by Maya DeLeina
“Got it,” Anya said.
“If at any time, you want me to slow down, tap my back twice, gently.”
Anya tapped his back twice in response.
“Yup, just like that.”
“Roger,” Anya said as she dismounted the bike, followed by Steffan.
“Make sure you never shift your weight or make sudden moves and always keep your feet on the foot rests, even if we’re stopped, to keep the bike in balance,” Steffan said as Anya nodded in response.
Steffan mentally went over things in his head to see if he had left anything out. “And brace yourself when I’m coming to a stop. Your head will have the natural tendency to move forward, so for the sake of our heads, try not to bang our helmets together. For the sake of your ass, when we go over potholes or big bumps, stand on the foot rest with your knees slightly bent and allow them to absorb the shock. I’ll do my—”
“Good god man, can’t we just ride already?” Anya blurted as she interrupted Steffan from his long, drawn-out speech.
Steffan laughed as he reached for Anya’s helmet and fixed it on her head, adjusting the chin straps, “Yes ma’am!”
Steffan wrapped up a blanket and tucked it into one side of the saddlebag. On the opposite side, he placed a silver, cylindrical object in the bag followed by another larger blanket. He straddled the bike and started the engine. He reached behind and tapped the seat to motion Anya to straddle the bike. He tilted his head sideways to communicate with Anya. “Hold on to my waist and enjoy the ride. I’ll do a couple of spins down the street so you can get comfortable with the feel.”
Anya nodded in response, and Steffan put on his helmet and zipped up his black jacket.
The garage door opened. The motorcycle pierced through the stillness of the calm night air.
Steffan shot a gloved thumbs-up in the air to see if Anya was ready. From the corner of his eye, he saw Anya shoot a thumbs-up in response.
Steffan pulled out of the garage slowly.
He made his way down the cobblestone driveway and picked up speed as he hit the residential street. He felt Anya cling tighter to his waist as he accelerated.
They rode up and down the street.
Anya flashed a big grin at Steffan as he stopped the bike and turned to look at her.
“You like the cruiser! I knew you would!” Steffan yelled over the roaring noise of the engine
“Very comfy. You were right! But I would still like to try the fast boys one day.”
Steffan nodded in response. “Ready, my love? You feel comfortable?”
“Ready!” Anya shot and enthusiastic thumbs-up.
* * * *
From the confines of their home, Eilian and Catrin were the first at the windows to see what all the commotion was outside.
“Anya said yes!” Eilian sighed in relief and turned to Catrin, smiling. They remained at the window, watching the two lovers enjoy their time together.
“For all of the happiness he has tried to create for the family, he deserves this happiness of his own,” Catrin said as she nodded in approval of Steffan and Anya’s union.
* * * *
Ryan’s head was buried between the legs of a beautiful brunette as he ravished her core. In the distance, he caught the low rumble of the motorcycle and released his hold on the woman.
“Hey! Come back here! You’re not finished,” screamed the woman in disappointment.
Ryan shot a hand at her without the courtesy of a single word or glance. He stepped to the window and watched as the motorcycle made its way down the street. The passenger got off the bike to unlock the keypad and manually entered the code to open the entry gates since the guards were off duty. Ryan’s sharp eyesight fixed on the passenger.
It was Anya. He looked at the driver. It was Steffan.
Ryan let out a low growl as he watched Steffan and Anya ride past the gates of Ambrose Heights.
“Hey, guy, we doing this or not?” said the woman, naked on Ryan’s leather chair, her legs spread over the arms of the chair.
Ryan turned from the window and walked slowly to his bed. He snapped his fingers, and the woman scurried off the recliner toward him in response. She kissed his bare chest and moved her way up to his mouth. He grabbed her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.
He was ravenous with desire.
The woman was absolutely stunning with her long hair and piercing, gray eyes.
But she was not Anya.
He longed to feel Anya’s touch, to be consumed by her rapture. He closed his eyes tightly and saw images of Anya.
“Anya,” Ryan whispered in a ragged breath.
