Chapter One Hundred Twenty-seven It was unusual for the phone to ring in the middle of the morning. Anton opened an bleary eye. It was only 9:30 AM, and the sun was bright in the sky. Bryn was waking before sunset for her job and on occasion they did receive a call then. But for one to come through so early usually meant something was wrong. But he was still half asleep when he reached out and grabbed the receiver, so his voice was groggy. "Hello?" Jess's voice sounded apologetic. "Sorry to wake you, Anton. But we just got a call from the front gate. Bryn's dad is here." Anton blinked both eyes, not sure he heard correctly. He twisted around to look at Bryn. None of her family had heard from him since he left in the motorhome. "Bryn's father is here?" On the other side of the bed, Bryn pulled her covers over her head and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "fuck." As if he'd just been waiting to hear his daddy's voice, Max started crying loud enough for them to hear him. The mound of covers next to Anton groaned. "Tell him we're not home," she said, sourly. "Tell him we moved to Egypt." Anton let out a soft rumble of his own. He hated being put in this position. "Tell him that we'll be down in a little while." When the werewolf told him okay, he managed to keep from slamming the phone. Then he flopped back on the bed and gave out a heavy sigh. "What is he doing here now?" "Itching to get killed," she muttered. It seemed as if they'd only been to sleep a few minutes. Max was fussy earlier and now he was awake again. They both had to work that coming night. It would be a miracle if they could get back to sleep. Tossing back the covers, she pushed herself upright and tried to get out of bed. If it hadn't been for Max's crying, she never would've made it. "I'll get Max. Will you grab something for me to wear and meet me downstairs?" "Okay, my dear." Anton climbed out of bed as she did, and watched her pad towards Max's room. He snagged her a pair of sweats and grabbed himself jeans and aT-shirt. Walking to the bathroom, he splashed some cold water on his face in an effort to wake himself further. Gathering her clothes and still barefoot, he started towards the stairwell. Max was sleepy, too, and settled limply against Bryn as she checked his diaper and then carried him down to the kitchen. She couldn't help but think of how cute he was, even when tired and cranky. Then it dawned on her that she still hadn't told her dad about being pregnant again...and there was no telling what kind of discussion that would result in. Yawning, she handed Max over to Anton and got dressed...all the while hopping around as she got a snack for the baby to munch on. Anton gently rocked Max, resting the baby on his shoulder. Max seemed to like his new perch, and started to fall asleep. And Anton was wishing that he could as well. "You realize that you're going to have to let him in," Anton said, gesturing with his head towards the living room. "I'm not going to be able to do it." "Yeah, I know," she said, pulling the sweatshirt over her head. "I'm just debating whether or not to actually do it." Although her words were partly meant as a joke, neither of them laughed. "I guess I should make some coffee," she continued. "You know, this really pisses me off. He knows what our schedule is like. I don't understand why the hell he would show up now." "I don't think he is thinking," Anton said as he sat down on one of the stools, stifling a yawn. He could hear the hum of a heavy engine approaching. I guess we should be happy that he is showing interest at least. He could have easily driven on through without telling us he was here." Although at the moment, Anton was wishing he had. "We should all be so lucky." Scooping some coffee in to the filter, she quickly closed the drawer. "You know, I can handle him if you want to try to go back to sleep. There's no reason why we should both be groggy at work. Besides, I feel bad that you have to suffer through this, too." He was tempted to say okay, but Anton shook his head. "No, Bryn. I'll suffer through this with you. Maybe if he sees how tired we all are, he'll leave." Max squirmed lightly, and Anton lifted him higher on his shoulder. "Besides I can't sleep well without you curled up next to me." She smiled at that, reaching out to lightly tickle his stomach. "You're so cute." It was hard not to laugh as he grinned, obviously pleased with himself. Filling up the coffee pot with water, she heard the doorbell ring. "Crap. Here," she said, handing him the pot. "Wish me luck. Maybe I can chase him away before he gets past the doorway." "You want to borrow my crucifix?" Making sure he was in an area where the sunlight wouldn't reach, Anton waiting, cuddling Max close. He was curious as to why Bryn's father had shown up. He wasn't in contact with John as far as he knew. They had spoken with Bryn's brother a few times after he returned home, making sure that he was doing okay. Bryn padded barefoot over the tile floor in the foyer, pushing her hair back from her face. Removing the small cover, she looked through the lattice grate at her father. "Do you have any idea what time it is? We just got to sleep." Steven frowned, adjusting his dirty baseball cap. "That's a fine hello." Letting out an explosive sigh, she slammed the little metal door closed and went about unlocking the front door. The oversized wood creaked as she pushed it aside. "Hello Dad." "Are you going to invite me in?" "I shouldn't, but I will." Stepping aside, she waved her arm towards the foyer. "Come in." "Thank you. You know, I traveled a long way to see you. The least you could do is be a little nice about it." Closing the door behind him, she resisted the urge to give him another nasty comment. "Do you want some coffee? Some should be ready in a few minutes." "That would be nice. Thank you." Anton lifted his head as Bryn and her father entered the kitchen area. "Hello, Steven," he said, still holding a snoozing Max. It seemed that one of them would be getting some sleep at least. "What brings you here? It's been a while since we've heard from you." "Just passing through, really. Thought I'd stop in and say hello." Steven took off his hat, revealing messy hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in a while. Sitting down on one of the bar stools, he watched Bryn across the island as she got some mugs from the cupboard. "I realize I'm pretty early, but I don't think I'll