by D. C. Gambel
“Shawn, please! That’s my mother.”
“I know. I didn’t think she had it in her. She’s so… I don’t know. I just figured she closed up shop a long time ago. It’s nice to know that your parents are still hot for each other though, right? Gives you hope?”
I thought about it. “I didn’t think about it that way, but I suppose.”
We ate and joked for a while and soon the waiter was bringing us the check.
“Well, there was a reason I asked you out today and not just because I missed you.” Shawn explained as we walked along the busy streets of the city. People were moving with us going in either direction trying to live their lives, completely unaware that there was a vampire and werewolf walking among them.
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” Shawn pulled me aside, stopping us from walking. He looked nervous. I waited patiently for him to say whatever it was, but with each passing moment I began to feel the anxiety he was putting off. What could be so troubling? I wondered. “I asked Clive to move in with me.”
My eyes widened. That was a huge step for Shawn. He had always been Mr. Uncomplicated and Mr. Can’t Commit. “Wow…” I had no words. I was blindsided. I hadn’t seen this coming.
“Say something,” he pleaded.
“You told him you were a werewolf?” I asked, but Shawn looked away. “Really? How are you going to explain your monthly disappearances? When you share a home with someone, they’re going to notice.”
“I know that, but I couldn’t help myself. I could always say I have to work late those nights or something. I can handle it as it comes and who knows, maybe I will tell him about me,” Shawn shrugged.
“Just going to fly by the seat of your pants then?”
“Why not? I’m crazy about him, Gabs.”
I looked at my friend and as much as I wanted to argue and tell him how irresponsible he was being, I couldn’t. I wanted him to be happy. He deserved it. If it really became an issue, I’d step in and either give my opinion then or help clean up the mess. “I’m so happy for you.” I wrapped Shawn in a hug, praying that his plan didn’t backfire.
The day was already off to a bad start when I received the mail and found yet another letter from my mysterious tormentor. It had been almost a week since the “incident,” as I called it, where I caught my parents together, when Jade’s name appear on my phone. It had been a call that I had been dreading and I debated on not answering but then I thought they might send Sebastian and I wasn’t sure if I wanted that.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Well hello to you too,” Jade said with a hint of sarcasm. “Guess what?”
I sighed, “I’m on my way.”
This time as I rode up the elevator in The Angelo Tower, not only was I worried about seeing Sebastian as I had every time since Grayson returned, but now I was dreading seeing my father who was the one summoning me.
When the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by Jade and I immediately felt disappointed when I didn’t feel the angelic pull to Sebastian that I had so many times before.
“He’s not here,” Jade stated.
“Damien?” If Damien wasn’t there why did she call me? Was it another one of her tricks?
“No,” was her only reply before she turned and led me to Damien’s office. I loathed the fact that I felt let down that Sebastian wasn’t there, but I shoved it from my mind as I walked into Damien’s office realizing that I had a whole new obstacle that needed my attention.
“Have fun,” Jade whispered as she shut the door. I couldn’t help but feel awkward in front of Damien. When he looked at me, I saw he looked flustered too and I found a little comfort in the notion that he too was embarrassed by the predicament.
“Gabriella, please sit.” I did as he asked but hoped he hadn’t called me here to talk about the “incident.”
“Gabriella, about the other night…”
I groaned like a teenager whose parents wanted to talk about sex. “There’s no need to talk about it.”
“There is.”
“No!” I said a bit too forcefully. I adjusted my tone. “There’s not.”
“Your mother told me she spoke with you,” he continued quickly against my protests. “I don’t wish to speak of the logistics in which you found us.” I almost wanted shake off the metaphoric spiders crawling up my skin, but I refrained. “I want you to understand that my intentions are founded.”
“You asked me here so you could explain to me that you two aren’t just friends with benefits?”
“I do not understand what friends with benefits are.”
“That it’s not just… sex,” I almost vomited in my mouth saying the word sex while talking to my father about his sex life with my mother.
He smiled gentle. “It is not.”
I smiled back and really felt it. My parents were still in love even after two decades apart.
“While we are discussing uncomfortable topics, there is something I wish to discuss with you,” Damien said. I held my breath hoping whatever he had to say would be less uncomfortable than discussing him and my mother. “Are you in love with Sebastian?”
I was wrong. My eyebrows shot to my hairline. I didn’t know what I thought he was going to say, but never did I think it would be that. “No,” I answered quickly. “Did he ask you to talk to me about this?”
“He doesn’t even know that I am and I’d prefer to keep it that way. I am aware that while Grayson was…missing, you and Sebastian became close.”
I wanted to curl up in a hole somewhere. I didn’t want to talk about my relationship with Sebastian to anyone, especially not my father. He didn’t speak for awhile. Then I realized he was waiting for a response so I nodded.
“Grayson is back and you are with him now. I presume that he knows about you and Sebastian after his appearance here shortly after he returned home.”
“Grayson was here?”
