt buckle slowly. As the leather pieces of the belt separated from each other, she ran her hands against his engorged shaft that was pressing against the trouser material. He let out a deep moan and drew his head back. She slowly slipped the zipper of his trousers down and moved to undo the button that secured the garment to his hips. The trousers fell abruptly to the ground. He stepped out of the material, his bare foot kicking away the garment with unrestrained urgency. She tucked her fingers under the elastic band of his form-fitting, black briefs, encircling her fingers around his waist until they met. She inched the material downward, carefully maneuvering the material over the thickness of his shaft.
He stood there, stripped, completely bare.
She took a step back to admire his breathtaking form.
The defined muscles cut in and out of his back, the broadness of his shoulders emphasized by his tight rib cage and slender waist. His buttocks were sculpted, displaying two perfect round forms.
Deep-black tattoos decorated each arm, accenting his chiseled muscles that were proportionately gratifying and breathtaking. A weave of geometric lines deliciously encircled his left bicep. An endless loop without beginning or end, the tattoo seemed to define a junction of unity and eternity. On his right, a shield was prominently on display. A series of intricate contours delicately traced the symbol, the design lending to the form of a winged creature.