be staying long. I'd like to be down in San Diego by sunset." Bryn glanced at Anton, but his expression was unreadable. "So you're heading south? Any particular reason?" "Nope. Just seeing the lay of the land." Anton nodded. "It's beautiful as you head down there. Different from up here." Shifting his arm around Max, Anton grabbed the cup of coffee Bryn pushed towards him and took a sip. Between the lack of sleep and awkwardness of the situation, Anton couldn't really think of anything to talk about. "So where have you been? All over I'd imagine." "All over up north, so far. Spent a long time in North Dakota. I still have some family up there. Drove through Montana, over to Washington, and now I'm headed south. I'll probably backtrack after a while so I can see Utah and Colorado. With any luck, I'd like to see all forty-eight states before I head home." Bryn didn't bother to mention the two other states. Instead, she took Max from Anton so he could drink his coffee. Besides, why should he have a shield when she didn't? "Why haven't you called anyone to let them know where you were, Dad?" "I didn't know I was under someone's guardianship. If someone had told me to call, I would have." "John was out here a short while ago," Anton said. "He's been a bit distracted, trying to make adjustments now that Caroline's gone. I doubt he's thinking right now that he needs to contact you first." He could remember the confusion that sat in when he had lost his wives - how in his grief, it had almost been too much of an effort to think normally. Bryn almost told him not to bother, that her father wouldn't listen anyway, but he'd already said it. Instead, she cuddled Max closer and kissed his soft cheek. They would never treat their child the way Steven treated his. Neither Max or Katerina would know what it was like to feel hatred towards a parent. Stubbornly, as if he hadn't heard them, Steven nodded towards Bryn's belly. "Is it my imagination, or is your stomach growing again?" Normally he couldn't help but beam with pride when Anton told people that Bryn was pregnant. But either the man was being deliberately obtuse, or the man did not have a clue. Still, there was a clear warmth and satisfaction in his voice. "Bryn's due in December. We're having a girl." Steven raised his eyebrows. "You know what you're having already? That's amazing. And due in December. You didn't waste time creating a family. Are you sure you can handle that much responsibility?" he asked, his gaze on Sabryn. "I hope so. I'm going to be giving notice at work in a few days, and then I'll be able to stay at home with the kids full time. Anton will also be off work in the first few weeks. Whatever I can't handle, there's always family close by to help out." "Family?" "Yes. We're all family here." Anton nodded. "My brother and his wife and her family. Plus I'll be around to help out." He reached over to rest his hand on Bryn's arm. He doubted that Steven would understand his reasons. "I've been waiting for this for a long time, and I'm not going to miss a moment." Bryn's father nodded, taking another sip of his coffee. "It's not easy having two young kids to take care of, and mine weren't as close in age as these two will be. I think it helped a lot that Bennie was a teacher. She was used to having a bunch of kids to look after all day." He cleared his throat. "Are you planning to keep going, or stop at two?" "We decided that two would be a wise place to stop. Our original plan was to have Max, wait a year or so, then have another child, wait a while, and then Transform Bryn." He looked warmly at his wife. "Turns out that we were too impatient to wait three years." Bryn smirked. "We were too impatient to wait two years. I'll probably be Transformed before our second wedding anniversary." Steven frowned, shaking his head. "I don't understand how either of you can be so nonchalant about this. 'Transform'. The simple fact is, you'll be killed. Dead. I don't think of that as anything to smile or brag about. What if this 'Transformation' doesn't work, what then? I'll be left without a daughter, and your children without a mother. And you're in a hurry to do it! People have been imprisoned and committed for less." Anton was wondering why he was trying to explain it to this man, who probably hadn't ever felt a tenth of the emotions for Bernice that he felt for Sabryn. "In fifty years, if we're lucky, the results will be the same. My children will be without a mother, and I without a wife. Yes, there is a risk, but the rewards are even greater." He thought about mentioning the problem Nate and Lindy had, the risk they took, but held his peace. The werewolves didn't need to be exposed to this bigotry. "Have you considered that I have been around a long time, and know the pain of losing someone I cherish so greatly many a time? That I'm not willing to experience that grief over her death? If I were not at all confident that I could do it, I would not have made the offer." "And how many people have you Transformed before, Anton?" Steven didn't allow him a chance to answer before continuing. "You may have lost many people through death, but I will only lose my daughter once. I had thought it would be long after I am dead myself. If you do this, and you make a mistake, I will lose those thirty or so years you're disregarding. I may not be the greatest father in the world, but I'd like to think that she would miss that time with me, too." Bryn placed her hand on Anton's arm before he could voice the angry thoughts obviously burning in his head. "Dad, I understand what you're trying to say. But you two yelling at each other isn't solving anything." She swallowed, looking down at Max. "I would miss that time with you, and Max, Anton, and everyone else. It would be a horrible tragedy if I died from this. I wouldn't...expect any of you to take that easily." Anton looked at Bryn with arched eyebrows, a bit surprised that Bryn was siding with her father. Thinking about Max and Kat, he could begin understand where Steven was coming from. He did have a point. Perhaps there was more to him than Anton had given him credit for. "We wouldn't," he said softly, placing his other hand on her arm. "But you're still going through with it, aren't you?" Steven asked her. "Yes." She searched for a way to explain herself, an answer her father would be satisfied with. Somehow she didn't think he'd swallow just anything. Walking around the island, she