He picked his head up, his blue eyes meeting mine. “You are heading back to your room, yes? You should not roam alone without an escort, Lady.”
I didn’t see where that was any of his business, but he’d saved me from the jerk from the coffee shop. “Yes.”
“It is good to see some of the old traditions still alive. Too many humans feel the Oath is not worth taking today, that wearing the choker demeans them. It warms this old heart to see that there are still some beautiful women who are not afraid to truly give themselves to a man.” He paused. “Go. My man will shadow you until you reach the lobby.”
* * * *
As I showered off in the room, I bitched at myself for impulsively going off alone when I should have stayed there. The suite was silent enough now.
I dressed in the red silk sheath, unpinned my hair, and lay down to wait. Danial came in a few moments later, exhausted. When he saw me waiting for him, he perked right up.
“Give me a few minutes to shower.”
A few minutes later, he was back, a towel wrapped around him, his wet hair falling to his shoulders. Then he was in my arms, his lips burning as he passionately kissed me. He molded my body to his, and I let out a moan, feeling him moving so insistently against me. He slid the straps of my sheath down as his fangs brushed my scars.
I wrapped my hand tightly around him, making him gasp. I stroked him, rubbing with my thumb, and he responded by taking my breast in his mouth. It was then my turn to stiffen and gasp. His hands caressed up and down my body.
He suddenly reached down and pushed up my sheath as he sat me on top of him. The silk whispered over my hips as he pulled my legs apart to straddle him.
“Tell me you want me,” he whispered. “Tell me I’m all you want.”
“Yes.”
He entered as I moved my hips to meet him. He was so warm, I felt as if I were melting. We didn’t last long. I came first, screaming my pleasure. As it ebbed, he kissed me again, then rolled us over to resume thrusting. A moment later, the warm rush of him filled me as he cried out his release.
He rolled off and pulled me to him, spooning me. “You’re all I want, too,” he said lovingly. “Rest with me.”
I awoke some time later to find him kissing my face.
“Did you have a good time today?” he said affectionately.
“I had a great time.”
I began describing it, getting to the part about Hazel Eyes, when he stopped me. “I have something for you. I forgot when I saw you in bed, waiting for me.” He got up and came back with a bag. “Open it.”
“What’s this?”
“Open it,” he said with a wide smile.
I opened the small bag. Inside was a box; more precisely, a square velvet box. I knew what boxes this size and shape usually contained.
I drew it out and carefully opened it. Inside was a diamond ring, a half carat set in white gold. Three strands of gold were woven over and under the diamond, as if magic held it in place.
“It’s a tension setting. I had it designed for you. I tried to choose something that wouldn’t hamper you, no matter what the activity. Do you like it?”
“I love it!” I said excitedly, giving him a big kiss.
He beamed and put it on my ring finger. I watched it wink in the light for a few minutes, stunned. I’d never expected to have another diamond ring on that hand.
“Why’d you give this to me?” I asked. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“No, but you’ve been so accepting of my customs that I wanted to do this for you. You have friends and family that will want to know I’m serious about you. You can’t tell them about the Oath or what the choker means. They’ll understand this. When you Oath to me, I’ll give you a gold band to wear, if that’s what you want. And I’ll honor you under the Oath the way a married man honors his wife.”
Now was as good a time as any to ask him. It wasn’t going to get any easier. “Do you want me to keep my scars? I know they mean something more than bite marks.”
“Coupled with the choker, they are the sign of an Oathed human,” he said just as carefully. “If you want me to remove them, I will. I know we are not Oathed yet and—”
“I’ll keep them for you,” I said softly.
He looked at me for a moment, then said with heat and passion, “I love you, Sar.”
I opened my mouth to say it back, but he cut me off with a kiss. Then he was inside me again, but this time he was tender, gentle, as he hadn’t been before. He made love slowly and it went on until I thought I might go crazy with sensation. The length of him sliding inside, the muscles of his chest contracting, his lips kissing my neck, his hands cupping my breasts…
The orgasm broke over us like a wave, my voice joining his. We held each other tightly as we both spasmed a little.
As our breathing slowly returned to normal, I remembered Hazel Eyes. “I need to tell you something.”
For once, he didn’t seem wary of what I might say. “What is it, dear heart?”
I told him everything. He was angry over what Hazel Eyes had said to me, but when I mentioned the vampire, he became worried. “What did he look like?”
I described the vampire.
Danial shook his head. “That description fits more than a dozen vampires I know. Did he say a name?”
“No. He told me to be silent. I left as soon as I could.”
“What did he do? Tell me everything again, word for word.”
I repeated my story.
“He must have been old, at least as old as me,” he said. “But I don’t know anyone that old fitting his description who would be here now.” He hugged me to him “I’m glad you weren’t harmed by that jerk and for the intercession on your behalf. But no more leaving the room alone while we’re traveling—”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
* * * *
When Danial and I woke, it was time to go. We checked out, and Theo drove us to the airport.
As Danial and I boarded the plane, I looked back to see Tawny and Theo saying good-bye. He hugged her, and a tear on her cheek shined in the nearby hanger lights. It was clearly more than good sex to her. Maybe that was why he refused to go out west when Danial had asked him to go. I wanted to ask her why she didn’t come back to the States with us, but I knew enough to mind my own business.
