Till the Break of Dawn

by Tracey H. Kitts

  Tears ran down my face as he matter-of-factly reported the full extent of his injuries.

  “My career was over. For the most part it was kept out of the media. People knew I was hurt, but not how badly. I had only been in the hospital for one day when he showed up.”

  “You mean Nybras?”

  He nodded. “This guy would make anybody do a double-take, even someone under the influence of a lot of pain meds, like I was at the time. He’s about six feet tall, thin, pale. His hair is stark white and he’s got blue eyes that look like they glow all the time. When he walked into my hospital room it made my skin crawl.”

  I believed him. The description he gave was enough to give me goose bumps. Before this all I had known about Nybras was that he turned Marcus and he scared the hell out of him. I was beginning to understand why.

  “He starts laying out this offer, just like the Devil. He said that my injuries hadn’t healed enough to make them permanent, but if I let them heal I would never walk again. He offered to turn me right then. He said that my transformation would be more painful than most, but that I would recover fully. He told me about the P.F.C., which was in its beginning stages at the time. He said he’d make me a top priority. To be able to do what I love forever sounded a hell of a lot better than never being able to do it again. It was all or nothing darlin’ and I chose all.”

  Well, when he put it like that, who could blame him?

  “Most people might not have done the same, but after being use to a body that was so athletic, the thought of never being able to walk again terrified me.”

  “I would have done it.”

  He kissed me softly. “You don’t have to say that for my benefit. What’s done is done. Besides, if I hadn’t accepted his offer I’d be way too old for you now.”

  I hugged him tighter, snuggling against his neck again. “I’m not saying it to make you feel better, Marc. I really would. Given the choice of living a short life crippled or eternal life with all the power you have now. Well, that isn’t much of a choice.”

  He ran his hands underneath my shirt and started to stroke my back. The effect was so relaxing I had to fight to keep from falling asleep.

  “Marcus, how come you didn’t catch on fire or smoke when we left the hotel, but you did when Jesse was here? You had your cloak on.”

  “Not at first,” he said, continuing to stroke my tired muscles. “My skin was exposed to the light before I could put my cloak on.”

  “Oh.” My reply was more of a sigh than a word. His hands were like magic.

  “You should rest.”

  I suppose his voice was magic too, because that’s exactly what I did.

  *****

  I awoke to the sound of Marcus’ voice. Normally his deep rumbling baritone would have been enough to soothe me back to sleep, but he sounded angry. I was still on the couch, but Marcus sounded like he was in the kitchen.

  “My contract is not specific on those points.” He was silent for a minute, I assumed listening to whatever the other person had to say. “It makes sense to have someone who can watch over me during the day. David will not live forever.” More silence. “The wording states that I cannot turn others, not that I cannot have a companion! The choice is not yours, Nybras. I’ve had your lawyers go over it very carefully. If you don’t believe me, take another look.”

  Marcus clapped his phone shut as he rounded the corner. For just a second I got a very frightening glimpse of what he was capable of becoming. His skin was paler than normal, his fangs were out and longer than I remembered. His hair was floating again on an electric-like current that touched him alone, and his eyes were solid green. He looked like a very frightening marble statue. Nybras must have really pissed him off.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. Instantly his appearance returned to normal. There was warmth in his smile and his eyes as he looked at me. “I have to make things sound practical for Nybras. I truly think love is beyond his comprehension.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Marcus sat beside me on the couch and for a second or two I just stared at him. His transformation had been both frightening and impressive. And as odd as it might sound, it was kind of sexy.

  When I finally found my voice I said, “I thought you were afraid of Nybras.”

  “Just because Nybras is my master does not mean I am his footstool.”

  “Wow. That sounds threatening.”

  He smiled, softening his harsh words just a little. “What it means is that he will not always have complete control over me. He made me, so obviously he is more powerful. That I will continue to respect. But, my contract does not last forever. He doesn’t own me.”

  “When is your contract up?”

  “Twenty-eight more years.”

  My expression must have showed how alarmed I was. Marcus laughed and patted my hand. “I signed a fifty-year contract. Don’t look so surprised. Things like this aren’t unusual for vampires. After that I will have fulfilled all of the obligations I owe Nybras for saving me.”

  “What will you do then?”

  He reached for me and I climbed onto his lap.

  “I might retire or even start a business of my own. Who knows? Until then, I’d like very much if you were a part of it all, whatever ‘it’ turns out to be.”

  “I’m afraid I won’t look very good in spandex in twenty-eight years. That is, if you want me to be a part of your act.”

  He laughed. “No, I don’t think anyone needs to be a part of my act. And if things go the way I’ve planned, you’ll look just fine in twenty-eight years, in spandex, or nothing at all.”

  Thunder rumbled so loud the windows vibrated. “How long was I asleep?”

  “Only about an hour.” He winked. “You needed the rest.”

  I slipped from his lap and went to the front door to have a look outside. The sky looked like a giant bruise, all black and purple and angry. The temperature had dropped enough that the wind whipping my hair about felt almost cool.

