Authors: Jez Strider
As he spoke, I took a seat beside him.
I felt extremely uncomfortable, even more so than when I first saw Marcus after I’d made love to Antonio.
“Last night was good.”
I said before he could continue.
He gave a small laugh and seemed to relax a bit, taking my hand in his.
“Yeah, it was.
I mostly just wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”
He ran his other hand through his hair, before glancing toward his nightstand.
The relaxation was brief and he looked anxious once more.
“I’m sorry.”
I blurted out, figuring his unrest was from me sleeping with Antonio.
Marcus gave a small nod, turning back to look into my eyes.
“I know.”
We were both new at talking about our feelings with each other and this was one hell of a starter conversation.
“I’ve never known such pain as when I was forced to watch…that.
Then again, I’ve never fallen in love like this.”
He looked so young, fragile and innocent, undamaged by time.
“It was a mistake.”
One that I hoped I wouldn’t make again, despite how pleasurable it was.
“I’m not going to make excuses about why.”
I shook my head.
My calm impressed me.
I had pictured this conversation going much differently.
“You don’t have to make excuses.
I’m not naïve.
I know why.
It’s like a crime of passion, heat of the moment deal.
I get it.
You thought I was dead and he’s your long lost lover. You wanted to piss that old vamp off, too.”
The volume of his voice went up briefly before he shut his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Don’t forget, I read your journal the night all your stuff was packed.”
“Yes.
I remember.”
I nodded, suddenly wishing I’d have just bared my fangs and then tried to explain.
Of course Antonio had suggested I let him read the journal.
It would be painful.
Passive aggressive vampires.
Ugh!
His gaze drifted back to the drawer once more and he opened it, pulling out a small ring box.
It couldn’t be what I thought it was.
There was no way he was going to ask me to marry him.
What man in their right mind would do that right now?
After what I’d just put him through.
“Crimes of passion have lesser penalties than something premeditated.”
He smiled faintly and I looked from him to the box then back up at him with a quirked eyebrow.
“If the same crime were to be committed again, it would be a deal breaker.
Just
throwin
’ that out there.”
My heart was pounding in my chest.
Part of me was hoping it was a pair of earrings in the box, but another part was hopeful that it was an engagement ring, that this boy really did love me enough.
“It won’t.”
My response was more whispered than I meant it to be.
Marcus lowered himself down to one knee beside the bed and opened the box.
The ring was white gold with a band lined with diamonds and a Tahitian pearl focal point.
Beautiful and expensive.
I felt about as nervous as he looked.
“I actually bought this the day after we met.
Real love can happen fast, I believe.
I was riding through town that morning after you’d saved Lewis and I’d spent the night at the shelter.
And…” A genuine smile spread across his face as he spoke of our first night together.
“And you stayed too because I was so upset.
Anyway, I was riding past the jeweler and just stopped.
In all the years I’ve lived here, I’d never been in that store.”
There wasn’t a peep that escaped my lips as he recounted the story.
I just listened in awe with watery eyes.
None of this was expected.
He’d always been so calm and casual, going by my stupid rules.
All the while he’d been restraining how serious his feelings were from the very beginning.
“So I saw this ring and bought it. I just carried it around and waited.
I knew you weren’t ready.
After reading your journal I know why you try to avoid love.”
His hand took my once again and he slipped the ring onto my finger.
“If you’re still not ready to say yes, just wear it for a while and see how you feel about…us.”
In all my years, I had only been married once.
My husband had died in World War II and ever since I hadn’t truly opened my heart.
It was opening now whether I wanted it to or not.
A few silent tears ran down my cheeks and I nodded.
“I’ll wear it.”
I said as he wiped away my tears lightly.
“And I will marry you.
I don’t have to think about it.”
His lips were on mine instantly.
I didn’t even know if I would say yes until I did. We were both reveling in our happiness like careless teenagers.
There was too much to worry and talk about, but neither of us cared.
This time as we made love, he wasn’t dominant or trying to reclaim his territory.
He knew I was his, completely, in that moment.
My head rested against his chest and he stroked my hair gently in the afterglow.
“Evelyn Angel…I think it will sound even better to call you Evelyn Hart.”