* * * *
The next weeks passed quickly. With a lot of effort, Danial and I made it work. Yet there were a couple of setbacks.
One came when he tasted me the first time since I’d moved in with him. We’d begun to kiss and he’d done that move, cutting me. With a cry, I jerked back, hitting my head on the wall.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, shocked.
“It hurt,” I said, scared.
“It shouldn’t,” he said nervously. “I made only a little cut.”
His nervousness frightened me. “Try biting me instead.”
We resumed our love play. When I relaxed enough, he bit shallowly. I shrieked this time, and he immediately withdrew his fangs, holding his mouth over the wound. I knew by the pain going away that he’d given me blood to heal the wounds.
I began to cry. Giving him my blood was important to both of us. If he couldn’t do it without pain, he wouldn’t enjoy it—and neither would I.
“Shh, don’t cry,” he said, hugging me. “We have one more thing we can try.”
He made love to me. When I came, he bit shallowly again. There was some pain, but it was hardly noticeable in the deliciousness of the orgasm.
“I’ll only take your blood like this from now on. I don’t want you to hurt sharing blood with me.”
“Why is this happening?” I asked. “Why now?”
“It happens sometimes. If a vampire bites the same person repeatedly that person can develop a resistance to the numbing component in vampire saliva. But the blood always works. I’ll always be able to heal you and take the pain away. Don’t worry, okay?”
The
weeks went past and Danial refused to bite me again, saying he wanted to wait until Doctor Camlyn pronounced me healthy. I knew he loved me and was concerned, but I suspected that he was worried I’d leave him now.
The second and more insidious problem in living with Danial was my indolence.
The first few weeks were heaven, and I basked in my free time; reading for hours, baking complex desserts or watching the entire trilogy of the Lord of the Rings in one sitting. But soon, I began to feel like a true concubine must have felt; tasked with only one real duty. When something broke, I didn’t have to fix it. Nor did I have to worry about anything serious, because now that was Danial’s job. I’d always been self-reliant. Relying on someone else for everything that mattered felt alien. Was this really how I wanted to spend the rest of my life? Was this all I wanted to achieve?
I avoided thinking about that, telling myself I didn’t have to decide anytime soon. Danial had said I could take my time to give myself to him as long as I chose to show the world that I was his. It was a given that he expected my oath eventually. He was very proud, and I knew it pricked him that I wasn’t truly his yet.
Then there were the women, his donors. They were never in our bed and I didn’t usually see them. Angelica was the one I wanted to avoid the most. Unfortunately, she didn’t feel that way.
I was reading in the great room one December night. Engrossed in my book, I didn’t hear her ascend from the basement stairs until she was in front of me.
“Hello, Sarelle.” Her voice was sexy and threaded with lust.
I looked up. Like the last time, she held a gauze pad to her neck and wore a low-cut dress and spike heels. But I couldn’t expect her to wear a fleece sweatshirt, could I? No, that would only be appropriate for cold weather, like the snowstorm raging outside.
“Since we’ve already met, I wanted to be polite. How are you?”
I tried not to be petty. Sure, she was a bitch, but most decorous women were to women unlike themselves. She was only there for an hour a month when Danial needed her blood. I held my tongue, closed my book with a snap and made sure the light caught my ring sparkling on my finger. “Hello, Angelica.”
“I hope you don't mind sharing your man with me,” she said lightly. Her smile slipped a little, revealing the envy underneath.
“I’m thankful for what you and the others give him,” I said, trying to keep my smile in place.
“I’m surprised you’re so understanding. I might not be.”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand you completely,” I said coldly. “So does Danial.”
He called out for her from downstairs. With a smirk, she went back down. One of the SUVs started out back.
Danial came upstairs. “I’m sorry she said that. I don’t have to see her again if—”
I put my book down. “Don’t be sorry. What she said was true for her. What I told her was true for me.”
“You aren’t upset?”
“This is part of being with you.” I wasn’t really upset, just irked. “You were open about it. I trust you.”
“Frankly, I thought you’d ask me before now to switch to animal or packaged blood. I thought we’d have our first fight over that. I’ve been worried about it all month.”
I laughed a little, which only confused him.
“I wouldn’t want to eat only cake made from fat-free chocolate substitute or drink water instead of wine. This is your life and you only get to eat one thing, so you should get the best. You told me fresh tastes best. I just prefer not to watch or meet your donors.”
He took my hand. “I know you’re still worried about the potions. I’ve told you, I only have enough of both for the rest of this month. Then we’ll decide whether to get more. You’re the one I’m worried about.”
“Why? My doctor’s appointment went well. My blood levels were okay. Camlyn said if I kept taking the vitamins, I’d be fine. I’m just sorry you’re no closer to your goal.”
“What goal?” he asked uneasily.
“Making vampires, or understanding why you can’t and Devlin can.”
“It’s more of a hobby than a goal,” he said with a shrug. “Speaking of Devlin, that was him on the phone.” He paused. “Ryan is dead. Devlin killed him tonight. There will be no more curses.”
