Forever (The Forever series Book One) (2 page)

Constantine, or CK, as I call him by his first two initials
which never change over time (I’m the only one who gets away with the nickname
– it’s just easier to say sometimes) and I hook up whenever I go to see him,
which is usually once a month or so, as we can't bear to be out of one another’s
presence for too long these days. I get the rare odd visit over here in the
States, but as he plays the part of a reclusive billionaire well, he very
rarely gets spotted out in public--because he doesn’t
go
out in
public--and he is a master at dodging the press, when he does have to go out.
He makes an appearance maybe once a year at one of the many charitable
foundations he sponsors and that is it. I love him deeply as well. He can
terrify the knickers off me but I do love him. Not in the same way as I love
Devon. Devon is mine, one that I chose but I am CK’s, the one that he chose. He
is very protective of me and while I gave up trying to convince him I could
look after myself ages ago, I know he will always be watching out for me. As I
would do for Devon, only a thousand times worse. He fully believes it is a
sire’s right to be overbearing and controlling and while I try not to be, the
same can’t be said for CK. My bond with him is strong as well. I can feel it
from across a room and when he touches me… I lose all reason. As with Devon,
our “I love you’s” are not declarations of love. Not anymore – at least not
from him, I don’t think. Too much time, too much history, too many wrong
moments. But I do love him. I always have and I always will. Devon is convinced
that he is still in love with me but I’m not so sure. All he has to do is say
the word and I would be with him, refusing him has never been my strong suit,
but he never does. I know he has other lovers. He always has. It bothers me
that he does to other women what he does to me. It’s irrational and I shouldn’t
feel jealous but I do. My hand itches to stake both Vampire and human alike
that he has been with. Back when we were together it crushed me. I was so in
love with him. He was my whole world. Sometimes, in my dreams I want that
again, but in reality I know he can never give me what I want from him. I get
lost in a memory of a time when we were happy and together.

Tuscany, Italy, 1112 - Aefre

A hundred years had passed since my turning and what a
hundred years they were. Constantine has shown me things I never imagined. He
made me feel and experience things beyond my wildest beliefs.

Lounging in my room at the castle, overlooking a
beautiful expanse of water and mountains, I thought back on all the things I
have seen and done over the last century.

Startled out of my reverie by a knock at the door, I
called out “Enter.” It’s Constantine.

“Ah, my beautiful Aefre. There you are. I have been
looking everywhere for you,” he said slyly. I knew that look in his eyes. “It’s
time for your lessons, my dear.”

I sighed at him, but he knew I was playing with him. He
has taught me so much. We were working through Artes Liberales, The Liberal
Arts. I had completed the Trivium: Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric, and moved onto
the Quadrivium: Mathematics, Geometry, Music and Astronomy. It was all
fascinating and I loved our lessons. He said I am quick to learn and so clever
and that he is proud of me. It thrilled me that he thought these things of me,
no longer the young, uneducated, peasant girl he met back in London.

“Constantine, I don’t want to learn now. I want to play,”
I said petulantly.

Grinning he stalked over to me, “How much do you want
me?” he asked enjoying the game.

I considered, at length – much to his amusement. “To the
ends of the earth, my love,” I finally whispered and I meant it with all my
heart.

“Even after a hundred years, you still want me that
much?” he laughed but I could tell he was thrilled with my response.

“Are you saying you don’t want me that much?” I asked,
all the while idly playing with my nipples through the thin material of my
chemise.

His eyes darkened hungrily and I could see his erection
start to grow. Encouraged I slipped the thin straps down my shoulders so my
breasts popped free. He growled low in his throat. “Oh Aefre, I want you to the
ends of the world and back.” His words had such an effect on me and my nipples
stood to attention. He gazed at me, eyes full of lust and lowered his mouth to
one of my peaks. Sucking gently as his hands pushed the chemise further down,
freeing my arms. Pushing my hands into his soft hair, I moaned loudly at the
pleasure he gave me. I felt his fangs drop against my sensitive skin and he bit
down around my nipple and I exploded with an intense orgasm.

Oh I loved it when he did this. He usually reserved it
for rewarding me, if he is pleased with me. He released the bite and licked me.
“Always so easy, aren’t you?” he asked huskily.