“What?” questioned the brunette.
Before she could voice a correction of her name, Ryan turned her around and bent her over the side of the bed. He entered from behind without care, grinding himself deep and fast inside her. She tried to adjust her position out of the need for comfort from his forceful demand on her. Ryan placed his hand on her back and held her down to the bed. “Don’t move,” he demanded. He kicked her legs farther apart and drove harder into her. His breath was sharp and fast. “Anya,” he shouted as he released inside her. His body shuddered.
“Christy. My name is Christy. I’m not Anya,” the woman said sternly as she adjusted to a sitting position on the bed.
“I know,” Ryan said as he held on to the side of the bed, trying to regain his normal breathing pattern. He walked to the closet and slipped on a pair of sleeping pants that hung on the back of the door.
“What, that’s it? You got what you wanted and nothing for me?”
“Out.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“You said it yourself. You’re not Anya.”
“You’re not going to be a gentleman and at least walk me to the car? And this placed is gated! I don’t even know the code!”
“The code is on the piece of paper next to your purse. Good night,” Ryan said coldly as he slipped under the covers of his bed and turned his back to Christy.
“You’re a fucking jerk!” The woman yelled as she collected clothes and belongings and slammed the bedroom door behind her.
* * * *
They rounded the bend, sharing the road with no one.
The moonlight glistened on the vast reservoir. The snow-covered peaks glowed against the backdrop of the darkened sky. Anya had never felt more in sync with anyone like she did with Steffan. She reacted effortlessly in her motions as he had taught her. Although the darkness hampered her ability to see the curvature of the road, she was able to anticipate his every movement, sense his gauge of the street. They rolled through the dense forest as it gave way to a stretch of what appeared to be a tree graveyard, the apparent victims of a devastating fire. Contorted, bare branches extended from the trunks, resembling skeletal fingers reaching for the skies. Deep contrasts of black charring and bleached bark dotted the landscape.
Further into their journey, the terrain altered dramatically. Paved road gave way to gravel. The path was laden with pinkish-red hues. They ascended above the lushness of the tree line, surrounded now by jagged rocks and gravelly earth that looked like the landscape of the moon. The canopy of stars was vibrant, no artificial light sources to dull their brilliancy. Even in the fading night sky, they sparkled like diamonds.
It was a little before 6:00 a.m. when Steffan spotted a perfect area to watch the sunrise. They dismounted the bike and absorbed the splendors of the alpine wonderland.
Anya’s breathing was labored in the altitude.
“Are you feeling okay?” Steffan asked with concern.
“I was afraid of this. I thought living in Ambrose Heights, I would be more acclimated.”
“Altitude sickness?”
Anya nodded as she braced her hands on her knees and bent over slightly. “It will take me a few minutes to adjust.”
Anya tingled with ice-cold perspiration. Her flesh was tender. Her knees felt weak. The pins-and-needles sensation ran up and down her arms and legs
.
Reaching into the saddlebag, Steffan unscrewed the lid from a silver thermos.
“Here, drink this slowly.”
Anya reached out for the thermos and sipped the liquid.
“Your wine!” she exclaimed as the exquisite taste rang familiar on her lips. “I thought alcohol wasn’t good for altitude sickness?”
“It’s my blood that you need. It’ll help you adapt.”
Anya took another sip. “I’m feeling better—not so queasy anymore.” Anya shook her free arm and lifted her legs, alternating on each side. “And my legs and arms don’t feel like dead weights either.”
Steffan carried the blankets as they made their way to a special outcropping of rocks that he could clearly distinguish in the darkness. Steffan held on to Anya, guiding her down the unlit path, sheer drop-offs within inches of her footsteps.
Anya clung to the thermos that held her special elixir. “Why would vampire blood help me adapt to the altitude?”
“My blood helped you because the drop in oxygen is actually at the perfect percentage for vampire blood cells. Even suspended in the wine, my blood shifted as we climbed in altitude, providing you with the same healing mechanisms as if it were running through your veins.”