handed Max over to his grandpa and watched the two of them together. Max, seeing Steven as a stranger, looked at Bryn and Anton with slightly panicked eyes. "Dad...I know you can see the way my new family has changed me, and you have to agree that it's a definite improvement over the way I used to be. Most of the time, when I lived with you or with John, I would hide in my bedroom all day long. I was afraid to challenge myself, or--to love someone. But Anton changed me. I love him so much that sometimes I think I'll just explode from it. My heart feels so full it hurts, and even when I'm angry at him, the sight of him makes me want to smile. I feel the same way about Max, and I know I'll feel that way about Katerina, too. I couldn't live without them. I want to be with them forever. And if that means taking a huge risk just to try for it, I will." Steven sighed. "But you could wait, until you're older. Just give us some more time." "I can't. There are so many things that could happen in those years. That car accident almost ended my life. What if something like that was to happen again, but I didn't survive it? I wouldn't have that chance to be with my family forever. I can't let that chance pass me by." "And it may be our decision, but it will be Bryn's choice." Anton gently placed a hand on the small of Bryn's back. "If for any reason, Bryn changes her mind, decides that she needs more time or she'd rather live out a mortal life span, I will not pressure her to change her mind." Bryn didn't say it, but she found that a little hard to believe. If it were her, and he was the one to refuse the Transformation, she knew she'd be begging him to stay. Pleading and arguing with him, doing anything to change his mind. Holding Max a little closer, Steven stared at Bryn's belly. "Katerina? You already have a name chosen?" "Yes," Anton said. "It was my mother's name," he explained. But he didn't want to tell him that Bryn had been his mother. The man was having a hard enough time accepting Anton's vampire nature. Adding in Bryn's past life experiences would probably cause his head to explode, or claim that they were all certifiable. Bryn watched her father, resisting the urge to pull Max out of his hands. Just because he'd been a horrible father, she reasoned, didn't mean he would be a horrible grandfather as well. Still, she had to force herself to step back against Anton's side. "Katerina was the name we picked from the start. There was never any question about it. We'll call her Kat, for short." Max continued to look about, clearly upset at being in a strange man's arms. And Anton was watching like a hawk, waiting for a reason to take his son back. Part of his attitude had to do with being woken up unexpectedly in the middle of the morning without any warning. But more and more had to do with the attitude that Steven displayed when he was present. "Well, if she looks anything like this one," Steven said, affectionately, bouncing Max a bit, "she should be gorgeous." Bryn smiled, unable to contain the pride she felt. Max was adorable and it felt wonderful to hear someone confirm it. Standing, her father handed Max back over to Anton and then returned to his seat. "I should finish up my coffee and get going. I've kept you up long enough." "It's no problem," Anton lied through his teeth. It was a good thing at least that Steven had stopped by. It would have been easy for the man to keep on driving. And he was trying to show an interest in Bryn, and his grandchildren. And personal feelings aside, Steven did deserve the chance to see them. Bryn glanced at Anton and narrowed her eyes. His tone was entirely hostile, even if he was trying to hide it. "Well, it was nice of you to visit with us. I'm sure this was at least a little bit out of your way. But really, I do think you need to call John and Mom to tell them where you are. I'm not going to do it for you. They need to hear from you personally." Steven nodded, gulping down the rest of his coffee. "I will call them, when I stop for breakfast." She felt a little bad that she hadn't offered her dad anything to eat while he was here. But she didn't think Anton had really thought about it either. Watching her dad stand up and offer his hand to Anton, she was a little surprised. "It was nice to see you again, Anton, and thank you for allowing me to invade your home so early in the morning. I appreciate it." Anton was surprised as he took Steven's hand and shook it. He was aware that he had been rather rude to Bryn's father. "It's no problem," he repeated, this time his voice having a much more mellow tone. "And if you do come through again, please, do come in. Maybe next time you'll be able to stay longer." Steven nodded, smiling. His attention turning to Bryn, he said, "Would you walk out to the RV with me?" "Yeah. Of course." Still carrying Max, Bryn followed her dad to the door and closed it behind them. She was squinting in the bright morning light, staring at the sidewalk as they walked to the curb. "I'm sorry I came so early and didn't call first," he said, rubbing his chin. "I don't think your husband was pleased. In fact, I've never really gotten the impression he's been pleased to have me around." Bryn sighed. "Well, you have to admit, Dad, you haven't been all that nice to him either. He's never done anything to you, but you're always a jerk when he's around." Steven stopped walking and stared at her. "When? If you ask me, I've been damned tolerant." "The things you say to him are very hurtful, to him and to me. You sound like some sort of racist. He can't help who he is--" "I never asked him to change who he is. I've been very concerned about you. You know this is a hard thing to accept. He's a vampire, for Christ's sake. The only thing I know about vampires is what I've seen on TV." "Then maybe you should talk to him and learn more. He's a person, too. And he deserves your respect." Looking down at Max in her arms, Steven nodded. "I'll try harder. I don't mean to disrespect him. You know that." She hadn't, but she didn't say it. Holding on to Max as his grandpa gave him a kiss on the head, she braced herself for her dad's hug. Although it was brief, she still felt a strong emotional pull of sadness. "I'll give you a call in a few weeks or so." "Okay." She watched him climb in to the RV cab and sit down. "Drive carefully." Her dad smiled and shut the door, putting on his seatbelt before starting the engine. He gave her a wave