“Well, this isn’t any stranger than witches and vampires being real. Maybe they were aliens that just went back home.”
“Maybe.” Abe laid the big duffle bag on the table, unzipped it, and started pulling out the contents. “Few people on the island know of this place. I’ve never brought anyone here. I wanted you to be the first.” He stopped and framed her face with his hands. “I want to make love with you here, Ariana. This place is special to me, for some reason. I want you to be part of it, because you’re special to me, too.”
Ariana sensed a chill to the room, like a presence watching them. She opened her mind, allowing muted sounds to break through. Abruptly, her head was filled with voices, angry voices.
Her eyes grew wide. “Abe… I think we should go; they don’t want us here.”
Abe laughed at first, but then he seemed to really see her face. “Ariana, what’s wrong? What do you hear?”
“A lot of angry voices. They aren’t speaking English or Spanish – that’s all I learned in school – but whatever they’re saying is not good.”
Abe used his vampire speed to whip everything back into the duffle bag. He picked her up, too, and bolted out of the cave.
“How about out here, anything?” He’d stopped by the edge of the pond.
Ariana was breathless; the voices had scared her out of her skin. She opened her mind again, and there was nothing but the regular thoughts from those on the island.
“No, no. Here’s fine.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t…”
“You didn’t know. It’s okay, but I think that cave is bad news and doesn’t need to be disturbed. Those people were so mad, and there were so many of them… I wonder what happened. Maybe I can send them all where they need to go; they may be trapped there.”
“You’re not going in there unless I’m with you, okay?”
She rolled her eyes and he smiled while unzipping the duffle and taking out the contents. He spread out a king-sized blanket on the grass, and threw two pillows to one end of it. Next, he took out silverware and candles, put them in place in the middle, and took a lighter out of his pocket. Ariana whispered fire and lit the candles before he got to them. Abe glanced at her, returned to the duffle and took out a plate and a to-go box.
“I can eat out of the box, I don’t need fine china.”
Abe held up his hand and brought his finger and thumb together, telling her to be quiet and let him treat her right.
She laughed. “Okay, I’ll let you do this. Me and my magic have stopped interfering. I don’t want to ruin the perfect night you’ve planned.”
He nodded and smiled, and then transferred the food from the box to the plate.
“I made it myself. I haven’t cooked for anyone in a decade or so, so I brought some chips and a sandwich, too, as back-up, in case it’s really bad.” He reached in the duffle and pulled out two Michelob Ultras. “Your choice of drink, Milady.”
“What did I tell you about the ‘My Lady’ crap?”
“It isn’t crap. You are My Lady… and you were evidently born of noble or gentle birth. It’s obvious God has gifted you. Milady should be the least anyone should call you. I would actually choose Goddess.” He smiled, then motioned toward the food. “Eat. I brought a six pack, in case you want to get drunk and take advantage of me.”
Ariana laughed. “I think you may have that backwards.”
“Maybe I do. Either way, you can take advantage of me.”
“Maybe I will. Going for a swim after I eat wouldn’t be out of the question, either.”
“I was hoping you would say that.” Abe rummaged through the duffle once more and pulled out a black bikini.
She laughed a hearty laugh. “You did think of everything, didn’t you?”
“Well, you did say I should find something to do. When you don’t have anything to do for six hours, but worry, and the person you’re worrying about won’t answer her phone…”
“My phone was answered!”
“By Becky. I wanted to hear your voice.”
“Okay, I will answer it from now on, as long as you don’t call every thirty minutes, like you did today. I think Becky set the schedule so I only have two patients an hour, so I should be able to find five minutes to talk to you.”
“Every hour?”
“If you insist.”
“How long does each patient take? You think you can manage ten-minute breaks, or even longer?”
“Abe!”
“I was just thinking. Sorry… Not my fault I can’t get enough of you.” Abe picked up the silver fork and scooped up some of the potatoes he’d made. “Come on, eat, and then we will swim.”
Ariana opened her mouth and let him feed her.
“Ummm.” The cheesy spiced potatoes melted in her mouth. “Abe, this is really good.”
“I was a chef for a little while, in Italy. I know how to cook; I just don’t do it that often. I miss cooking for people. Maybe being with you will rekindle my hobby.”
“You were a chef?” Ariana laughed. “You’re full of surprises, Abe, I have to say.”
He cut the steak and Ariana’s mouth watered before he even put it in her mouth, knowing how tender it would be.
“When were you in Italy? You said you became king a hundred and forty years ago. That must have been before electricity was even invented, right?”
“Yes, by a few years. 1879 – electricity was invented. I met Thomas Edison a couple of times; he was one weird cookie. Think he may have shocked himself a few times,” he said and chuckled lightly.
“So, how…”
“I left here about forty years ago and returned ten years later. I got tired of the island, well… of the life here, anyway. I was bored and contemplating ending my life. There didn’t seem to be anything worth living for. Max told me to leave for a while. He took care of everything while I was away. I had to leave Italy after about ten years. Either that or get some gray hair color, to make it look as though I were aging.”