“Only for you,” I said breathlessly. Lowering his head to
my stomach he planted kiss after kiss, lower and lower, pulling the chemise
completely away. He reached the spot I so wanted him to claim, and he did. His
tongue working, he inserted a finger into me and moaned softly. “So wet,” he
murmured.

“Oh Constantine. I love you. I want you now, please,” I
begged him.

“Patience, sweet Aefre.” He stood up suddenly and pulled
his shirt over his head. I admired his strong, smooth torso through narrowed
eyes. He undressed completely and grabbed me by the ankles and dragged me down
the bed so he was directly above me. I stared at him greedily, wanting to taste
him. I took him in my mouth. Licking the tip of him, tasting him, I moaned with
delight as I felt him harden even more.

“Oh Aefre. I love your wanton mouth,” he breathed but
pulled my head up by a fistful of hair, “but I want to be inside you here,” he
touched me and I quivered. I straddled him and lowered myself onto him
tantalizingly slow. Pulling back quickly I teased him in this manner until he
pushed me roughly down by my shoulders, filling me right up. I cried out and
rocked my hips thrusting against him quickly, his hands on my behind pushed me
further onto him. I dropped my fangs and pushed his head to the side. Biting
down sharply he hissed in pleasure. I loved the intimacy of biting during
lovemaking. It made me feel like I was claiming him, that he was truly mine and
the others were nothing to him. He told me he doesn’t let other Vampires bite
him and of course the humans can’t. I wished with all my heart that it is true
but doubt lurked. I still didn’t understand his need for other women. He told
me it is a Vampire's nature and I too will accept it and take other lovers. But
I didn’t want to. I didn’t want anyone but him. He was my life, my heart, my
soul, my everlasting love.

Releasing the bite I licked him and moved my mouth to
his. He clamped down on my bottom lip, biting me, drawing blood. He lapped away
as I pounded against him. I came forcefully around him. He groaned and quickly
followed. “I love you,” I whispered.

“And I, you,” he replied.

"So that actor guy you were flirting with earlier? Is
he your next victim?" Devon asks with a sly grin, and I bring my thoughts
back to the present.

"I certainly hope so,” I murmur.

Devon turns to look at me and raises his eyebrow at me,
"Really? A smitten kitten, are you?"

"Maybe," I reply in a noncommittal manner, looking
away.

"Hm, this is unusual." He wants to probe further,
I can tell, but I'm not talking.

"Thought you were of the use 'em and lose 'em
mindset?" he carries on.

"Not this one if I can help it, okay?" I glare at
him, discussion closed.

He backs off, but he knows me better than I know myself, and
I can sense, rather than see - as I'm avoiding his gaze - his trademark smirk.

Smug bastard, I think ruefully.

We sit in a companionable silence for the rest of the trip
home to Malibu. Grayson, my driver - also a Vampire, pulls into my driveway and
punches in the security code. The gates open and we drive up to the ten-bedroom
mansion that Devon and I share.

As we head to the bar area/den my Blackberry rings. An
unrecognized number. I know it has to be Cole.

"Hello?" I answer innocently.

"Hi, Liv?" comes the reply.

"Yes Cole, it's me."

No response.

"Cole?"

"Yes, I'm here, just slightly intimidated. When we
spoke earlier, I didn’t realize who you were... exactly."

"Who did you think I was?" I ask.

"Um, I thought I recognized you, somehow..." he
trails off. "Am I going to get fired for this? For asking you out?” he
asks only half joking.

I laugh. "No, I wouldn't let that happen to you,"
I say seductively and his breath catches in his throat.

"Well as head of the studio I work for, I will take
your word for it," he responds and I giggle.

"Have dinner with me, Friday? I'll pick you up at
8?" he asks.

"Dinner yes, but I will meet you at 8. I’ll message you
the details," I say decisively.

"Okay, until then."

"Until then."

"Oh by the way, your British accent is quite
charming," he says and hangs up.