before he drove away. And despite being thankful for his odd concern, she couldn't help being relieved that he was going. Anton had stayed safely in the kitchen as Bryn and her father left. He sighed, thinking over the conversation. There was a hostility there on both their parts, one that Anton's attitude this morning had done nothing to allay. If anything, Anton thought he had probably confirmed for Steven the stereotype of a vampire - charming when they wanted to be, but cold and distant and a tad arrogant otherwise. Sighing, and debating if another cup of coffee would be a bad thing, he waited for Bryn to return. He was going to be up for most of the day as it was. Bryn gave a large yawn as she stepped back inside the house, leaning against the door as she shut it behind her. Max mumbled and reached for the floor, eager to get down. She carried him in to the living room before setting him down. Crouching on the floor next to him, she said to Anton, "Well, he's gone. We shouldn't have to worry about him stopping by again for six months at least." "Uh huh," Anton said, stifling a yawn himself. "Do you want to go upstairs and try to get some more sleep?" "Yeah, Sugar." Anton scooped up Max and held out his hand to Bryn. "I'm sorry about my attitude, Bryn," he said as they climbed the stairs. Max was squirming, trying to get back down. "I've probably made things worse between your father and I." The calmness of her voice was a testament to how tired she was. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little sick of listening to both of you. If it isn't him being a complete jerk, it's you accusing him of being one. The one time he showed some actual kindness towards us--" She sighed heavily, deciding not to follow up on the comment. "It would be nice to just have one visit where no one is bitching at anyone else. I've never had a nice quiet family gathering, ever." Anton was about to snap back that *he* wasn't the one who had woken them in the middle of the day when he realized that she was saying exactly what he had been thinking earlier. "You're right," he said quietly. "I was out of line to act the way I did." She stopped next to the bed and looked at him. "You have over nine-hundred years of maturity over him. I wish you'd decide to show him that you're the bigger man and nothing he says could possibly damage your integrity." Plucking Max out of Anton's arms, she set the baby down on the bed and faced her husband again. "I know the things he says hurt your feelings. They hurt mine, too, because I love you so much. I hate the idea that anyone could possibly think less of you than I do." She shook her head. "That didn't come out right. But you know what I mean. I want everyone to love you as much as I do, to see you for the truly amazing person you are. But my dad isn't going to. He's suspicious of anything he doesn't understand...and believe it or not, I actually think he believes no one is good enough for me. I don't know why he gives a rat's ass now, but he does. So you can't take everything so personally, and you definitely can't let him see that it hurts you. Because if he ever does decide to hate you, that's the first thing he'll resort to." "I'm sorry, Bryn." Stepping forward, Anton pulled her into a tight hug. "I will do better about not letting him see that he can hurt me. Or better yet, not letting him hurt me." He gently stroked her soft hair. "I just hope that I'm as protective of Max and Kat as he seems to be now of you, Bryn. Even if it is a little late." She hugged him tightly, squeezing her eyes shut. She wanted to believe that he was right, that her dad really was feeling protective of her. But after so long of thinking that he didn't give a damn, it was frightening to hope for more. The last thing she wanted was to be disappointed yet another time. She already hated herself for being stupid enough to believe so many times in the past. "You'll always be a better dad than mine is, Anton. You improved on his performance just by sticking around." He chuckled a bit tiredly. "Then I'm going to blow him out of the water once Max and Kat get older," he said. Pulling Bryn with him, he sat down on the bed. "Shall we try to get some more sleep, my dear?" She nodded, somberly, watching Max try to lift up the covers. It didn't help that he was kneeling on them. Saddened and exhausted, she looked up at Anton. "Maybe we should just call in sick today." "You know, my dear, that doesn't sound like a half bad idea." Anton kissed her forehead and then looked over at Max. "What are you doing? Are you trying to tell us we should be asleep?" He swept the blankets back, and grinned at Max's expression of amazement. He tried to stifle another yawn. "Shall we keep Max with us or do you want me to put him down in his crib?" "I want him with us." She rolled off his lap and on to the bed, crawling over to sit next to Max. The baby immediately reached out for her and tried to stand up, but the soft bed was too precarious for his liking. Bryn helped him stand by holding his hands, smiling at his look of triumph. "Sometimes I hate how scared he looks when Dad is holding him. But then there are other times when I'm so grateful that he doesn't get attached to him. I don't want him to feel the same way I used to." "I don't think he will," Anton laid down and rolled onto his side so he could watch his wife and son. "He's going to grow up with parents who love him with all their hearts. Grandfather and grandmother may not see him as often as he likes, but he's never going to feel for a lack of love." She nodded, settling down on her side as well with Max between them. Back on all fours, he crawled over to Anton and started climbing on him. Scooting closer, Bryn laid her head on Anton's arm. "I'm glad he's gone. Part of me wishes he hadn't come in the first place--but I suppose it's a good thing he checked in with someone. I wonder if he'll actually call John and Mom." "Hopefully he will." Anton shifted Max so he was climbing over his chest and not his waist. "It was good of him to stop here and check in on us. It means he does still care, although he shows it in strange ways." He rubbed Bryn's arm. "I'm sorry I didn't handle the situation so well, Bryn. It wasn't fair of me to put you in a situation where you had to play referee. And for the record," he leaned over to whisper in her ear, "if you did change your mind about being Transformed, I would fall on my knees and beg you