  “Wow. This came up fast. It was bright and clear when we were out here before.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  I jumped. Marcus was standing behind me, looking over my shoulder. His cloak was nowhere to be seen. The only thing protecting his skin was the thin undershirt that left most of his upper body exposed and his pants.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Oh, I didn’t tell you? As long as there’s cloud cover I can go outside like this. I’ve always loved rainy weather. I figured out a long time ago that if I needed to get somewhere during the day, storms are my friend.”

  I put a hand over my heart as if that would slow it’s frantic pace. “You could have mentioned that before. I thought you were going to burst into flames.”

  “Sit with me for a while?” he asked.

  Marcus made himself comfortable on my porch swing, resting one long leg on the seat. The way he positioned himself, I had no choice but to sit between his legs. Not that I was complaining. I rested back against him while he toyed with my hair. We sat there listening to the thunder for several minutes before I noticed he had no heartbeat.

  Of course I had noticed this before, but that was a long time ago. It was always a little strange to realize that the man who seemed so very much alive was very much dead. Or undead as the case may be. The difference in me noticing this now and when I had noticed his lack of heartbeat for the first time was; now I wasn’t afraid.

  With a soft whoosh, the rain the clouds had been promising finally reached us. It splashed up onto the porch and wet our bare feet. The sound of the storm and the soft shushing of the rain in the trees was like a symphony.

  “When I was little I used to love going out in the rain,” I said. “Mamma would always scold me and say that if I wanted to play in the yard I should wait for the storm to pass.”

  “I think that’s the problem with your mamma. She’s been waiting her whole life for the storm to pass and has missed out entirely.”

  No one
had ever summed up my mother quite so well. “You’re right.”

  “If you spend all your time waiting for the storm to pass, you’ll miss the chance to dance in the rain.”

  Marcus stood up, giving me no choice but to move seeing as how I’d lost my pillow. He reached for me and did a dramatic bow. I laughed as I took his hand.

  “You’re not really taking me out into that?”

  “Yep.”

  “But it’s a flash flood!”

  I squealed as he threw me over his shoulder and carried me out into the downpour. Marcus sat me down with a splash. Damn he looked good wet. The storm truly was his element. His pale green eyes looked more alive, his dark hair clung to him adding to the illusion that he was a part of the storm. And when he smiled I thought I might swoon. Just a subtle curl of his lips was all it took. I would have done anything he asked.

  Marcus pulled me against him and I laughed again. “I’m too short to dance with you, especially without heels.”

  “Then stand on my feet, you sexy little thing.”

  I stepped onto his feet and Marcus twirled us around the yard with a grace I had not expected. We laughed and danced to a melody that only we could hear. It was the most fun I’d ever had. For a little while I forgot about everything except the way his wet body felt pressed against mine, the way the smell of fresh rain mingled with his scent so well, and how wonderful it felt to be in his arms again.

  When we reached the side of the house Marcus lost his balance. But even the way we fell to the ground seemed too well choreographed to be an accident. Since I landed on top of him, I decided not to question it. I slid up his body for a kiss, running my hands underneath his shirt. Marcus lifted up so that I could pull the wet fabric over his head, but I could only reach halfway. He smiled at my frustrated pout and threw the shirt onto the grass beside us.

  “Impatient?” he teased.

  “Shut up and take off your clothes.”

  That wicked smile of his was back. “As you wish.”

  I stood up only long enough to peel out of my jeans. Normally I would not be caught naked in the yard, but right now I really didn’t care. I watched Marcus slide his pants to mid-thigh before stopping him.

  “That’s far enough.”

  I knelt over him, taking his hard cock in my hand. I rubbed him all over my wet pussy before letting him slip inside. Marcus groaned as he reached for me. “Come here.”

  I rode him slow and easy while he slipped off my shirt and bra, exposing all of my skin to the cool rain. I kissed him hungrily, sucking the rain from his lips. Marcus plunged his tongue inside my mouth while his hands roamed over my body. Being with him went so far beyond the physical. He stroked my soul with his touch. His soft caress was enough to make me want to cry. Ever since I had been apart from him it was almost like I was the one who was dead. But with his touch, he brought me back to life.

  “Oh, Marcus, I’m going to come already.”

  “Me too,” he panted.

  Marcus held me tight, clinging to my body as release flooded us both. My muscles clamped tight around his shaft and I moaned with each contraction. When I finally caught my breath and my senses began to return I looked up into the rain and smiled.

  “We should get inside and clean up. I don’t think I’ve ever rolled around in the mud like this before.”

  Marcus looked surprised. “We’re in the mud? I could have sworn I fell in grass.”

  “Well, it probably was grass when we fell down. But with all this rain, it’s mud now.”

  I had just stood up when we heard someone drive up in front of the house. If it weren’t for the rain, we could have heard them as soon as they hit the gravel driveway.

  “Oh, shit.”

  Marcus leapt to his feet and, thanks to his vampire speed, got dressed a hell of a lot faster than I did. He stepped in front of me while I fought my way back into the wet jeans and t-shirt. I didn’t have time to worry with underwear. Marcus picked up my panties along with the discarded bra and stuffed them in his back pocket. Considering they were hot pink, it looked pretty damn funny.