I mentally falter at both the compliment and the fact he
dared to hang up on me. The compliment is simple enough but took me off guard.
I have fought a long hard battle to retain the upper middle class accent I
perfected centuries ago. We have been in America for over a century now, Devon
and I, and while he has adapted, I have chosen not to. Recovering as I sense
Devon watching me, I turn with what can only be described as a goofy grin on my
face as I think back to our conversation. Devon stares at me, as I don't do
goofy grins, but something about this man, this human, has turned my head.

"Smitten kitten," Devon says again, laughing at me
and this new nickname he has come up with.

"Fuck off," I throw back with a sire-like glare.

"Oh, feisty tonight." He comes closer, his blue
eyes staring right through me. He kisses me deeply and I get lost in it.

The sunlight streaming in the bedroom windows wakes me. Ugh,
Monday, I think, better get up for work.

Devon and I, are two of the many Vampires in the world that
can be in the sun.  When the Initial Vampires were created, it was unclear what
powers they would have and what their limitations would be. It was
unprecedented that sunlight would be an issue. An ancient witch was called upon
to rectify the problem, however, it took centuries before her bloodline tried
Faerie Silver. The Silver has to be crafted and enchanted and then earned by a
sire to give to his charges. The Initials were each given one for themselves,
pro bono, if you will. The rest have to be earned to prove the obtainer is
deemed worthy by undergoing trials. So I acquired mine in the form of a ring
from CK and Devon received his from me. Only the top three tiers in the
hierarchy are able to even try to gain access to the powers that help us past
our limitation, and not all who try, succeed. There are probably more Vampires
out there who are still confined to the shadows then there are who can live
normal lives. I say normal lives, but what I suppose I mean is able to blend in
with the human world.

I stir against the silk sheets on my bed, reveling in the
satisfaction of the previous night. Devon senses my movement and in his half
sleep pulls me to him.

"Not yet," he murmurs.

"We have work,” I remind him.

His blue eyes open and I want to stare at him forever.

"You're the boss, we can skip a few hours," he
cajoles.

"Hm," I murmur against his delicious mouth. I feel
him respond with a growl.

"Show me how much you want me," I whisper to him.

He rolls on top of me and kisses me. "I want you as you
are,” he says in between kisses.

My heart thuds. As much as I am willing to Shift for him, it
excites me that he wants me as I am, as he is not usually a fan of my natural
look. Preferring the dark haired, blue-eyed variety, I secretly love it when he
wants me au naturel. At twice his age and twice as strong, I shove him back
suddenly unleashing my Vampire on him, claws ripping at him. I straddle him and
slash at his chest drawing blood.  I lean over to lap up the blood on his
healing his wounds, and as I taste him, I get wet in response. I lift my hips
and place him into my soaking wet, shaven pussy. Oh God I want him so badly. I
push down my hips and we both cry out in pleasure.

"Oh yeah, baby, fuck me,” he whispers.

He sits up and pulls me to him for a kiss. I take this
opportunity to feed, gripping his back with my claws and sucking deep on his
neck. We come together as we so often do when we fuck like this.

"I love you,” he murmurs almost so I don't hear him.

"I love you,” I return fully satisfied.

I hear him sigh softly. "I will never get tired of
that,” he says.

"Nor I," I reply. Stretching myself next to him,
teasing him by pushing my breasts into him.

"I will take you again, my way - sire or not, if you
carry on with that behavior," he warns.

I laugh at his empty threat and he flips me over face down
and pushes me into the bed. I could easily overpower him but let him have his
fun. He climbs on me, knees on either side of my hips and pulls my head back to
feed. He very rarely gets me in such a submissive position that he revels in the
triumph, biting me hard. I am so turned on now and he knows it and chuckles.
"See, she does like to be played with," he whispers before he scoots
back and pulls my hips up. In a quick thrust he enters me.

Oh, you have to love how strong a Vampire’s constitution is.

We finally leave my bed to get dressed and set off for
work.  My head offices are located in downtown L.A. I enjoy the drive from
Malibu in one of the many convertibles I own. This is my favorite though, a
Bugatti Veyron Vitesse in black. My real job is in real estate. My studio head
job is more of a figurehead investment type thing. I have little to do with the
goings-on.

Pulling into the underground parking garage, Devon hangs up
his phone and checks his watch. He is my CFO. Astonishing with numbers, he
makes even my head spin. A lot of my wealth and success has been down to him.
Well, him and centuries of good investments of course. He leaps out of the car
as soon as I park, his eagerness to get to his office making me smile.