to reconsider. Only when I was convinced that there was no hope would I stop." She smiled at him, settling her head on his shoulder and gently rubbing his stomach. "I know. And you don't have to keep apologizing to me. I understand. If he had worded his questions a little differently today, I would've been just as hostile towards him and I usually am. I know you act that way because he hurts your feelings. You're just trying to protect yourself. I wish I could do that for you. I don't ever want to see anyone hurt you." Anton smiled, gently running his fingers through her hair. "I know, my dear. You know, you could start by removing Max's foot from my ear." He chuckled as Bryn helped resettle Max near his chest. "I know I shouldn't let him get to me, Bryn. But I'd rather much be the target than have him hurt your feelings." "Don't sacrifice yourself for me, Mr. Noble. I'm used to this shit. You aren't. Believe it or not, I think I might have tougher skin when it comes to my dad's snide remarks. Besides, I know he's full of bull anyway. Half the time I think he talks just to hear himself." Reaching over, she tickled under Max's chin, making him squeal and giggle. "If you want to shield someone, make sure it's Max. He's just a little sweet pea. There's no telling what a mongrel like my dad could do to him." "Oh, I agree. We should protect him at all costs. And Katerina." Anton gently caressed her stomach. "Sometimes it seems like a dream that we're going to have another one so soon, Bryn." He then grunted when Max squarely kicked him in the chest. "Max seems very real though." Bryn giggled. "It would be nice if he fell back to sleep sometime soon." Glancing at the clock, she yawned again. "Maybe I should make us some hot milk or something." Anton grinned. "Above body temperature blood always does it for me." He shifted, dislodging his all-too-active son, sending him tumbling to the mattress. "Of course, if we put him in his own crib, he might go back to sleep. Or maybe let us at least." Bryn rolled her eyes, sitting up to pluck Max off the bed. "You're getting up with him if he starts screaming." She held the squirming boy out for a kiss from his daddy, and then carried him to his room. Only staying long enough to check his diaper again, and then change it, she went downstairs to wash her hands and raid the kitchen. The hot milk did sound good, especially with some chocolate thrown in. And as long as she was there heating up her milk, she figured she could heat up some blood as well. Anton stretched out on the bed, determined to stay awake until Bryn returns. And he did start dozing until he heard Max let out a loud wail. Sighing, he pulled himself out of bed and padded off to the bedroom. There, he looked down in the crib at his son, who was crying. "You're not going to do this the easy way, are you?" Picking Max up, he walked over to the rocking chair and settled into it. Holding Max close to his chest, he offered the boy his finger, which Max chomped down on almost immediately. Slowly rocking with his heels, Anton let his eyes shut. Just for a moment, he told himself. Bryn yawned again as she came back up the stairs. Given how dark the bedroom was with the shutters closed, she was almost to the bed before she noticed that Anton was missing. Blinking, she set the ampoule and her mug on the nightstand and then sat down, assuming her husband was in the bathroom. She drank some of her hot chocolate, eyelids drooping. Setting the rest of the stuff down, she laid down on the bed. He'd have to come out sooner or later. It was Max settling against his chest that brought him back to wakefulness. Slowly standing as to not disturb his now dozing son, Anton returned him to the cradle. Max didn't seem to mind the move and started sucking on his thumb. Smiling as he yawned, Anton then stumbled back to the bedroom. She was lying on his side of the bed when he walked in the room. Hugging his pillow, she quietly dozed...but shivered a bit, as she waited for him to return. Anton smiled and moved to her side of the bed. He slipped in behind her, molding his body around her curves. He inhaled deeply her surrounding scent, burying his nose in her hair. Letting out a groan of contentment, he pulled the sheets over their bodies and let his eyes shut again. She made a mumbling sound and turned over in his arms, nuzzling his neck. Continuing to squirm, she finally opened her eyes and sat up. Within a few minutes, her clothes were on the floor and she was working on dragging off his. "Can't sleep with all this stuff on." "On me?" he teased. He shifted around and lifted his body and worked at the cloth until he was nude as well. He then grabbed Bryn and pulled her close again. "Any excuse to get me naked, eh, my dear?" "If I'm going to have my arms around you, yes. I don't like lots of fabric on my skin when I'm sleeping." Snuggling against him, she wiggled to get as tight against him as possible. Although, the smell of his skin had the opposite effect that she'd desired. Instead of lulling her to sleep, he was making her all the more alert of his presence. Although tired, parts of Anton were most definitely awakening as Bryn writhed against him. His hands slipped lower along her waist as his lips pressed against hers in a whisper. "If we're not going to be able to get to sleep, my dear..." he suggested. She finished his thought for him by kissing him, pushing him on to his back and sliding on top of him. His cock was trapped under her belly, but that certainly didn't impede him from getting hard. Squeezing her thighs around his hips, she nipped and sucked on his lips. Slowly and lazily. As if they had all day. Anton opened his mouth to hers, tongue tangling with hers. He ran his hands lightly up an down her spine before sliding them down to squeeze her ass lightly. He smiled as she jumped. "You know," he whispered between kisses. "Somehow I'm feeling a lot more awake than I was about five minutes ago." Wiggling again, she said, "I can feel that. I'm not so tired anymore, either. Maybe we should try something that will wear out both of us." He smiled. "Well, if you insist, my dear." He resumed kissing her, letting his hands slide up her sides until he was cupping her breasts. "Of course, if we're not worn out the first time, we'll just have to do it again and again and again until we are, or the alarm goes off." She smiled against his mouth, scooting up a little higher on his body. "I have an