Damien nodded, “He spoke with Sebastian the very next night after we rescued him. He didn’t tell you?” I shook my head. “Perhaps he wanted it left private.” He gave me a look that only a parent could. With just a raise of his brow it suggested that that statement also be kept quiet. Damien leaned against the edge of his desk looking me in the eyes. “Sebastian is my friend and I do not wish to see him hurt, but he is also a wise man and knew the situation he was involving himself in. He knew the angel blood would draw him to you, he also knew that you were in love with another. Grayson is a good man, perhaps a bit troubled right now.” Damien squatted down in front of me making his eyes level with mine. He placed his hand on mine drawing my attention to him. “Gabriella my point is that if you did care for Sebastian, it doesn’t make your love for Grayson any less.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I nodded.
When I returned home Grayson was waiting for me. I was pleased to see him, still expecting him to be at work.
“I was wondering where you got off to,” he spoke holding his hands behind my back.
“Sorry, Damien asked for me,” I said setting my keys down in the bowl.
“Should I even ask?”
“No.” It was at that moment that I took in his appearance. He wasn’t wearing his business suit, instead was in dark loose fitting jeans and a dark blue button up dress shirt. He was freshly showered, smelling strongly of his body wash. “Why are you home so early?” I asked
Pulling his hand from behind his back, he revealed a single long stemmed red rose. I grinned taking it. “Tonight’s date night,” he stated.
“Date night?”
Grayson reached out wrapping his arms around me. “I know that things have been different since I came home. We’ve had a lot of sex, but haven’t really had any us time. I want you to feel connected with me and not just physically.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him to me until his forehead rested against mine. “I do feel connected to you.” He gave me a half smirk. His eyes showed relief. “But who am I to turn down date night
.” I pulled away from him wanting to dress more appropriate for a date. “Ten minutes?” I asked, wanting to get ready.
He gave me a devilish smile followed by a single nod. I spun around and was off towards the bedroom.
I didn’t know what his plan was for the evening, but being a date, I chose a pleated burgundy skirt that rested mid thigh and a black silk top that had three quarter sleeves, buttoning it up just high enough to cover my bra, revealing a good amount of cleavage. Not having as much time as I would need to do my hair, even with vampire speed I couldn’t make a flattener or curling iron work faster, I ran my fingers through my hair, tousling it. With a quick application of lip gloss and eyeliner, I slid into me black stilettos and was ready for my date with my fiancé.
When I entered the living room, his eyes racked over me causing something to stir inside of me.
“Come along. We don’t want to miss our reservation,” he held his hand out to me. Our fingers intertwined, clinging to one another all the way to the elevator. When we stepped on to the car, Grayson released my hand to press the button for the lobby then wrapped his fingers in mine again.
Outside, I recognized Grayson’s car parked on the curb. He opened the back door ushering me in. I was surprised to see a familiar face behind the wheel. “John, when did you get back?” I hadn’t heard from him since I released him from driving me after Grayson disappeared. I knew Grayson had planned on summoning him back, but wasn’t sure when.
“Just today miss. I must say it feels good to be back at my old job. This one,” he pointed to Grayson as he slid in next to me, “needs someone to keep an eye on him when you’re not around.”
I smiled gently at John through the rearview mirror before turning my attention to Grayson. I placed my hand softly on his knee, rubbing it with my thumb. “See he thinks trouble will find you too.” He rolled his eyes placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
It didn’t take long before we arrived at the planetarium. I was confused at first, but didn’t question it. Grayson slid out of the vehicle, offering his hand to me. I took it allowing him to help me from the car. When we made our way inside, I thought there was a mistake. The building appeared to be empty.
“I think they’re closed,” I suggested.
“They’re not,” he pulled me along.
I saw a man walking towards us and thought for sure he was going to inform us that they were closed for maintenance or something.
“Mr. Alexander, right this way,” he spoke before turning on his heels, heading back the direction from which he came.
I looked at Grayson from the corner of my eye and his mouth quirked up in amusement. “You rented the entire place, didn’t you?” I should have suspected, but I hadn’t.
“Of course. The sight of you isn’t something I want to share with anyone else tonight.”
We were led into a dome like room with theatre style seating.
“Please sit anywhere, but if I can make a suggestion?” the man who worked there asked. Grayson and I nodded. The man smiled and led us to a row. “I suggest here. It’s the best spot in the house.” He smiled before leaving us.
Within five minutes of us taking our seats images began playing across the dome around us along with an elegant voice talking to us about the universe. I scooted as close to Grayson as I could with the arm rest between us, resting my head of his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me and I couldn’t help but sigh contently.
After the show, the man appeared again ushering us along to our next stop. He led us to a room that looked like a high rise stage. In the center of it was what I assumed to be a telescope, having never seen one before. It certainly didn’t look like what I pictured in my head.
“I figured with the light pollution and you being a lifelong New Yorker, you’d probably enjoy knowing what it really looks like out there,” Grayson whispered answering my unasked question. We walked up the stairs until we stood next to the telescope. With his hand pressing against my back, Grayson urged me forward.
“It’s already set,” the man working replied. I looked in and gasped as a blue light appeared. It hurt my eyes at first but I quickly adjusted to the brightness. It was a glowing orb of radiant blue light. When I stepped back and looked into the sky, I half expected to see it still there, but even with my supernatural sight, there was nothing there.
