Sassy Ever After: Sassy Temptations (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Taylor Dawn

  “Uh, where are you off to?” Astrid sat at the kitchen table with some sort of fashion magazine in one hand and a glass of blood in the other.

  “Gia needs me,” he hurried to the door.

  “Are you thick in the head? She all but told you to go fuck yourself the other night. What makes you think she needs you now?” She slammed the magazine on the table.

  “I have this feeling,” he tried to explain.

  “I have feelings too. For the most part, I ignore them, then I masturbate.” She smirked.

  “This isn’t the time to be facetious, Astrid.”

  “When have you known me to take much of anything seriously? The human hates you, the end. Go find another play toy. I’m sure there are dozens of petite blondes who would love to hop on your disco stick.”

  “I swear to everything that is holy if you weren’t my sister I would have driven a piece of oak into your chest by now.” He grumbled.

  “I’m more of a mahogany kind of gal,” she sassed.

  Layton knew his sister was right. Gia hated him and he couldn’t blame her one bit for doing so. It wasn’t that he wanted to kill her—it was more along the lines of his natural instincts kicking in. He’d learned to control them just like every other vampire in existence but Gia was the first human he’d sunken his fangs into. That didn’t excuse him for saying awful things about her though. Now he was stuck between taking a chance to win her back, and walking away. The latter was the ideal option but his magnetic pull to her wouldn’t let him throw in the towel just yet.

  ***

  What happened? Gia thought as she blinked her eyes at the piercing light above her. Everything was too damn bright and the smell was too sterile. It was like someone dumped bleach all over the place, then walked away. Add to it a steady irritating beeping noise and she was about ready to kill someone. Each flutter of her eye lids caused pain to spike in her head. She’d been victim to migraines in the past, but this was on a whole other level of intensity. When her eyes opened all the way, Gia realized where she was—a hospital room. Wires and IV tubes strung from her body to stainless steel poles at the side of her bed. A heart monitor was the culprit for the beeping noise and if she had the energy, she would’ve knocked it over so it would stop screaming at her.

  Everything was hazy as she tried to remember what had led her to being in a hospital bed. The last thing she recalled was being the bathroom after her shower.

  “You’re awake,” Micah strolled in through the large door of the room.

  “What the heck happened?” Gia’s voice was raspy and uneven.

  “I heard a loud noise coming from the bathroom. When I called for you through the door, you didn’t answer. I couldn’t get you to wake up once I found you on the floor either.”

  “Is there a doctor around that I can talk to? Do they know what’s wrong with me?” Gia strained to sit up—it wasn’t easy with her head pounding and the flimsy gown trying to ride up her ass.

  “They did a shit load of tests when you were checked in but they wouldn’t tell me anything on account that I’m not family. I’ll go see if I can stir someone up.” Micah left the room and for the first time since he’d declared his feelings for her, Gia wanted him near her again.

  There was so much uncertainty as she laid there staring at the ceiling, her stomach full of dread. Something had to be wrong. She never lost consciousness or got sick to her stomach like she had earlier.

  “Ah, Miss Pendleton, I’m glad to see you’re awake. I’m Dr. Chadha.” The man was of Indian descent with tawny skin and a hint of an accent. He didn’t wear the expected white lab coat that most physicians wore. Instead, he looked as if he’d stepped right off the golf course and into the hospital setting. “Would you mind if we spoke in private?” he asked while moving his eyes toward Micah.

  “Sure,” Gia nodded in Micah’s direction and he took the hint to leave. When he was gone she asked, “So, what’s going on?”

  The doctor took a deep breath, “It’s never easy to deliver this type of news to a patient.” His facial expression turned grim.

  Gia laughed, “Am I dying?”

  “I’m afraid we found some abnormalities during your admittance testing.”

  “Well, what is it?” her impatience grew.

  “The tests showed a Glioblastoma multiforme attached to your frontal lobe.” He proceeded to log into the small desktop computer in the room. When he turned the screen toward her, he explained, “A normal scan should be filled in with grey, yours,” he pointed at the picture on the monitor, “has this black mass that has all but taken over your frontal lobe.”

  “Can you do surgery to remove it?” She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

  “That’s the unfortunate part. It’s progressed to stage IV already. I’m surprised you haven’t had any sort of symptoms up until this point.”

  “Well, what does this mean? Do I need to go to a specialist?”

  “I am the specialist, Miss Pendleton. I know this news is devastating but if I were you, I would start making arrangements.”

  “What kind of arrangements? What in the hell are you talking about?”

  “With the grade of tumor and the progression rate, I’m afraid your time is limited,” he stood from the computer.

  “How fucking limited?” she shouted, tears already pouring down her face.

  “A month at the most.”