“And when you showed back up here Max just handed it all back?”
“He didn’t have a choice. It’s the law. I was still King while I was away, he was just doing all the work. I will be High Vampire of Eternal Island until I get killed or choose to die. If someone kills me, the island’s people will vote in a new High Vampire.”
Abe kissed her softly. “I’m glad I went to Italy, or I may never had had the chance to meet you. I guess Max was good for something, after all.
“Everything happens for a reason.”
He stood up and picked her up from the blanket. “Yes, it does.”
Then he ran and jumped in the water with Ariana in his arms, fully clothed.
CHAPTER 55
Ariana woke up in Abe’s arms. He was carrying her through the palace rather quickly.
“I could have walked.”
“There wasn’t time, and I wasn’t going to leave you there alone – lions, tigers and bears, remember?”
“There wasn’t time for what? Walking?”
“I fell asleep, too, and woke to the sky getting brighter. That wouldn’t have been so good for me. I think we made it with about two minutes to spare, that’s all.”
“What time is it? And what time am I leaving?” Ariana asked between yawns.
“The sun rises about five thirty this time of year and I think you’re leaving around ten. You can go back to sleep for a few hours when we get home.”
“I can’t sleep any longer, I’m too excited. I get to see my best friend this evening.”
Abe laughed and looked down at her as he opened his room door. “I really hope you have fun today. I know you will, but be careful. The humans in California can be a little weird sometimes,” he said as he laid her on the bed.
“Nothing is going to happen to me, Abe. We’ll be perfectly fine. You and Jonah just need to find something to occupy your time while we’re gone.”
“Yeah, you said. And I tried that once already, with debatable result
s. Don’t be mad at me, but I asked Elton to go with you. He can fly the plane and rest while you, ladies, shop. I want you here with me tonight, okay?”
“If that’ll make you feel better, I’m fine with it.”
“Good. You want to take a shower with me? You wash my back and I’ll wash yours.”
She laughed. “You’re just trying to get me naked again.”
Abe’s mouth fell open and his eyes filled with guilt. “How could you say that about me?”
“I know you too well!”
“Huh. I would never do that!”
“So, if I took a shower in the bikini you bought me you wouldn’t have a problem with that?”
Abe contemplated his answer before he spoke out loud. “I can’t promise it would stay on long, but no, I don’t have a problem with you wearing it.”
“I knew it!”
Ariana shoved him and ran to the bathroom, giggling, with him chasing after her.
§ § §
Jonah knocked on Lidia’s door. Becky was still asleep in his bed, but there was something bothering him, and he needed to talk to Lidia.
She opened the door in a purple satin robe, her long dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail holder at the base of her neck. He could see the small bump in her lower abdomen.
“What’s wrong, Jonah? It’s not even seven in the morning yet. You don’t usually roll over until two p.m.”
He looked at her and knew then that what he’d been fighting was only too real. How had he been so blind all these years?
“Can I come in? I haven’t had any sleep yet. I’ve got some things on my mind and I need to talk to you about them.”
She eyed him suspiciously, but opened the door. “You know my door’s always open to you.”
She walked in and sat down on the couch. He was pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table.
“Jonah? Are you alright?”
He stopped suddenly and knelt down beside her, his eyes wide and anxious.
“What…” He got up and started pacing again.
“Jonah, you’re really starting to scare me,” Lidia said with panic rising in her voice.
He stopped again and dropped to the floor in front of her, sitting cross-legged, his face in his hands. “I have a question, and I want you to be honest with me.” He raised his head and looked her straight in the eyes. Lidia nodded for him to continue. “Okay. Here’s my problem. What if there was this guy, and he was reckless and ruthless all his life, not caring about anyone but himself. You following me here?”
“Yes, go on.”
“And what if this guy just realized what he’d been doing wrong all his life, and finally opened his eyes and saw, really saw, what he’d been missing?”
“Wha…”
“What if this guy, who had been running from love and commitment all his life… what if he realized that love had a hold of him anyway, and there was nothing he could do to shake it off? What if he didn’t want to shake it off? What if love was something he finally welcomed? What would you suggest to a guy like that?”
Lidia was stunned. Jonah was asking her for love advice? She couldn’t sit there, no matter how much she loved him, and listen to him tell her that he had finally fallen in love with Becky. She just couldn’t do it.
“Jonah, I can’t help you. I think you need to leave. I’m sorry, I can’t… not this…”
She wrenched her eyes from his and forced her legs to take her to the door. She opened it and turned around. Jonah was in the same spot on the floor, his head in his hands again. He was so good looking, even in the state he was in.
“Jonah?”
“I can’t go back to that room, Lidia.” He lifted his gaze, pleading with his eyes.
Were those tears? Oh, for heaven’s sake, she just couldn’t throw him out like this. It would break her heart, but she would do this one thing for him, one last time. “Okay, Jonah. Go ahead, tell me you love her.”
His forehead scrunched up in confusion. “Tell you I love who?”