“It’s so beautiful.” I stepped to the side to let Grayson look. He bent over glancing through the telescope then stepped back.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he leaned to whisper so only I could hear. I looked at him bemused. When we left there, John drove us back to the apartment. I was a discouraged the evening ended so soon. Seeing my disappointment, Grayson whispered. “There’s still more to come.”
We rode up the elevator to the top floor. I was puzzled when Grayson pulled me to the stairwell and led me up to the roof. I gasped in delight when I took in the scene before me. There sat a table for two, with strings of white lights strung above making it look like stars in the sky. Grayson led me to our table, pulling my chair out for me. I was grinning from ear to ear as I watched him take his seat. Before I could utter a word, a waiter appeared dressed in a white dress shirt that was tucked into black slacks. He wore no jacket, but did have a black bow tie. I hadn’t even noticed him until he appeared carrying what I could only assume to be food, since it was covered by a silver cloche. He set in down in front of me removing the cloche, revealing that I was correct. There seated around a brown drizzle was a decadent piece of chocolate cake. I half grinned, baffled by what I was seeing.
“Look at the time,” Grayson stated, seeing my befuddlement. I pulled out my phone. It was a few minutes until midnight. Grayson reached over placing a candle into the slice of cake. “I wanted to be there very first person to say this to you,” he pulled a lighter from inside his pocket and lit the candle. “Happy Birthday, Gaby.”
I bit my lip while tears streamed down my face. They were happy tears. Just a few short weeks earlier, I thought I would never see him again, yet here we were celebrating my twenty fourth birthday.
“Make a wish,” he said when I still hadn’t blown out the candle.
“I don’t need to.” I reached over placing my hand on his. “I already have everything I want.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Grayson lifted me onto his lap. I placed my hands on his shoulders for balance. I looked into his eyes and saw them flash to honey green as I slid myself onto him. It wasn’t the first position of the night and I was sure it wasn’t going to be the last, but it was definitely one of my favorites. I stared at his face with each move seeing his eyes close in pleasure, his mouth agape with a groan. I threw my head back feeling him hit the perfect spot. Grayson, not one to miss an opportunity ran his tongue over my pulse before nipping at it. My birthday had started our dry spell on blood exchanging and as much as I loved it, I was glad it had been almost a week since we fed from each other. It meant that things had been good for him.
Grayson held me from the brink so far, but I could feel it fast approaching. Just before I could fall over the edge, he stopped all movement. I groaned in frustration. He lifted me off of him and spun me around. I felt him shift his position putting us both on our knees with his chest against my back. I leaned forward just a bit letting him slip inside me again then he pulled me flush against his chest. I groaned for an entirely different reason as Grayson cupped my breast, rolling my hardened nipple with one hand while his other slipped between my thighs rubbing on my sensitive nub. I was being stimulated at every pleasure source.
“Are you close?” he whispered against my neck. I nodded rapidly too afraid to talk. I was fighting off my impending orgasm as long as I could, enjoying the pleasure he was causing me too much. Without warning, Grayson bit me over my pulse, not to draw blood, but just a love nip that any human could handle. It was enough to push me fast over the cliff. As I screamed out his name, I felt his body spill into me filling me with warmth.
We both fe
ll to the bed in a heap. I curled into Grayson as he pulled the covers over us.
“Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” I asked him.
“Tell me,” he chuckled.
I leaned up and kissed him. “You are so incredible. Don’t get me wrong you’ve always been amazing, but since you became a vampire…”
“I’m more in tuned,” he stated. I smiled and nodded. “Are you ready for round two?” he asked.
“Already?” I replied.
“Being more in tuned to your body isn’t the only thing being a vampire has given me.”
I laughed as Grayson rolled over pinning me to the bed. His lips crushed against mine when abruptly there was fierce knock at the front door. The knock’s sponsor gave the illusion that urgency wasn’t only necessary, but demanded. With a groan, Grayson rolled off of me and slipped into a pair of sleep pants.
“We’re not done,” he added before hurrying to the door in a vampiric blur. I looked at the clock as I moved to follow. It was close to midnight, making me think it was either an emergency, or a vampire. I quickly threw on Grayson’s work shirt, not remembering where my clothes were, before following after him.
“Grayson, how good to see you. Is Gabriella available?” I halted suddenly wishing to retreat into my room. Her voice showed only the smallest wavier from perfection, but that, along with the brutal pounding to my front door gave me enough information to know that not everything was as flawless as my mother wanted it perceived.
I halted mid-step in the doorway of the living room as Grayson swung the door open inviting her inside. She walked in showing no sign of the momentary blunder. Her gaze caught me standing there in only Grayson’s shirt. She looked shocked then embarrassed. I fumbled with the buttons trying to make sure I had as many done as I could and was glad this shirt came to rest mid-thigh in the front.
“Mother? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, Gabriella. What gave you that impression?”
My brow furrowed and rose. I was not sure if her question was rhetorical; she couldn’t possibly believe that her performance went unnoticed. “There is something I wanted to discuss with you, if you have a moment.” She looked flustered as she glanced back at Grayson then to me. I figured she put the pieces together by our attire and probably our scent.