I wasn’t angry when he assumed that I would take his name. I’d changed my name many times through the years.
It was
Evelina
Angelis in Italy.
In the old west I was Eve “Sassy” Malone.
“Maybe Evelyn Angel-Hart?”
I responded.
He laughed.
“Ooh yeah, that sounds badass.
Hmm, and you just gave me a good idea.”
“Tell me!”
“Hmm, nope.
Surprise.”
My fiancé teased.
I was curious, but he was off to a good track record with his surprises.
“Fine.”
I pouted.
“There’s one more important thing.”
His tone was serious and I leaned up to look at him.
“If we’re going to be together, after all this business with the crazy vamp Dante is done….”
He waited and I gave a little gulp, my mouth suddenly feeling dry.
“You’re never to see Antonio again.”
He was already telling me what to do and we weren’t even married, but could I blame him?
I mean, he kind of had a right to after what had transpired.
I just nodded a little and said “okay” before laying my head back against his chest.
I had a man that would do anything for me.
Antonio had his chance a long time ago.
If he wanted me, he should have ran away with me when were in Italy.
Life goes on and with
Marcus,
I knew it could be a good life.
Peaceful moments in life are too short lived.
Marc and I had enjoyed breakfast and then he had talked me into playing some video games.
The bad part about feeling better was how stir crazy I was becoming.
Any distraction from the fact I was basically imprisoned in his apartment was welcome.
After spending so many decades sequestered away for Dante’s pleasure, I did not enjoy being forced to stay inside.
Freedom was precious to me and it was being taken away once again.
After our second game of Madden, I was tired of losing.
“Just one more game, babe,” Marcus pleaded.
I was about to give in, since I had nothing better to do, when there was a knock at the door.
Strangely, I had already heard the footsteps beforehand.
My new enhanced senses were taking some getting used to.
Marcus was up and heading to the door.
“It’s Antonio,” I said as I subconsciously covered my new ring with my other hand.
Marc raised his eyebrow questioningly.
“How do you know that?”
My shoulders hunched into a shrug.
“It’s hard to explain.
I don’t understand. It’s just the sound and smell of, well, just of him.”
He didn’t try to hide his scoff and he grumbled under his breath. “Fucking vamps making my woman all supernatural with their blood.”
I assumed he thought I didn’t hear it, but I did.
If this encounter went by without incident, I would be very surprised.
Marcus opened the door.
“You’re not invited,” he said in a snide tone.
Antonio ignored the comment and entered the room.
He was bearing a vase with a mixture of white and red roses.
“I’m sorry it’s taken me so long,
Evelina
.
It’s been hard to maintain order.”
Lewis came bounding in the room and I expected the usually threatening barks.
The dog just ran up to the vampire and sat down in front of him, wagging his tail.
I could see Marcus frowning at the traitor dog and shaking his head.
“Thank you.”
I accepted the flowers, exposing the ring as I did so.
Marc’s face was practically as red as the roses as he looked on, while Antonio’s spirit seemed to sink as he spotted the jewelry.
His eyes just stared into mine for a moment and he kept his back to Marcus until he had mastered his emotions.
Awkwardly, I just set the flowers on the table.
“So…?”
Marcus asked impatiently.
“Do we have any leads or is this just a social visit?”
Once again, Antonio paid little attention to my fiancé’s comments.
He just gave the dog a friendly pat then took a seat on the couch beside me.
Lightly, he brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.
It was as if he thought I would break.
“Color…that’s good.
I’m glad you finally decided to feed.
Your body seems to have won the battle.
Sometimes, the combination with another vampire, especially one so ancient, is too much to endure.”
This wasn’t all that surprising to me from the way I had felt.
Marcus looked appalled, but he didn’t say anything.
He did grab a beer from the fridge and take a large gulp.
“I feel strong and….” It was so difficult to find the right words to describe the change.
I slammed my fists onto my knees and sighed in frustration.
“You feel aware and in touch with the world as you never have been before.”
His voice was gentle.
“The only reason you’ve been allowed to get away with living so human, outside of vampire society is because you were weak.
You didn’t feed as most of us do.
But now….”
He looked down at his hands.