"Hurry up!" he shouts to me already at the
elevator and flashing his ID card to the reader to call it.

Along with almost instantaneous healing powers, Vampires
have super speed and super strength but in the modern world of security
cameras... well, any camera really, we have to go about our business as normal
humans would.

"All right, keep your pants on," I grumble,
mentally picturing him without his pants on. God, what is it with me? I can't
get enough of him lately.  Might be time to bring another lover into the mix. Hopefully
that won't be a problem after Friday, I think, sauntering into the elevator,
rolling my eyes at Devon's impatient, tapping foot.

"Some of us have work to do, you know,” he says
pointedly.

Turning to him I move closer, looking up at him from my shorter
stature. "If I recall, it wasn't
me
who wanted to stay in bed this
morning," I say quietly shifting my gaze from his eyes to his mouth and
back again. It has the desired effect and lights a fire in his eyes. He parts
his lips with a soft hiss.

“Ding!” goes the elevator as it stops at the lobby to let my
worker bees in. I subtly step back with a hint of a smile knowing he is
frustrated and somewhat pissed off about it.

After what seems like forever and many “Good Mornings” we
reach the 44th floor which houses Devon's offices and he stalks off in a huff.
Unable to keep the smile off my face, I wave at him as he looks back and the
doors close to take me up one to the top floor. My office is up here with a
conference room, video conference room, set of bathrooms, and my executive
assistant. The rest of the floor space is taken up on the outside by the
helipad.

Devon and I decided straight away on separate floors, trying
to maintain a professional relationship here. All the staff is aware that we
are close friends but the rumor mill is always hard at work with regard to our
physical relationship. Along with super healing, super strength and super speed
comes super hearing. We pay it no mind though and no one dare ask outright.

As I've mentioned, Devon is six feet of gorgeous. The ladies
throw themselves at him and he enjoys it. He has a reputation among the
tabloids as the billionaire playboy and he does nothing to quell the gossip. I
try to be subtler and try to stay out of the limelight where possible, but it's
difficult. When you have to move on to a new life every twenty years or so,
it's better to maintain a low profile. Mind you, it will be a lot less this
time around due to the explosion of internet media. However, we have been long
sighted in this and have all the correct papers for the next generation of us.
I can Shift, which makes it easy for me. I have tried to get Devon to Shift,
thinking I must have passed the gene along, but he hasn't been able to so far.
Perhaps because he doesn't want it bad enough like I did. He is vain about his
looks, with good reason, and doesn't want to change anything about himself. He
hasn't even changed his first name in 506 years! Reminds me of someone else I
know, as I think of my just-as-vain sire.

How we will get around Devon's notoriety is an issue that
plays on my mind, but he is a live-in-the-now type. Always has been. This
company--my company--Saxon Enterprises, has actually been around for hundreds
of years in some form or another, going with the times and adjusting our
service. It has only become the empire it is now in the last hundred years or
so. We've moved HQ from city to city, which has deflected most of the attention
away from its owner, being thousand-year-old me. The current party line is that
eight years ago I inherited it from my late aunt (also me), when I was
eighteen. The facts are buried so far under a mountain of paperwork, it would
take someone decades to find the truth. If someone were so inclined, that is.
So we've been in L.A. for eight years, making me “twenty-six.” I like to think
I look about twenty. I was turned when I was sixteen, but times were harder
back then. Devon was twenty when I turned him. He likes to think he passes for
twenty-eight. He does, just barely. Fingering the ”C” on my charm bracelet I
think of Constantine. He tells me he was also twenty when he was made; “turned”
is not the right word for him. Them. The making of the Initial Vampires is
shrouded in secrecy. I think it’s so that no one else will try and make another
one. It’s as good a guess as any. There is no written record of how or why they
were created and they don’t share, so it remains a mystery. Not one that overly
bothers me though. They have the weight of the Vampire population on their
shoulders and that just sounds like far too much hard work. Part of the reason
he stays out of the public eye is so he can move on easily the next time. The
Council in general are an elusive bunch, preferring to keep themselves to
themselves. In fact, with the exception of their own charges, of course, it is
rare for the rest of the Vampires to even see one, let alone meet and hang out
with one. Devon and CK have met but there is no love lost there. Slowly
circling the pattern of the ”C,” I sigh. He gave the bracelet with the charm to
me a few years ago, to always keep him close, he said. I have no doubt it is
also his way of staking his claim on me, but I don’t have a problem with that.
He is
very
territorial and possessive of me but sometimes I quite like
it. I am less so with regard to Devon but I do still have my moments.
Devon was less overt and gave me an ”S”
charm
to add to it.
The ”S” standing for Saxon, this company we
built together from the ground up. I have added a few more as the years have
gone. My favorites are the purple flowers, representing the Flower of Scotland,
always close to my heart. Brushing that thought aside I idly tap my pen; I try
to bring my attention back to my work. A knock at the door drags me back into
the present. It's Scott, my executive assistant. He is human but fully aware of
our true nature. It makes things a hell of a lot easier having him know, even
though we are vague with the details. He is paid especially well to keep his
trap shut, as are all our human employees who know (which to be fair I can
count them on one hand, if that), but he is excellent at his job so I don’t
mind.