  The wet grass felt good under my bare feet as we rounded the corner of the house. Marcus moved slowly, probably so I wouldn’t step on anything and get hurt. He kept me behind him with his hand on my arm. The protective gesture was nice, but I really didn’t think a murderer would drive up and make so much noise. I’m not sure why, but I suspected that whoever killed Mandy would be more subtle.

  I felt a tension I hadn’t previously noticed slip from his body. He was relieved about something, but I couldn’t see around him to understand. I moved underneath his arm about the time David exclaimed, “There you are!”

  Marcus stepped over the azaleas and up onto the porch. David continued to complain as Marcus lifted me up with him.

  David walked up the steps before shaking his wet hair like a dog. “You do realize my sense of smell is almost completely shot in this weather?”

  “I know that rain covers the scent of anything you might be tracking. But the better question here is what the hell are you tracking?”

  David ran a hand through his blond hair, slicking it back. “You,” he said, sounding even more frustrated.

  Marcus’ confused look reflected my feelings as well. “Why the hell would you be tracking me?”

  “Because I could feel your senses going off the chart! It was like fight or flight or—”

  David stopped abruptly and took a really good look at us. “Arousal,” he finished, blushing.

  A smile tugged the corners of Marcus’ lips, but I could tell he was trying to fight it. “You thought I was being attacked?”

  “And maybe you were.” David slumped forward, putting a hand over his eyes like his head hurt. “I’m sorry. I woke up and sensed some sort of alarm in you. After all that’s happened, I jumped to the worst conclusion. I’m just really fucked up right now.”

  “It’s all right,” Marcus said, putting his arm around David. “Do you want to come in for a while?”

  David looked down at his clothes. “I’m wet.”

  “Look at us,” I said, gesturing to our muddy clothes. “You’re fine. Please, come inside.”

  I got David a towel and showed him to the laundry room so that he could dry his clothes. We were all soaked through. “I’m gonna go wash off and change.”

  “We’ll be right back,” Marcus added.

  “Please, make yourself at home.”

  We hurried upstairs and started to undress. “Here, I’ll take these downstairs to keep them off the floor,” Marcus said, gathering our wet clothes.

  “Just throw them on a towel for now. Do you think David is okay?”

  “He seems that way.”

  “He could sense your feelings because you’ve drank his blood so many times, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Will that happen to us?”

  He smiled. “Eventually.”

  He took a towel from the cabinet in the bathroom and spread it on the floor for our wet clothes. I watched, admiring the sexy little curve in the side of his ass when he moved.

  “While you were asleep I moved my bags into your room. I hope you don’t mind?”

  “Nope.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “That’s exactly where I want you. Oh, you haven’t seen my shower yet, have you?”

  Suddenly I was very excited to show him my oversized walk-in shower. When I completely gutted the bathroom, Jamie could not understand why. At the time, neither did I. All I knew was that the small bathroom simply would not do. I knocked down the wall to the adjoining bedroom and made the new enormous space the master bath. The walls were a pale cream with the floor tiles being only a shade or so darker. My large garden tub stood in the middle of the room, and near the back was the shower. It was separated from the rest of the room by a wall of tile. Behind this you had to take two steps down into the shower. The shower nozzle was about seven feet high. Just right for Marcus.

  He followed m
e around the corner and sighed when he saw the shower. “You were planning to look me up again all along, you just didn’t know it.”

  I stepped down into the shower and turned on the water. “I think you’re right.”

  Marcus let me stand under the water first. I soaped up and stepped out of the way while I washed my hair. I watched as suds ran down every sexy ridge and curve of his body, following the trail all the way to his feet. In my mind I made a promise to make better use of this shower just as soon as we had time. Right now I wasn’t sure how stable David was emotionally and I didn’t think it was right to leave him alone.

  Chapter Twenty

  When I stepped out of the closet, Marcus was already dressed. He was wearing blood red pajama pants and a smile. What a perfect combination. I enjoyed the way he watched me as I slipped into my green pajama pants and white t-shirt. This time I made sure to put on a bra underneath. I didn’t think it was polite for my nipples to point at company.

  “I’ll put on something else when I go to close up tonight, but for the moment this is as good as it gets.”

  “Have I told you how much I love your décor?” he asked.

  I smiled. “I thought you might.”

  “We should check on David,” he said, pulling me close.

  The first time I met David he was naked, so finding him in my kitchen wearing nothing but a towel wasn’t that unusual.

  “You said to make myself at home, so I made some coffee. After the way I drank last night, I could really use some caffeine.”

  “I think I’ll have another cup myself,” I said, stepping around the handsome werewolf to reach my favorite mug.

  One thing I had quickly learned, vampires and werewolves were very comfortable in their skins. I think the only reason they ever put on clothes was for everyone else’s sake of propriety. It didn’t seem strange to me at all that I should hug David, even though he was more than half naked.

  He accepted my offer of comfort and embraced me tightly.

  “I know this is one of those stupid questions that everybody asks, but I don’t know how else to say it. How are you doing?”