“Becky. Or is it one of the other hundred women you’ve been dating?”
Jonah slowly got up, his eyes never leaving her face, and walked to her side. “I don’t love Becky, Lidia. I don’t love any other women. I love you.”
She inhaled quickly and covered her mouth with her hand as a tear escaped her eye. “How? Why…”
“If you don’t have any feelings for me, I’ll leave. I won’t bother you ever again. But I can’t be with her, or any other woman… anymore… regardless of your answer.” He swallowed hard and his eyes dropped from hers as he explained. “I… we were… we were having sex last night, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how you would feel under my hands, under my lips, in my arms… I had to stop. She kept asking me what was wrong but I couldn’t tell her; she’s done nothing wrong. I don’t want to hurt her, especially since I told her Sunday night that my feelings for you were nothing more than a brother’s love. But that… I think that was what got me thinking, and once I started I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And tonight, while we were… you know… it made me sick to think that I was doing that with anyone other than you.” His gaze searched for hers and when he found it, he locked her there. “I am in love with you, Lidia. I think I always have been, but just too stupid to know it. Say something, please.”
The tears were threatening to pour, but Lidia found just enough strength to speak before they broke the dam and spoiled her self-control. Damn hormones, always made her teary.
“I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you, Jonah, when I was thirteen. But I can’t just let you in – if you got it wrong… it would shatter me to pieces. You need to take some time and think about this. Think very carefully. If you are serious, you will end everything with her and anyone else. In a month, and no sooner, if you still feel the same way, then you can come to me and maybe we can be together. I won’t have her or anyone else look at me as if I’m a tramp who broke the two of you up. I’ve waited for you all my life; another month won’t kill me.”
“You’ve loved me since you were thirteen? But you mated Max – why? And how many people knew about this? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t they…?”
“I couldn’t tell you; you would have broken my heart, just like you’re going to break that young girl’s heart soon. It was the wrong time. You weren’t ready – you said as much yourself. You were never going to settle down and I wasn’t getting any younger. I figured… if I couldn’t have you… then I needed someone to take care of me, even if it wasn’t love… And I think pretty much everyone but you knew how I felt. I didn’t exactly hide it…”
“I was so blind… Abe? Has he known all along? Max? That’s why he hated me, isn’t it? How could I not have seen it, Lidia?”
She smiled through her tears. “You didn’t want to.”
Jonah started to hug her, and she stuck her arm out to hold him back.
“In a month, Jonah, no sooner. We’ll see just how far you’ve fallen. Goodnight, now.”
He nodded and walked out the door.
CHAPTER 56
Lidia was trying hard to keep the happy, bubbly feeling inside her from growing out of control. She knew how Jonah felt about love, and how he could change his mind, about anything, in a split second. Although she had never heard him say those three words to anybody. Maybe it wasn’t just a dream. Maybe he really meant it. Time will tell, Lidia, she said to herself, time will tell.
§ § §
As he walked back to his room, to break Becky’s heart, Jonah contemplated what he would say to her. He couldn’t just pick up and leave, like he had done to countless women before. Lidia was here, and she loved him back.
He could bring out his normal jerk side and make Becky dump him, but that could take months, especially if Becky had already fallen for him. She probably had – he had almost caught her several times about to say those three words he had never said to anyone, and if he had, he never truly meant them, not before Lidi
a.
Jonah couldn’t keep the smile from his lips; it lit up his entire face. How could he dump Becky with a shit-eating grin like this, and her not catch on to the real reason?
He would have to find a way, he couldn’t make it look as if it were Lidia who split them up.
Maybe he should bed one of the blood whores and let Becky catch him in the act, but he didn’t think Lidia would be too happy, if she found out. Man, this was hard.
He could do this. He would just tell it to her straight. He would tell her that he thought her feelings for him were too strong, and he would never love any woman but his mama, God rest her soul.
But what would happen in a month, when he’d shout to the world his love for Lidia? Becky was liable to go all psycho bitch. He could handle her, but Lidia was a mortal, and pregnant, so that scenario was out.
Jonah unlocked his door and Becky sat up on his bed. She looked like she’d been crying. Ugh! As if dumping a woman wasn’t hard enough, she had to make it harder by turning on the waterworks.
He went straight to the bathroom and shut the door. There was a soft knock a few moments later.
“What?”
“Can we talk, Jonah?”
“I’m busy, can’t it wait?” he said in the rudest tone he could come up with. Jonah wasn’t rude to anyone, he simply didn’t care. But he cared about Becky, and that is why this was so hard. They had become good friends over the past few days, and he hated to ruin that friendship, but he just didn’t see any way around it.”
“No, it can’t wait, Jonah. I have to do this now.”
Oh, for Christ’s sake, she was going to tell him she loved him. He took a breath, steeling himself. He could do this.
Jonah opened the door and turned off the bathroom light. She had turned the bedside lamp on, and that was a bad thing. He’d prefer the room to be pitch black so she wouldn’t see right through his façade.
Eternal Island (Book 1 in the Eternal Series) Page 29
