Conversion Book Three: 'Til Death

by S. C. Stephens

  His hand started rubbing a circle into my hip. It made a jolt of desire flash through me. He leaned in, inhaling deeply. “Yes, please.” I wasn’t sure if I was responding to his statement, or the unasked question our bodies were starting to ask.

  Alone time with children was a tricky thing. Especially when those children were super fast and had amazing hearing. Plus, they always knew where we were, thanks to the bond, and since we were their favorite people to be around, that usually meant…they were around. It had been awhile since Teren and I had been truly alone. And as they were preoccupied in the house with the other vampires, we had a bit of time.

  A growl came out of Teren’s chest as he pulled our hips so they were touching. I could feel his desire too. My breath came in sharper pulls as my arms laced around his neck, my fingers twirling in his hair. Our lips met, soft and searching. He sucked on my lower one, swishing his cool tongue over me. I groaned and grabbed his backside. Grinning, he adjusted his mouth to fully enclose mine.

  As that miraculous man’s cool mouth made every fiber of my body burn with the need for more, he reached down and picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Within seconds we were flying, traveling farther away from where I could sense our kids. I wasn’t worried though, Alanna was with them, probably feeding them and telling them childhood tales of Teren.

  As we stopped, I looked around briefly. He’d taken me to one of his favorite spots here. It was a wide, slow moving creek winding its way through a low spot in the hills. Long tufts of grass lined the banks and under today’s perfectly azure sky, the water sparkled like tiny diamonds. It wasn’t a childhood haunt, since he hadn’t grown up on this particular ranch, like I’d once imagined, but it was idyllic and lovely and I liked to imagine a young Teren here, lying out under the stars.

  He knelt down by the edge of the creek, my legs still wrapped around him, and then he laid me back in the tall grass. We’d made love here before, what seemed a lifetime ago, when we’d been trying to conceive those little miracles he’d been tossing around earlier. The spot held a warm place in my heart. It wasn’t the only spot on me that was currently warm.

  Laying himself over me, his body along the length of mine, his tender kiss picked up intensity. My legs around him ran down his calves as my fingers tightened in his hair. God, it had been a long time since we’d let ourselves be consumed by each other. He groaned, his hands as eager as his mouth as he started unbuttoning my blouse. When he finished, he pulled back to gently take the shirt off of me. I wasn’t so gentle as I sat up a little to strip the t-shirt off of him. My hands slid down his perfect chest as his eyes raked over mine.

  Needing so much more, I reached behind myself and unclasped the bra. I chucked it over my shoulder somewhere and pulled his head to a breast. He pushed us both back down to the grass as his mouth worked over a nipple. I exalted in the chill of his breath, his tongue, his hands. Everywhere he touched me, ignited me.

  As he worked one breast than the other, my fingers found his jeans. As deftly as I could, I popped them open and unzipped them. With as tightly as he were holding each other, I could just slip my hand inside the fabric. He hissed on my chest when my fingers wrapped around him. He was so hard, so ready. I was equally ready, wanting him so badly I lost control and my fangs extended.

  He paused, his head resting on my chest. Breathing heavy, he murmured, “God, you feel so good around me. Your hand is so warm,” he whispered.

  I groaned at the clear desire in his voice. My other hand grabbed his cheek and pulled his face back to mine. Gently squeezing both of my hands, I kissed him hungrily. He ignored my fangs, returning my eager kiss. The smell of grass wrapped around us, followed by the scent of clean water and the faint smell of animals. Somewhere in there I smelled my own desire, and with the sun beating down on our bodies, I swear I could smell the rays too.

  Smiling at how beautiful it all was, his words, his body, this peaceful location, I breathed, “I don’t need any more, Teren. I’m ready for you, for us, I’m so ready for this.” He pulled back to look at me, his eyes hooded with lust. “I just want you inside me,” I whispered to him.

  His eyes widened fractionally, then there was a flurry of movement as the rest of the barriers between us were stripped away. When he finally resettled himself between my awaiting thighs, he paused, the cool tip of him just barely pushing into me. Searching my face, he panted, “I love you.”

  I smiled, meaning to say it back, but then he pushed deep inside of me and the only thing that left my mouth was a stream of groaning, incoherent consonants. My body wrapped around his, his back slightly warmer with the sun heating it. With long, slow strokes, we both enjoyed our rare moment of togetherness. We tenderly and breathily kissed, his tongue occasionally flicking a fang, sending a jolt right through me.

  As his groans deepened and his hips rocked faster, I could feel the buildup starting. I was torn, wanting that euphoric release, and never wanting this connection to end. Dropping his head to my shoulder, he started to grunt in a way that I knew meant he was close. I wondered if he was torn too, wanting to hold out as long as possible, since who knows when we’d get a chance to be this free with each other again.

  As I started to moan louder, the approaching climax too much to contain, I felt his fangs prick my shoulder. I gasped and tilted my head, exposing my neck. “Yes, oh please, Teren, yes, bite me.” I was a little mortified to beg, but really, I hadn’t had that in awhile either.