idea, if you're willing to play along." "Oh?" "I want you inside me...but no thrusting. You have to just lie there and let me do the work. How does that sound?" Anton appeared to consider it for a few minutes. "Hmmm... just lay in bed and do nothing?" He smirked at her. "I think I can do that." He kissed her mouth lightly. "You want me on top or below?" "Just like this is fine." Sitting up, she lifted her body so she could get his cock positioned. Watching his face as she firmly grasped him and started pushing him inside her was breathtaking. His eyes were locked on her, an expression of amazement on his face. Bryn swallowed heavily, sliding down bit by bit, squeezing him every inch of the way. When she was completely full, she let out her breath and panted lightly. Holding completely still. It was so tempting to grab her hips and start thrusting into her. He did hold onto her hips, but held still like she requested. Even though she was breathtakingly tight around his cock. But Anton didn't remain completely still. His thumbs lightly brushed over her hipbones, caressing her soft skin. She closed her eyes in concentration. If she was looking at him, chances were his silent pleading would make her give up on her plan and end things quickly. There was a good possibility she'd get frustrated and do that anyway. But for now, she sat straight up upon him, hands resting lightly on his arms, taking calming breaths. Still...except for the rhythmic squeezing of her vaginal muscles. It wasn't easy, but she meant to massage his orgasm out of him. All without a single thrust. He had closed his eyes, concentrating on his breathing. He twitched underneath her reflexively, making an apologetic noise when her hands tightened on his arms. It was blissful torture to feel her clenching and releasing his cock. "Mmmm..." he rumbled, his hands squeezing her hips. Sliding her hands from his arms to his chest, she placed her fingertips over his breastbone in hopes of feeling his heartbeat as it grew stronger. He shifted inside her a bit as she leaned forward and the resulting angle made both of them catch their breath. Still keeping up the same maddeningly slow pace, she let her head fall forward, her long hair spilling around him. Whimpering, she fought the urge to begin moving her hips. He bit his lower lip as she squeezed and rolled herself against him. The pressure in his groin was building, and it needed an outlet, whether by thrusting deeply into her, or just cumming hard inside her. "You said you'd do all the work, but can I at least kiss you?" "Not yet," she said, somewhat desperately. If he started kissing her now, it would be all over. But she did lean forward a bit more, pulling at him harder. Grabbing his wrists, she placed his hands on her breasts. If he was so eager for a distraction, they would have to do...because even though she was sweaty and shaking, her muscles clenching, she wasn't about to give up now. It was enough. Anton's thumbs started circling her nipples, concentrating on how the skin changed texture as he rubbed over her breasts. In fact, it was more than enough. He felt her nipple contract as she squeezed him tightly and he couldn't help but arch underneath her. He let out a loud gasp and came hard. She let out a yelp as he lifted her, his body bowing off the bed. The sudden jerk of his hips made her clench down tight around him before her muscles finally gave in and started to spasm around him. Squealing, she dug her fingernails in to his wrists and shuddered heavily. He let out another shout as she clenched him even tighter. He shifted his hands slightly so he was clenching her wrists as well. His breathing was still heavy as he pulled her down to rest against his chest so she could feel his pounding heart. Bryn's breath left her in soft moans, and she went as limp as wet rag on his chest. Burrowing her face against his pectoral muscle, she listened quietly to his heartbeat, a small smile on her face. When she could catch her breath, she would have to ask him if he wouldn't mind her sleeping this was. Because she didn't think she had the strength to move. Anton's hand gently stroked the sweaty skin of her back. He tilted his head and kissed her soft hair. She felt warm against his skin, and he felt like his muscles had turned to jelly. He couldn't have moved her off of him even if he had wanted to. And he did not want to for the world. "Mmm. We should do that more often." She smiled, lifting her head. She leaned forward to kiss him, but couldn't get close enough without moving. Finally she gave up and kissed his chin instead, giggling softly. "I'm definitely calling in sick. How about you?" "Hmmm...I was thinking about calling in dead. Think I can convince the boss?" He smiled as she giggled more. He wrapped both arms over her shoulders and let out a sigh of contentment, his eyes drifting shut. "Of course, since I am dead, it's not that far of a stretch." He opened his eye to check the alarm clock and noticed something next to Bryn's mug. "Is that a unit of blood there, my dear?" Looking in the same direction, she nodded. "Yes it is. And maybe if we weren't so lazy, you could have it." She grinned. "But if you do decide to be chivalrous and reach over there, you could give me my mug, too." "And when am I not chivalrous, my dear?" He reached over and carefully picked up the still warm mug and handed it to her. He then grabbed his own bag of blood and extended his fangs. Eyes flaming, he bit down, sucking on the bag contentedly. She watched him with smiling eyes, drinking her cocoa in matching swallows. It surprised her, but she felt her desire returning, a slight ache flaming down below. Pushing herself up a bit, she braced her hand on his chest and used the tips of her fingers to slide back and forth over his right nipple. She didn't think the flicker in his eyes was entirely caused by the blood, either. He continued to swallow, adam's apple bobbing in time to his swallows, as she teased his nipple. His eyes were still flickering as he put the empty bag to one side and took her mug from her as well. Then with a deliberate carefulness, he rolled over, placing her beneath him. Opening his mouth so she could see him deliberately licking his fangs, he arched over her, kissing her lower lip eagerly. Bryn shivered with excitement, wrapping her legs around him as she returned his kiss. That taste in his mouth, combined with the chocolate in hers, was absolutely sinful. Pulling