Steffan laid out the small blanket on the flat rock and sat down. Anya took her usual place in between Steffan’s legs as he cocooned them in the large blanket.
“Since our bodies can no longer digest food, we don’t release toxins in the blood that come from food consumption. Oxygen isn’t needed for detoxification. And since we cannot get sick, we don’t need oxygen to support our immune system. The right percentage of oxygen intake strengthens our concentration and alertness and rejuvenates our inherited abilities. Too much oxygen does exactly the opposite. Our bloodstream and tissues simply cannot process the overload of oxygen energy. This is why we always choose to live in or near mountains as permanent residences.”
Anya was in lost in amazement. Her thoughts swirled with all of the possibilities her new life as a vampire was going to soon afford her. She was so engulfed in thought that she didn’t realize the show was about to start.
“It’s starting, Anya!” Steffan said in excitement as he pulled Anya closer into his body.
Above, the darkened sky slowly settled into a light shade of gray. In front of them, the horizon was on fire. Bursts of orange and gold shot through the depths and vibrated against the elongated clouds that hovered above. The horizon was immense and infinite. Anya turned to look up at Steffan. He sat quiet and wide eyed, the glow illuminating the silver in his eyes.
The fire in the sky grew deeper. The faint outline of a shimmering disc permeated the murkiness. Like a piece of coal on fire, it sat teetering on the edge of darkness, slowly revealing its mystery. Time seemed to suspend. Everything was in harmony. All was at perfect peace.
It was the hush in the birth of a new day.
The ascent continued, sending the heavens ablaze in red, gold, and orange as the cotton-like clouds below swam in an ocean of blue and purple. As the rise reached its pinnacle, long orange rays stretched down to the earth and a spark of purple shot across the horizon.
Suddenly, the newness of light revealed itself, affording the day with endless possibilities.
“It’s been some time since I’ve seen the sun rise. But none of the recollections I’ve held on to could ever compare to this,” said Steffan.
Chapter Sixteen
Ryan watched as they slept.
He crouched in front of Anya’s lying form, his eyes devouring her. Anya was on her side, her arm extended beneath her, allowing it to suspend in the air off of the mattress. The thin white sheets clung to the curve of her hip. Her bare breasts were left exposed. Her delicious smile left Ryan’s thoughts to wander on the subject of her dream. He longed to touch her. He couldn’t take it anymore. He gently pressed his flesh against Anya’s fingertips. He slid his bare chest up and down, delighting in the feel of her caress. He carefully extended his reach toward Anya’s exposed nipple when Steffan suddenly stirred in the bed.
Ryan quickly retreated to the corner of the room.
Steffan’s eyes remained closed as he rolled over and molded his nude body next to Anya. He extended his arm, placing his hand on her hip and motioned her to come closer into him. He kissed her bare shoulder. Anya adjusted her body to shape against his. With her eyes shut, she moved Steffan’s hand from her hip to rest around her waist.
“I love you, Steffan,” Anya whispered in her dream state.
“Love you, Anya,” Steffan responded.
Ryan exited slowly from the bedroom. He was consumed with anger and rage. Steffan had interrupted his quiet exchange with Anya.
Heneeds to be out of the picture, thought Ryan as he made his way through the tunnel system leading him back to his house. His breathing was labored and rough. If only Steffan would release his hold on her, he was sure he could make Anya fall in love with him. After all, he was handsome, rich, and successful.
But so was Steffan. And on top of that, Steffan had one up on him. He was the leader of the family.
Ryan’s anger intensified.
What kind of spell did he cast on her?
After all, the destiny of fated mates was all talk as far as he was concerned. He felt no bond with anyone in the family, no connection. He thought differently from everyone, he reacted differently than everyone. He was truly an outsider. They could tell him anything and he would be gullible enough to believe it.
But not this time.