"Morning Liv," he says handing me a cup of green
tea with one hand and a stack of files with the other.

"Morning Scott, thank you. Anything I need to
know?"

He shakes his head, “All covered."

"Excellent." I nod appreciatively. I have given
Scott a lot of autonomy and it makes my job a lot easier. He is intelligent,
organized, a whiz with numbers, a speed reader, has a photographic memory like
myself, is street smart, knows everyone and everyone knows him, and he is
highly, deductively intuitive. It's almost like it's a paranormal thing.

Taking a sip of tea, Scott leaves and I get down to work
with my stack of files. Mostly just signatures required but I always read
everything I sign. Vampires eat and drink as humans do but it does nothing for
us except makes us blend in and gives us something to do. Plus the taste of
certain things, of course. We aren't dead, or undead, as legend has it. We are
merely paranormal creatures who have been transformed into a higher state of
being.

Another knock interrupts me. Looking up, I see Devon stroll
in.  He looks so good in his pinstripe Armani suit. A big smile crosses my
face.

"Thank fuck,” I say throwing down my pen. "I'm
bored senseless. Tell me you have something other than work for me."

He raises his eyebrow at me. "You are just insatiable
right now, aren't you?" he asks quietly.

I smile and slowly and seductively lean back in my chair. He
walks forward and around to my side of the desk and perches himself on the
edge. My breath hitches as he leans forward trailing his hand up my thigh to
the hem of my too-short-to-be appropriate-for-work-but-I-don't-give-a-shit
skirt.

"We have a meeting with Geoff," he whispers and
pulls away with a wicked laugh.

Crap, I had forgotten. Well touché Mr. Savant, nicely played
for the elevator.

"I know," I snap, "I just lost track of
time." Which is actually true, I realize, when I look at the clock.

"Sure you did," he says easily and I swat him as
we exit my office for the elevator, laughing.

Scott looks up at us, knowingly but says nothing and goes
back to his work.

Geoff runs the accounting department on the 30th floor. It's
actually listed as a separate company with me and Devon having equally
controlling shares. Geoff Rankin is, unfortunately, the CEO and an unpleasant
man who thinks women should be at home, not at work--and certainly not the CEO
of a global empire. Admittedly, I am surplus to requirements at this meeting.
As CFO it's Devon’s job, not mine, but he loves to piss Geoff off so he always
drags me off to this bore-fest.

After some hearty handshaking from the men and frosty
greetings from him and me, they get down to business. I tune out, sipping my
tea his assistant has handed me.

My thoughts turn to my date on Friday. Mentally sifting
through my closet wondering what to wear, I hear Devon clearing his throat. I
focus and see both of them staring at me, Devon with a faint smile tugging at
his lips and Geoff with a smugness about his countenance that I'd like to punch
off his stupid face.

"Liv," Devon says, taking pity on me, "Geoff
wants to know what your thoughts are on the M & A of Reilly Real
Estate."

Ha, I'll show him, I think, before I launch into my
”thoughts.”