I would rather hear that Devlin had been killed. The curses had been his doing really, not Ryan’s. “That’s thoughtful of him. He’s not planning on visiting, is he?”
“No. He’s forbidden from coming here. But forget about him. Why don’t we go out tonight? See a movie or go dancing?”
“Was there anything you had in mind?”
“Not really. But we haven’t gone out for a while, and you haven’t come with me on any more trips. I enjoy taking you out.”
“Whatever you’d like, I’m up for a movie or dancing.”
“I vote for dancing. Say the Haunt?”
“Give me a half hour. I have a surprise for you.”
We had a great time. Tatiana was overjoyed to see us, giving each of us a hug before escorting us to the table we’d sat at a month and a half ago. We danced and talked, sharing how self-conscious we’d been that night.
“So you liked my surprise?” I teased.
“I love the dress,” he said, getting to his feet and extending his hand. “Red becomes you. Dance with me.”
The strains of Lady in Red began. Blushing, I joined him on the floor. As we danced, he sang some of the words to me. At the end of the song, he held me close to whisper, “My lady in red, I love you.”
Driving home that night, I almost told him that I was ready to give him my Oath. But I wanted it to be special, not tell him as we were driving home. So I only told him I loved him and he told me the same.
Later that night, as I prepared for bed, I wondered if I was afraid to commit. I’d put off forwarding my mail or bringing my cats there to live, telling myself it was too soon. It seemed too fast to commit my life to someone after only two months, but how long would be enough? I was happy living with Danial. My old life seemed a black hole of loneliness in comparison. What was I waiting for?
* * * *
Danial announced the night before Christmas Eve that Aran had asked Cia to be his mate and they would be moving back to the communal bunker. “The date for the ceremony is New Year’s.”
“I’m happy for them.”
“Don’t worry. Suri volunteered to watch over your house for the winter.”
Later that night, I decided that was the sign I’d been waiting for. Christmas Eve would be the perfect time to break the news.
* * * *
Christmas Eve visiting my parents went better than expected.
I’d spoken to my mother every few days but I’d wanted to tell her about the ring face to face. When we came in, I made sure to display it prominently.
“Sarelle, you have a ring!” She almost elbowed Danial into the TV trying to get to me fast enough. “It’s beautiful.
“He asked me to marry him.” I winced at the lie, and then told myself it was close to truth.
Chris broke out the scotch to celebrate, and we all had a toast. I clinked my glass with Danial’s, seeing their happy faces and listening to them making plans.
“Happy?” he whispered.
“Very.”
* * * *
Later that night, he and I sat by the blinking Christmas tree in the great room. Suri and the other foxes had helped me put it up earlier that day. I’d brought some lights from home, but others I’d made with the help of Ivan, Janice, and Demetri: popcorn strings, cookie ornaments, pinecones, and various nuts and feathers.
Theo had declined to help, saying he had work to do. He’d come in with a golden star when we were almost done, and I’d seen the pleasure in his face when he’d put it on top. By the time I’d turned to ask him about it, he was already gone.
He’d been distant to me ever since I’d moved in. The few times we’d needed to talk, he’d been polite but short. I wonder
ed if seeing Danial and me so much in love hurt, if he remembered Tawny and missed her.
“You look tense,” Danial said. “I can fix that. Slide your feet this way.”
He proceeded to give me a foot massage. I writhed in pleasure and uttered moans as he eased all my tensions with the deft manipulation from his strong hands.
“Is there anything you aren’t good at?” I asked, sighing with contentment.
“Not many things,” he said immodestly.
I laughed. He tickled my foot, and I shrieked. Ghost and Darkness looked up, decided it was nothing important, and laid their heads down again.
“I have something for you,” he said. “Look under the tree.”
“Really, Danial, you give me too much as it is—”
“Shh,” he said holding his finger to my lips. “I’ll get it.”
He got up and retrieved a gift bag from the tree’s base. “Open it.”
I opened the package and took out a beautiful black velvet robe. As I slipped it on over my nightgown, I felt something in the pocket. It was red velvet box, containing a pair of stunning gold earrings. I fingered the choker at my neck with the same symbol: the gold fox head, ruby eyes glinting.
“They’re beautiful,” I said, giving him a kiss. “Thank you.”
“Put them on.”
I removed my gold nugget earrings and slipped on the others.
“They look lovely. See for yourself.”
Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, I thought it might be too much. Between the scars, the choker, and the fox earrings, I felt like I had a sign on my forehead that said “Danial’s” in huge letters. The ruby eyes winked at me in the light and I moved my head to make them flash and sparkle. “They’re beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them,” he called from the great room.
I paused before the mirror. This was it, the moment I’d planned on telling him I would swear to be his. Like before, my uncertainties arose. I couldn’t ever leave him if I did. Ever. Was I that sure?
Words my friend Kat had spoken earlier that week over our holiday celebration lunch came back to me. Why haven’t you told him you’ll marry him? Are you crazy? You love him; he loves you, he’s rich and he’s gorgeous! How can you even have to think about it?
Promise Me Page 29