him close with her legs, she held his jaw in her hands and tugged on his lips, licking and sucking, before pushing her tongue in his mouth. She sought the sanguine flavor, exploring every surface. He pulled himself more firmly on top of her. While not hard yet, he wasn't flaccid either. And he was growing harder the longer she kissed him. His hand slipped down to her breast and circled her nipple. Kissing her intently, but making sure his fangs didn't scratch her, he pushed her flat on the bed, and then pushed up to look at her. Light gleaming from his half lidded eyes and reflecting off his fangs, he looked like a dark angel, newly fallen. Bryn let out a soft whimper, staring up at him with wide eyes. If he could've Transformed her then without harming Katerina, she would've let him. He looked so sexy and a bit dangerous. Although she knew he would never hurt her, it was a bit fun to pretend he might. To feel nervous, her heart racing with thoughts of how he might devour her. She hoped he would. Anton lowered his head to her neck, gently tracing the tip of his nose along her throat, feeling her pulse jump. His lips followed, fangs gently pressing against the tender skin. This was a dangerous game, but one he was thoroughly enjoying. And from the moans she was letting out, he thought she was too. He shifted lower down her body, kissing over her collarbone and to her breast. His fangs glided over her skin, and he circled one nipple, fang just barely pricking the pointed nub. Bryn let out a soft squeak,, quickly stifled. Holding perfectly still, she watched breathlessly, wondering if he dared to bite her there. Max had done so once, but in his haste he'd used a lot more force than Anton would. Still, the baby's teeth were a lot smaller and theoretically not as dangerous. The thoughts spinning through her head were starting to make her shake. He switched from fang to tongue, lapping at her nipple before sucking it into his mouth. He was careful not to put any pressure down with his fangs. Instead he nursed off of her, his hand teasing her other nipple with his fingers in the same motions. He wanted to bite down so badly, but couldn't guarantee neither her nor Kat's safety. Biting her lip, Bryn arched up in to his mouth, her legs tugging him even tighter against her. Sliding her fingers through his hair, she let her eyes slip closed. Sensations were dancing through her veins, tickling flutters that kept her smiling constantly. She scratched lightly at his scalp before sliding her hands down his back, kneading at the muscles along the way. Anton pulled away from her nipple with a loud pop. Eyes closed, he breathed heavily arching above her. He was fighting the strong urge to bite down, to taste the bright red ambrosia bubbling through her veins. Instead he pulled her legs up around his waist and pushed his cock inside of her. The light from behind his eyes shined through the closed lids as he began to thrust. Tossing her head to the side, Bryn bit her lip and held on to him tightly. After their last round of lovemaking and all of the squeezing she'd done, her muscles were sensitive to every bit of movement. His thrusts were intense and electrifying. "Mmmm...kiss me." Unable to resist, Anton bent down and pressed his lips to hers, fangs lightly scraping against her teeth. He kissed her deeply as he plowed into her relentlessly, his hands clutching and releasing her flesh in time to his movements. His tongue kept delving deeper and deeper, tangling with hers. Her hands gripped his ass, fingernails digging in to his flesh. The rapid thrusting made his ass incredibly tight and she couldn't resist squeezing him repeatedly. She moaned in to his mouth, sucking at his tongue. In her head she told him to move faster, but she couldn't tear away from him long enough to say. [Faster! Fuck me harder! Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me!] And as if she could hear her obscene mantra, Anton sped up his thrusts. His hips drilled his cock into her again and again and again. All the time trying to get deeper and deeper, until her squeezing both on his ass and around his cock became too much. Anton let out a loud cry and came, flooding her sex. Her body seemed to be waiting for his and the moment he started to cum, hers began to shudder, too. Moaning and whining, she pressed her feet to the mattress and lifted her hips, desperate to get him even deeper. When the tremors finally passed, she sank limply to the bed, cradling his weight on top of her. The sheets were damp and she kicked them away, too hot to do much else. Panting by his ear, she felt her exhaustion returning with a vengeance. He settled heavily on top of her, his fangs retracting and the fire in his eyes dying to just a spark. Turning slightly, he kissed the soft underside of her chin. She felt a perfect mattress to sleep on, but mindful of the baby, he slid to settle on one side. But still he molded his body to hers, pressing against every curve. "Love you, my dear," he whispered softly. "Love you so very, very much." She gave him a large, albeit sleepy, smile and wrapped her arms around him. Leaning closer, she pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. "I love you, too, sugar. So very, very much. And more with every passing day." Lindy reached back and squeezed Liam's hand as the boy babbled happily. He seemed okay with the long drive as long as someone was paying attention to him. Otherwise, he whined, leaning towards the front seat. She had been partially twisted around for most of the drive from San Francisco to Morgan Hill. With her free hand, she pushed out of her eyes a lock of hair that had escaped her ponytail. "So is there anything particular you want in horse, Nate?" "Something with a pulse might be nice," he joked, glancing at her. Their previous trips to the auctions had been decidedly less than fruitful. The majority of the animals available had either been quickly bought or weren't fit for dog food. Tired of the disappointment, Nate had decided to give up on auctions and visit breeders instead. "At this point I'm not feeling too terribly picky. It has to be big enough to carry me, but not so huge that Liam will be afraid of it. Nice temperament. Other than that, I'd negotiate I guess." 