  “No, this isn’t happening. I’m dreaming, right?” her eyes frantically searched the room, waiting for someone to jump out and let her know this was all one big joke. But no one did. She was in the hospital, talking to a doctor who couldn’t give two shits about her and she was dying of a rare brain tumor. All the things she wanted to do in her life were now unachievable. All of the people she loved would see her waste away like a sick animal. She didn’t want to die. There had to be a way to beat something like that, right?

  As the torrent of tears threaded down her face, one person stood out in her damaged mind. Layton. If he turned her into a vampire, all of the worry and disease would fade away. She could go on living—sort of—and maybe be happy. Spending the rest of her existence drinking blood sounded a lot better than expiring like a curdled gallon of milk at the end of a months’ time.

  Sixteen

  IT HAD BEEN THREE DAYS since Layton had heard from Gia. He was sick with worry, but didn’t want to contact her for fear that she might push him away even further. Forgiving himself wasn’t an option either. Astrid and Gaith both suggested letting everything go but he couldn’t. The love he shared with Gia was just too damn strong. Thoughts about her safety crossed his mind about every three seconds and knowing she was in danger around the wolves made him want to punch a brick wall more than once.

  “Sit down, you’re practically rubbing a hole in the floor with your giant feet,” Astrid sat sprawled on the antique sofa, smoking a cigarette.

  “Put that damn thing out before you burn down my house,” he rushed over to her, snatching the offending cigarette and dunking it in the wine glass of blood on the coffee table.

  “Fucker,” she sulked.

  “I need to be with her,” Layton took a seat but jumped right back up.

  “Then by all means, go find her.” Astrid rolled her eyes.

  “You really have no clue do you?”

  “About what? That you’re positively mad. Someone needs to strap you into a strait jacket and cart you off to the mental ward. She’s just a human.”

  “She’s the only reason I have for wanting to be on this earth.” He sighed while staring out the window. Maybe he was hoping to see Gia walking up to the door, wanting him to hold her. Maybe he was wishing someone would find their way to his house and put him out of his misery already. Whatever he wanted, it wasn’t happening.

  “Are you serious?” Astrid came up behind him.

  “Yes. I can’t explain the connection her and I share. It’s like finding the missing piece of you. Without Gia, I’m lost.” Bearing his feelin
gs wasn’t something he did often but his entire undead being was beaten and bruised beyond recognition. There was only one thing that would make him feel whole again and that was seeing Gia. He would spend his nights groveling at her feet and apologizing for what he’d said if it meant she’d stay in his life.

  “Are you listening to me?” Astrid snapped her fingers in front of his face.

  He blinked a few times then asked, “What do you want?”

  “The doorbell has been ringing while you’re standing there crying over the dusty drapes.”

  Layton shook his head and walked to the door. Without thought, he yanked it open and ended up pulling the knob from the wood. As he stood there in the corridor, he glanced up with shock and surprise.

  ***

  “I need a favor,” Gia stood on the porch of Layton’s Blue Creek home with her hands nervously ringing together in front of her.

  “I…” she watched him try to process her sudden appearance on his doorstep.

  “Layton, I need a favor,” she insisted.

  “Favor?” he tilted his head to the side.

  “Yes. Can I come in? It’s chilly out here.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to warm her skin.

  “Of course,” he stepped to the side and invited her in. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No thanks.” She peered around him, and noticed that Gaith and Astrid were sitting on the sofa, holding hands and kissing. “Can we talk in the kitchen?”

  Layton gave a quick nod and led her through the house and into the kitchen. When she got to the table, Gia took a seat and waited for him to do the same. Nervousness tumbled in her stomach as she thought about what she would ask of him. What if he told her no? What if he laughed in her face and told her to leave? It didn’t really matter. Her time was limited and she had one option.

  “So, what can I do for you?” he folded his hands on the table in front of him.

  “I um…I want you to turn me into a vampire.” she blurted out.

  Faster than she could blink, Layton was out of his seat, staring down at her like she’d asked him to kill a kitten. “I will not.” He stated with authority. “What would make you even think about something so crazy?”

  “I’m dying anyway.” She ducked her head, and tried to keep from getting emotional.

  “Explain,” his voice softened as he took a seat once more. Over the next few minutes, Gia laid out the situation for him. She told him exactly what the doctor had told her, almost word for word. Pity crossed his face more than once, but concern was the blanket emotion she saw when she was finished talking. “I can’t do what you want me to, Gia. It’s just not possible.”

  “And why not?”

  “You don’t have the slightest idea what it’s like being one of us.”

  “At this point it’s better than my alternative, wouldn’t you say so?”

  “To turn you would be a huge injustice to you. Do you really think I could go through with something like that?” he ran his fingers through his hair.

  “I came here to ask you to save me, Layton. Would you just let this thing in my head kill me?”

  “How can this be the only option?”

  “I don’t know.” The tears she managed to hold back, came pouring down.