He darted for his master bath and removed his pants with a sense of urgency. He reached into the shower stall and turned the setting on full blast. The rain shower suspended from the ceiling cast a simulation of a torrential downpour. Ryan slipped under the cascade of water, letting massaging droplets envelope him. He closed his eyes, and there she was. Anya was lying in front of him. The white silk sheets casually covered her bronzed body, offering him brief views of her exposed flesh. He reached for the sheet and slowly slipped it from her body. Every curve, every dip of her voluptuous body was deliciously revealed. His hand hovered over her, tracing her outline. He was shaking with anticipation for their flesh-on-flesh contact. He lowered his hand to her ankle, soaking in the feel of her warm, smooth skin. Methodically, he glided his hand upward to her thighs, over her hips and rounded her plump bottom.
Ryan moved one of his hands from the shower wall and reached down to grab a hold of his hardness. His exchange with Anya played out in his imagination in vivid detail. He stroked himself rhythmically as he parted his lips and released a deep breath. The force of the water plastered his hair along the outline of his face, creating rivers that streamed down the curve of his jaw and chin, dropping to the pool that collected at his feet. He stood with his legs spread out in the shower. He stroked himself faster. His palm flattened against the tile, his arm taking the brunt of his body weight, steadying himself as his legs shook uncontrollably. He cried out in a thunderous moan as he shot his release.
* * * *
It was 2:00 p.m. when Ryan made his first appearance at his company’s newly located office in Denver.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Evans, welcome,” greeted Rita, the receptionist who manned the front desk of RPE Investment Advisors. “It’s a pleasure having you back. I’ll let Mr. Adams know you’re here.” The receptionist flashed Ryan a wide smile as her eyes fluttered about.
“Ryan, good to have you back, buddy. We were all worried sick about you.” Dale put his arm around Ryan and patted his back.
“Thanks, Dale. It’s good to be back.”
“We’re sorry about Anise. She was a beauty, Ryan. She was so sophisticated, exquisite, a real gem. How you holding up?” Dale shot a look of concern as he spoke.
Ryan shook his head, not quite knowing how to respond. Why can’t I remember her?
From the look on Dale’s face, she’d obviously been an object of lust. He had probably once been envied by all men with Anise at his side. Now,
their eyes would cast on him, full of pity and sympathy.
The rage inside him churned.
These last few months, Ryan had been reduced to a shell of vulnerability and weakness as a newborn vampire. He wanted to regain all that was taken when Steffan turned him. He wanted his status and power back.
But most of all, he wanted to feel envious eyes on him once again.
Anya and Anise, they were identical twins. Anya could be the key, a way to afford him the envy he longed for, and maybe with her by his side, he could regain all that he’d lost.
There was no mistake. Ryan was going to make Steffan suffer through the loss of Anya, just as he suffered the loss of Anise. After all, he hadn’t chosen this existence for his life, Steffan had made the choice for him.
It was all Steffan’s doing.
The men walked down the hall. Ryan effortlessly greeted each staff by name. After the mass enthrallment yesterday, Eilian had provided Ryan with pictures and names of his staff to study, and he delighted that his memory recall was playing out so seamlessly. “How is everything going here? Bring me up to speed. Where’s my office?” Ryan asked impatiently.
“It’s right this way.” Dale motioned as they walked down to the end of the hall. “Well, we retained our client base and all of our partners, but that didn’t come without challenges. Also, we couldn’t take on anymore clients. They all wanted to see you for the initial consultation. We had bills to pay, and without new client revenue coming in and not knowing what happened to you, we had no choice but to close the Springs office and work with existing clients by phone and internet.”
Ryan entered his office as Dale hung back, allowing Ryan to absorb the opulence of his private space. Steffan had spared no expense with outfitting the room. It was twice the size of his old office. The floor-to-ceiling, glass windows boasted unobstructed views of the cityscape and the mountain range in the distance. A flat-screen TV hovered on the wall above an electric fireplace clad in granite. A fifty-gallon saltwater fish tank served as a separator between the conversation area and his work area. The distinctive scent of new leather permeated the air. Ryan took a seat and sank deep into his leather wingbacked chair. “You did what you had to do, Dale, and we stayed afloat. So, how was everything explained? My absence, the office closing?”