'Well, maybe Mack will have a lead this time." Lindy twisted a little more to make faces at Liam. "And it won't be long before we need to start considering a horse for this little guy. Or maybe a pony. Speaking of which, did you want a stallion or a gelding? We've got to think about the Bryn and Anton's horses too." "I don't know, Lind. I guess it depends on what Mack's found. We can always have a horse gelded if needs be." He glanced in the rear view mirror at Liam, who was giggling at Lindy's antics. Now that Liam was speaking full sentences, they had to be more careful of what they said around him. Which wasn't really a problem most of the time...until they were feeling frisky. "Where were you hoping to go riding?" "Maybe later tonight. I'd like to make sure it's a horse I could handle as well in an emergency." She didn't turn around as Nate pulled into the extended driveway that lead up to the house. It felt odd bringing Liam back here, where it had all started for them. "I wonder if Liam remembers anything about...before," she said, not knowing exactly how to phrase it. "I hope not," Nate said, quietly, squeezing her thigh. "I'd rather believe he doesn't remember anything past the last few months. That way he doesn't have to know what an a-hole his dad is." He'd tried to say 'dad' as nicely as he could, but it came out begrudgingly anyway. "I don't know about you, but I don't remember anything before the age of three." Lindy shrugged. "No, but I'm a different case. I just didn't know if it was a function of my trauma or not." When the car pulled to a stop in front of the house, Lindy got out and started undoing Liam's baby seat. The odd thing was there were no dogs rushing up to greet them, and Liam looked vaguely disappointed by that fact. Standing in front of the car watching them, Nate smiled as Lindy set the boy on his feet. With his designer clothes and shoes, Liam was an accident waiting to happen. It wouldn't be long before he took a fall or deliberately got dirt all over himself. "Mama ou'side?" he asked, his high-pitched voice muffled slightly by his clothes. "What are you doing outside, buddy?" Nate said. "Wanna go see the horsies?" "Hossies! Hossies," Liam said, waving his arms excitedly. "I think that's a yes, Nate," Lindy said with a grin. She looked around before spotting Mack coming in from the main barn. "Hey, Mack," she greeted him. "We made it up here a little early due to good traffic. Hope you don't mind. What have you got for us?" "Don't mind at all," Mack said, his voice a bit scratchy, "as long as you don't mind my cold. I caught something nasty at that last race and haven't been able to shake it since." He sniffed loudly, then looked down at Liam. "Hey there, shorty. Long time no see." "Hossies!" Mack grinned. "I guess that's my clue to shut up and lead you to the horses. Come on in the barn. I have one of the geldings here and another is on its way. Sonny got a late start this morning loading him up, so I hope you don't have to leave right away." "No, that's okay. We've got time." Lindy smiled as Liam squealed as Nate lifted him off the ground and swung him onto his shoulders. They went into the barn, and were greeted by the nickers of a few horses. Unlike the ones they had seen before, all appeared to be well groomed, intelligent, and in good health. They walked down the corridor towards the section of the barn with stalls designed for stallions. Slightly offset and with high gratings, the male horses wouldn't constantly see each other and feel the need to fight for mares. '"Which one's the one for sale, and what do you know about him?" Leaning against the door, Nate looked in at the tall black stallion with the glossy coat. The horse's ears were pricked forward, indicating interest, but something about the look in his eyes didn't exactly inspire Nate's trust. He looked devilish. And Nate couldn't help but smile. A long time ago he'd had a very similar horse and, with a bit of training, it had been his constant companion. Hoping for the same with this horse might be a bit of a stretch, but Mack was an excellent trainer. And this was a great piece of horseflesh. Lindy smiled looking at the horse. She couldn't help but be reminded of Cass Ole', the horse who played the title role in the Black Stallion movie. She thought about reaching out petting the horse, but the way his ears flicked gave her second thoughts. "He's gorgeous," she said, turning to Mack. "Why would someone want to sell such a magnificent animal?" Mack grinned. "They couldn't handle him. For one thing, he likes a lot of room to run, or he'll tear up the earth running back and forth in a small space. Plus, he's ornery as hell. I don't dare let him out with the other stallion here, because he'll chase him relentlessly and tries to bite. And he doesn't much like to be ridden. He's trained, but he likes to run in to fences to unseat his rider. Bottom line is, he needs someone strong to show him who's boss. Someone who'll actually be vigilant in getting these bad habits out of him. His former owners didn't want to invest that time and kept him out in the pasture for weeks on end without riding him. He gets bored very quickly. But my first suggestion would be to castrate him, if you don't plan to breed him. That would take care of a lot of his problems." Lindy frowned uncertainly as she looked again at the horse. "We talked about gelding a horse if we needed to. So that's not a problem. There's also the other horses to consider. And I want to be able to handle him as well." She then looked at her husband. "What do you think?" Nate glanced back at her, his eyes slightly dilated. "I like him." He nodded. "We'll need to keep him here for a week or two, until we can get a separate pasture fenced off. I can call and get that started tomorrow. And I want to make sure the dogs can't get near him until we see how he'll react. Liam, however, doesn't go anywhere near him, without one of us there, until he's at least ten." Mack chuckled softly. "You got a name picked out?" "I was thinking about Lucifer." Lindy shook her head, thinking that Nate would choose a name like that. And it did seem to fit the stallion. As if protesting, the horse put his ears back...then promptly turned around and presented them his rear end. Nate pressed his hand to Lindy's stomach and had her take a step backwards with him. But to his surprise, the horse didn't kick the wall as he'd been expecting. It merely ignored them. Mack laughed. "Well, Nathaniel...looks like you've already made yourself a friend." "Hossie!" End Chapter One Hundred Twenty-seven <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->