  For several minutes the room was silent. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to think of a way to tell her to leave, or if he was considering her request.

  “Fine, I’ll do it.”

  “You will?”

  “I have a condition though,” Layton walked to a small buffet type cabinet and pulled the top drawer open. When he returned to the table, he set a familiar box in front of her. “Before I turn you, I want you to marry me.”

  “Why? I thought you wanted to kill me?”

  “I will always be what I am, and soon, you will be that as well. You will understand the urges and instincts that I feel. But there is one instinct that will never be quelled, and that is my love for you, Gia. Marry me and we can live out the rest of eternity as two halves of a whole who are meant to be together.”

  He was right, soon, she would understand what it was like to be a vampire. She would learn everything that came with the title and she was ready to accept it. Gia loved Layton, there was no doubt about that. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Layton flipped the top of the box open and plucked the dazzling ring from its holdings. As he slipped it on Gia’s finger he kissed her lips softly, “Together, forever.”

  Epilogue

  “I’M SURPRISED YOU’RE AWAKE before me,” Gia felt Layton’s arms wrap around her from behind.

  “I wanted to see the last glimmer of sunlight before it dipped below the horizon.” She said as she stood back from the open window. Gia was trying to acclimate herself to sleeping during the day and being awake at night. So far, things were going well.

  It had only been a week since she ceased being partially human and took form as an immortal being. The thought of losing her humanity didn’t terrify her as much as the thought of staying mortal and withering away. Much like Layton’s choice to become vampire, Gia’s was a rash decision. However, it was one that she would never regret. It was strange waking up each evening, wondering how the world would change over the course of eternity, but it was comforting to know that the man she loved with be right alongside her for it.

  “Your brother sent an email. They caught your father’s killer.” Layton rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “I feel stupid for not figuring it out sooner. The fact that Micah would go to the lengths he did, makes me sick.” She sighed. Her and Zach’s long-time friend weaved a web of deception for the sole purpose of trying to win Gia. Micah’s brother, Garian would be charged with murder and Micah would be right along with him. Finally, she and her brother could let their father become what he was, a memory.

  “I don’t want you to think about that right now.” Layton whispered.

  “No? And what should I be thinking about?” She turned in his arms and looked up at his face.

  “The fact that we are in Italy on our honeymoon.” He smiled.

  “Hmmm, what should we be doing?” she teased.

  “You should be letting me worship every inch of your body.”

  “I think I could go along with that.” She grabbed his arm, yanking him to the bed. The strength she now possessed was something she would have to get used to. Over the past week, she’d dislocated Layton’s shoulder, broken a couple of his ribs and his nose during their sexual play.

  They’d been staying in a gorgeous Italian villa owned by a friend his and Gia was getting used to the solitude and luxury.

  “I think you should kiss me,” he loomed over the top of her. Just as she raised her head to press her lips to his, the doorbell began to ring. “Who the hell could that be?” he grumbled. Following him down the marble staircase, Gia stood back while he pulled the large door open. On the other side stood Astrid with enough pieces of luggage to fill up an entire commercial airliner’s cargo hold. “Sister.”

  “What are you doing here?” Layton asked.

  “Oh, you know, just thought I’d pop in for a visit. I figured your little wife would want a friendly visit from her saucy sister-in-law.” Astrid strolled past her brother, eyeing Gia on the steps.

  “Really, why are you here?” Layton pressed.

  “Can’t I come visit my brother in Italy?” she feigned innocence.

  “She was exiled,” Gaith stepped through the door.

  “For what?” Gia asked.

  “You name it, they slapped it on the charges.” Gaith said.

  The foyer of the large home went quiet for what felt like minutes until Gia finally spoke, “Come on in, and make yourselves at home.”

  “Great, there goes the neighborhood,” Layton grumbled as he shut the four of them inside.

  The End

  Taylor Dawn

  International Bestselling Author Taylor Dawn began writing as an item to check off her buc
ket list. She resides in the southernmost part of Illinois, right on the mighty Mississippi river. She enjoys the quiet country life with her husband, son and the many farm animals that make up the rest of the family. Deciding that farm life was just a little too mundane, Taylor began writing romance and fantasy to liven things up, so far so good. Before starting her writing career, Taylor entered the field of cosmetology. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found sitting around a table making people laugh. She has always wanted to be a standup comic. She loves pulling practical jokes, dresses up in a costume every Halloween and believes that dancing is the key to a happy life (even if you aren't a good dancer). She believes that life shouldn't be taken too seriously, we will never get out alive anyway. More than anything, she is a kid at heart, she doesn't believe in bedtimes, eating everything on her plate, or having ice cream only for dessert. Her favorite quote is by Dr. Seuss..."Why fit in, when you were born to stand out." You can find Taylor at taylordawnauthor.com

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