  He groaned, his cool lips coming to my neck, then shifting to my shoulder above my collar bone. As our hips continued our escalating rhythm, he licked the skin he was about to pierce. That almost ignited my orgasm. His next words nearly did too. “Bite me,” he whispered, moving up his shoulder so I could sink my teeth into the same spot on him, just reversed. “Bite me, too.”

  Groaning, and cursing with the eroticism of it all, I shifted my head and body so I could bring my lips to him. A low growl coming from us both, we sank our teeth into each other simultaneously. I moaned as his cool blood poured into me – tangy, sweet, tasting of his scent – and combined with the fire in my body, pure bliss. I heard him groan as my blood poured into him. I had to imagine I tasted equally as good, just warmer.

  The blood hitting my tongue, his teeth sinking into my skin, his manhood thrusting into me again and again – it was too much. I came hard, and clutched him tight as I sucked deep. I recognized the sound of him releasing and knew he was coming at the same time. We were so in sync right now, we may as well have been one person.

  As our bodies slowed, Teren’s teeth eventually pulled out of me. I could feel him start to lick the wounds closed, his tongue languidly sliding over my skin as a content rumble escaped his chest. Knowing his body could handle it, I left my teeth in him, taking a few last draws as the ripples of a great release washed through me.

  Adjusting his body, he gently pulled out of me, shifting to my side. He chuckled and ran his fingers through my hair, letting me take his nourishment as long as I wanted. Feeling full and satisfied on every level, I finally retracted my teeth. I licked away the few red streaks on his skin, but the actual wounds closed right before my eyes.

  He twisted to his back, pulling me into the crook of his arm. Sighing with a contentment that matched my own, I felt him kiss my head as the warm sun caressed our spent bodies. Propping myself up, I watched him smile and close his eyes. Knowing what that meant, I nudged him in the ribs. “No you don’t. Don’t you dare fall asleep on me.”

  Eyes still closed, he laughed and shook his head. “I’m not…just relaxing.”

  I snuggled into his side, enjoying the cool length of him under the getting warm sun. Clutching him was like having my very own ice pack. “Good, because I don’t want to waste our free time unconscious.”

  He laughed again, peeking an eye open. “Did you have another idea?”

  His eyes drifted down my body and even spent and satisfied, my body responded. His smile turning a little cocky as he sensed it
, I pushed him away and stood up. He propped himself on his elbows, watching me look down on him. “Where are you going?” he asked, his cocky smile twisting to a frown.

  Not answering him, I twisted and darted to the water, splashing in and then diving under the surface. When I resurfaced, I screamed. It was freaking cold, even for someone who was used to being wrapped in coldness.

  Teren stood up and moved to the edge of the wide, slow river. Laughing and shaking his head at me, he managed to get out, “Makes me seem warm, doesn’t it?”

  I laughed through my shivers, then splashed him with the frigid water. “Get in here…warm me up.” I smiled that his body actually would probably be warm in comparison.

  He watched me in the water for a moment longer, his face holding an expression of pure love and devotion, then he blurred into the water with me. I giggled as his arms and legs wrapped around me. I stopped giggling when his weight pulled me under the water. He let me go instantly, since out of the two of us, I still needed air, then he slowly popped up beside me, his eyes playful. I smacked him as I grabbed a quick gulp of oxygen, then wrapped my freezing body around his freezing body.

  Eventually I adjusted to his temperature and then the water’s temperature. He held me still in the chest-deep stream, his fingers running up and down my back under the water. I smiled down at him, running my fingers though his even darker, wet hair.

  Gazing at me adoringly, he muttered, “Forever?” I shook my head, not understanding. A small smile crept into his mouth, his face nearly reverent. “Do I really get you forever?”

  I sighed, resting my head against his. “No.”

  He pulled back a little, his brows narrowed to a questioning point. I gave him a half smile, wrapping my arms around his neck. “We get forever,” I clarified.

  Smiling widely, he leaned up to kiss me. “Good. I won’t settle for anything less now.”

  The water licked my shoulder blades, some splashing over my collar bone to run over the twin wounds, soothing the very slight ache. Smiling at my romantic husband, I laid my head on his shoulder, my cheek resting above the perfectly healed spot that I’d torn into. Clutching him tight, I watched the sun glint and shine off of the diamond ring encircling my finger, the blood-red rubies around it deepening in color as I shifted my hand.

  The symbolic representation of eternity. The symbolic representation of our undying love for each other. Only for us, it wasn’t symbolic. We really would get forever. This love and joy would last for so long that it was sort of incomprehensible to me. Closing my eyes, I felt that love physically wash over me.

  Forever…I wouldn’t settle for anything less either.

  Chapter 4

  It’s Okay to Be Happy

  After our dip in the stream, Teren and I took our time, walking back to the ranch at a regular pace. We stopped to look over at some cattle munching nearby, none of the docile beasts seemingly worried in the least about the mythical monsters just a few feet away from them. We held hands while we strolled along, enjoying the quiet of just being together, of just being husband and wife for a minute and shutting off that portion of our minds that were constantly in parent-mode.

