Authors: Jez Strider
“Are you going to ask me what happened in there?”
The fact of the matter is that I didn’t want to think about Dante or the past day in the house ever again. I looked down at my ring, glad it was back where it belonged.
“No.
You can tell me anything you want, but as far as I’m concerned that part of our life is over.
Our new life together starts right now.”
I could see his handsome smile in the starlit sky as he took my helmet off his bike and placed it on my head.
He used the strap to pull me close and he pressed his lips to mine, kissing me softly.
“You still have to do the freaky stuff you learned while being a prostitute, though.”
I laughed.
“Mm, I think I can take that deal.
Thank you for saving me.” Marc was so forgiving. I didn’t understand how he could be.
“Always will.”
I was still just wearing my slip so he took off his jacket and held it out while I put my arms through the sleeves. He climbed onto his motorcycle and held my hand while I slipped onto the seat behind him.
My arms wrapped tightly around his waist and I didn’t want to ever let go.
Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw
Taya
run into the garden maze.
Trouble.
That was going to be trouble.
I told myself with a sigh before I decided not to dwell on it.
I didn’t have the energy.
Marcus’ sexy, manly scent filled my senses as we rode home.
His raven hair was pulled back into a short ponytail.
The sound of the road and the cool air on my face relaxed much of the tension from my body.
I dozed off and on during the ride.
When we reached our destination and I saw where we were I was wide awake.
“My house. “
I ran up to the door.
It’d be so long since I had been home.
The moment I opened the door I was assaulted by Marcus’ dog Lewis and I screamed.
I didn’t expect the animal to be there.
“Hi, boy!
What are you doing here?”
I asked when I realized who was greeting me.
As I looked around the room, I saw a trash bag sitting in the middle of the floor.
It had been tossed haphazardly and Marcus’ clothing was spilling out.
When I looked back at him his expression looked odd and I quirked a brow.
“Okay, so my track record sucks, but you said no more secrets.”
“I’m not in a motorcycle gang or club.
I’m not into that stuff.
Those biker guys don’t just help people for free.”
“Oh…
You had to sell your shop.”
I couldn’t figure out any other reason his dog and clothing would be here.
Marc just smirked and shrugged.
“Variable change.”
He’d been in the habit of using that phrase since the first time he watched that poker movie he loved.
“The shop and the apartment kind of went together.”
I walked up and hugged him tightly, resting my head against his chest.
“I’m so sorry about everything.
Truly, I am.”
He rubbed my back gently.
“Couldn’t you have sold…my ring or some of your other motorcycles?”
“Are you crazy? I’m not selling your ring.
If I’d done that you might not marry me.”
He looked into my eyes and gave a short laugh before kissing me.
“The bikes were part of the deal.
Stayed with the shop except for the one we rode back on.”
That old guilty feeling.
Would it ever go away?
“You’re the crazy one for loving me.” I said and meant it.
He had to be.
He laughed again.
“True, but right now I’m just glad you’re alive to drive me crazy.”
His hand slipped down against my lower back and he guided me toward the bathroom.
“We just need to get that vamp scent washed off.”
Ugh.
He was so right.
I still had blood from the recently deceased Dante all over me.
It didn’t seem like a good idea to hang around the mansion and get cleaned up.
Besides, I wanted to get far away from there as quickly as possible.
The feeling was incredible to step into my own shower.
Marcus had gone to check the locks and feed his dog.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t scared of my maker.
The bathroom steamed up.
I’d forgotten to turn on fan.
I grabbed my loofa and body wash after letting the hot water bead against my face for a long time.
Vigorously, I scrubbed myself from head to toe to get rid of any drop of blood.
Yeah, sure, I was a vampire and blood gave life.
This was different, though.
It was from someone that was dead and I’d killed him…well, Marcus technically killed him, but I definitely helped.
I heard Marcus in the bathroom a little while later and he called out.
“Do you need any help in there?”
He’d given me some time to myself and I appreciated it.
Now wasn’t the time, though.
I wanted him with me.
“Yes, please.” I pulled back the shower curtain just a little to peer at him.
Steam shrouded his body…naked body I should say, but it didn’t obscure my view that much.
His gaze locked on my wet breasts before he raised his head to meet my welcoming grin with his own.
He pressed up against me in the shower.
Every touch was perfectly placed and his kisses gentle and caring.
I wanted him then, not just to make love, but forever.
Maybe I understood a little bit of what Dante was saying about long life making him bitter and cruel.
It’d kill me to lose Marc now.
If he didn’t want to become a vampire, I would lose him eventually.
How many times could a person endure so much pain?
Dante was right.
This recent experience had changed me, just like everything that had happened in my past had changed me.
I pushed the thought from my mind and enjoyed the present with my fiancé.
By the time we finished, we were both out of breath.
He rested his forehead against mine for a moment.
“Forever,” was the only thing he said before looking into my eyes.
I just nodded.
Briefly, I caught a glimpse of the fear and worry his blue eyes held.
He hid many of his emotions for my good, I realized.
“Marry me.” He said softly, kissing me once more.
“
Mmm
, but I already said I would.
I love you.”
I whispered when he let me free from his kiss and looked at me.
He shook his head, as if I didn’t understand.
“Tomorrow,
Evey
.
Let’s just go to one of those drive-through chapels or something and get married.”
It took me a few moments to respond.
Marc was getting good at catching me off guard.
I could think of a million reasons to wait, but none of them seemed to matter.
“Let’s do it.
The sooner the better.”
I told him, nodding.
If it was a mistake, I had definitely made worse before.
“I love you so much.”
The wide smile on his face said it all and his eyes only held excitement now.
He turned off the faucet and tossed me a towel.
We both dried off and climbed into my bed.
He held me tightly, stroking my hair.
A flash of lightening lit up the room followed by a loud crack of thunder.
The dog, Lewis, came running frantically into the room and jumped into the bed with us, shaking.
“Did I mention he’s terrified of storms?”
Marcus reached down and gave his friend a pat on the side.
“That’s exactly why he ran out in front of that car the day I brought him to you.”
Our love for animals just made me that more sure we belonged together.
“At least we have a big bed.”
I laughed, though the thunder made me a bit uneasy.
The recent storm that turned my life upside down was over, but I knew the calm would only last so long before another came along.
The next morning I awoke to the clattering of cooking going on in the kitchen.
I was hungry until I got a whiff of the sausage and eggs.
“Oh god…”
I covered my mouth and raced to the master bath in my bedroom.
When I had thoroughly emptied my stomach into the bowl, I stayed seated in the floor with my back against the bathtub.
“No, not possible.”
Over and over again I repeated that to myself as I stared at the lavender bathroom rug.
“Breakfast!”
My fiancé called cheerfully from the kitchen.
“O…okay!”
Apparently he hadn’t heard me vomiting in the bathroom.
Good.
Best not to say anything until I was sure.
I grabbed his phone before walking into the kitchen.
The food still didn’t seem appetizing, but I’d manage to force it down.
Marcus looked me over.
“You feel alright?”
He sat a plate of food in front of me as I took a seat at the kitchen table.
“
Mmhmm
.”
I nodded.
When he looked away to grab his own plate I slipped the dog some of my food.
“I’m going to text Ashley and have her bring my cat home.”
Quickly, I shoved a bite of food into my mouth and started chewing.
It wasn’t a lie. I did want my cat home.
There was another request I sent my friend.
I deleted the history of the message after I sent it. It read, “Bring me a pregnancy test.”