  By the time the gleaming red tiles of the ranch came back into view, our wet hair was mostly dry, mine just a little damp at the ends. Our toddlers rushed out to see us, Alanna watching them from a shaded corner of the building. Since our children had our level of limitations, or lack thereof, they could enjoy the sunshine like any human. Alanna hadn’t ended up so lucky in that department, and while she could be in the sun for short doses, it bothered her after awhile, and she had to find cover.

  When our children reconnected with us, jumping into our arms, she waved and headed back into the house. She had a small, knowing smile on her lips and I was pretty sure that she knew exactly what we’d been doing during our extended absence. I tried to not be too embarrassed about it, since she knew what we were going through, having had a superfast, super-hearing toddler herself. Plus, Alanna would never make me feel uncomfortable about all of the things she saw or heard, which was unfortunately quite a bit, since she’d been present for the beginning of the creator-createe bond. She was very gracious in that respect. I adored her all the more for it.

  Dinner was at dusk, when Imogen could freely and painlessly join us. Light conversations and warm laughter filled the spacious dining room and it seemed a little miraculous to me that there had ever been a time when tension and turmoil had filled this room, back when Teren and the others had been desperately searching for a way to save me and the children from an unpredictable fate.

  As everyone but Jack enjoyed a little plasma refresher, my happy and healthy children ducked out into the ski lodge-like living room to play.

  Leaning back in our chairs, I felt an odd tension start to build. Looking at Teren’s parents, my enhanced sight saw a slight furrow in each brow line. “What is it?” I asked hesitantly.

  Imogen sighed and I shifted my attention over to her. “We need to prepare you, both of you, for something that will be happening soon.”

  Knowing how quickly life could shift on you, I instantly felt ice flood through my veins. Hearing my own heartbeat pick up, I looked between all of the loved ones seated around the table.

  Furrowing his own brow, Teren put an arm around my shoulders, silently comforting me. “Is it time…already?” he asked quietly.

  Alanna and Jack gazed at each other for a moment before Alanna swung her eyes over to her son. “Another year, maybe two, but there are preparations to make, as you know.”

  Teren nodded, then looked down. Confused, and a little annoyed at what they all knew that I didn’t, I felt a pout form on my lips. Knowing I was probably a mirror image of my daughter, I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

  Teren looked up and squeezed my shoulder. “They need to leave this ranch.”

  My mouth dropped open as my gaze flicked around the room, taking in the beauty of it. I’d gotten so used to them being here that a part of me couldn’t imagine them gone. But I also knew that as a part of their never-ending charade to pass as human, they had to move around, so the girls’ unchanging appearance was never questioned.

  Even as secluded as they were, people talked, and Alanna and her siblings, as they were being sold to the world, would attract attention soon for their seemingly unending youth. This group tried to avoid attracting attention, and Jack moved with his “new” bride to one of several similar ranches they had around the country. Teren was still young enough that his appearance wasn’t an issue with him…yet.

  “Oh,” I whispered. “Where…will you go?” I also couldn’t imagine this group being far from me. I was too used to them being a short drive away.

  Alanna smiled at me, maybe sharing my thoughts. “The next ranch in rotation is in Utah.”

  I nodded and looked down. I felt Teren squeeze me tighter as a moment of strained silence fell around the table. They were all so close, it was a little difficult to imagine them breaking apart. But, all families eventually had to, I supposed.

  Jack sighed and reached over to pat my arm. “Don’t worry about it yet, Emma. We’re not going anywhere for awhile. We just have to start preparing the new home and shifting some of the herd. It takes time to move a working ranch. We just wanted to let you know.”

  I nodded and smiled at him, then pushed it to the back of my mind. They’d said a year or two. As I didn’t want to spend that much time fretting over it, it was best to place it in a far corner of my brain, to be looked at and examined at a later date.

  After pleasant conversations returned and our drinks were finished, we all retired to the living room to watch the children play tag – super speed tag. When their energy finally wore down, Teren and I got the yawning twins ready for bed. Nika wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, laying her small head on his shoulder. “No, Daddy. Grammy Lina’s coming.”

  I wrapped Julian around me, kissing his head as he sighed his agreement to his sist
er’s statement. “We want to see her.”

  Teren and I exchanged glances. The sun had set hours ago and we could both feel Halina moving towards us. She was approaching fast, but she had driven a car and her speed was more a normal one, although I was sure she was driving at about twice the legal limit. She could have run the distance and gotten here faster, but it was exhausting to maintain the super speed for that long. It was much more effective in short bursts, especially for mixed like us. Full vampires could hold the burst longer, but it still came at a price. Halina tended to only run great distances if it were an emergency, say, Teren was out getting into trouble without her. She’d done a lot of running when he’d been searching for other mixed.

  Teren sighed and kissed Nika’s head. “Sorry, sweetheart, she’s still far away.”