Chapter Fifty-seven Nate had been gone for nearly an hour when the doorbell rang. Leaving Liam sitting in his highchair, Lindy hurried to the door with a bottle of pureed peaches in her hand. She turned the knob on the door, and smiled as she saw Anton standing on the porch. "Come on in." She noticed his gaze shifting over the glass bottle and she said, "Peaches? Liam certainly isn't eating them." "No, thanks," he said, wrinkling his nose. She closed the door behind him, then led him into the kitchen. "Nate's out feeding...if you wanted to talk to him. He probably won't be back for a while." "Actually, Lindy, I wanted to talk to you." He took a seat on one of the barstools by the kitchen island, stopping to ruffle Liam's hair in hello. "I wanted to see how you're doing." "I'm doing fine," Lindy said a little too quickly. She reached into one of the cabinets and pulled out some glasses. "Something to drink, Anton?" Anton shook his head, watching as Lindy poured herself a glass of water. "So Nathaniel's out feeding? When was the last time you fed?" She shrugged. "A couple of days ago." She took a long drink of her water, as if trying to prolong the suspense. "Nate said that if he fed from someone larger tonight, I could feed from him until we could get more ampoules from Anne." She became very interested in the shape of her glass. "He said we'd talk about it more this weekend." Anton nodded. "I know that it sounds impossible now, but you do really need to feed again on your own. You can't depend on Nathaniel or Anne for blood." "Why not? Why can't I?" "Because what happens if, God forbid, something happens to them? You have to learn to be self-sufficient." He stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know that you're hurting over your first kill. Before you were Transformed, you probably thought it would be the hardest. But now you're learning it's the second time you have to stalk to feed is the hardest. It's a completely normal feeling, Lindy." She was quiet as she grabbed a package of crackers off the counter. Breaking it open, she walked over and placed a small pile on Liam's tray. The baby quickly grabbed one in both fists and started shoving one in his mouth. "I'm going at my own pace, Anton. You can't expect me to just forget my emotions and kill people at random. Maybe you can harden yourself enough to feed every other day, but I can't. Not yet." "And I'm not asking you to, Lindy." Anton watched Liam chew on the cracker for a minute. "But the longer you wait, the harder it will be. But don't expect the guilt to ever completely go away. Because it doesn't. Or at least in my case it hasn't. The sooner you can find a way to make peace with what you are, the better it will be for you." She sank down wearily into a chair, propping her chin up on her bent arm. "It's not the feeding that I'm dreading. That part was easy, once I got hungry enough. It was afterwards, when I realized what I'd done, that it got hard. Maybe I just should get really drunk in between feedings." She frowned when her joke fell flat. Placing Liam's juice cup on his tray, she said, "I worry what he'll think...when he realizes his mommy and daddy kill people." "Probably the same thing I thought when I realized my father killed people. I think I was about eight years old when I realized what Ivan had to do to survive. I knew he wouldn't hurt me because he loved me, but it was still frightening. But the best thing is to be honest about what you are. And be careful who you feed from." She stared at him blankly, wondering exactly why he'd mentioned that. If he'd meant to make her feel better, he hadn't succeeded. "Did you ever hate him for what he was? Did you want to leave, to run away?" He nodded. "I did. For seventy years. I stayed away from him, trying to come to terms with what he did to me. But I was angry with him for other reasons as well. He Transformed me during a suicide attempt due to my mother's death." He looked at Lindy, concerned. "Do you want to run away, Lindy? Have your feelings for Nathaniel changed?" "No! I was thinking of Liam, and what his reactions might be when he gets older." She let out a soft sigh. "I didn't know that about your father." She ducked her head slightly. "Although it's a good thing he saved your life, it must've been awful to be Transformed against your will. It's hard enough to accept it even when you consent." She met his gaze. "You'll have to go through this very same thing with Bryn." "Yes, I will." He sighed. "We're trying to talk about some of the issues as they come up. She's already seen me hunt once, so that's not so much of a shock to her. I'm hoping that when the time comes, you and Nathaniel will be there to help her as well." "Of course," she said, quietly. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Nate said that he had an idea...that maybe if we had some cows...I wouldn't have to kill anyone. They'd have plenty of blood, and they wouldn't need to die. And if we had four or five of them, they'd easily be able to replenish any blood they lost between feedings. It doesn't sound like the most glamorous option, but it sounds preferable to me." Anton nodded. "That does sound like a good idea. Would the werewolves pose any threat to them?" "No more than the horses. We...they prefer to hunt more wild game, something that offers more of a challenge to bring down, like deer." "I don't see why we don't then." Anton gently patted her on the shoulder. "You know I'm here if you need to talk to a vampire who isn't your husband, right?" She nodded, then reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "Thanks, Anton. I know you're trying to help. I'm sorry I'm not quite as cooperative as I could be." She gave him a slight smirk. "Then again, you probably wouldn't recognize me if I didn't challenge you just a little bit." At his answering grin, she gave Liam a few more crackers and glanced at the clock. "What are your plans for tonight?" Anton shrugged. "Nothing really. Just to spend the evening with Bryn. I was going to let Chandra give work a chance without me hovering over her shoulder." "Looming, you mean." "No, the distinct word she used was hovering." She shook her head, still smiling. It was weird, but she did feel better now. Calmer, and even a little bit happier. Although, she still wasn't pleased about that revelation he made about fearing his father. Yet something told her that Liam would be just fine. Growing up with a family of werewolves on one side, and a family of vampires on the other...he pretty much had to adapt. "Well, we were thinking about ordering some pizza later. They'll deliver here for an extra charge. You're both welcome to join us, if you'd like." "I'll double check with Bryn, but I'm sure we'd both love to." He paused, watching Liam bang his juice cup against the high chair tray. "Nathaniel said something about the two of you going away for a while. Has that changed?" "No. He made the reservations tonight. Apparently we got one of the last rooms they had...but the woman on the phone said business slows down on the weekdays, so we should have no problems staying longer if we want to." She sighed, her eyes softening as she watched her son. "Although, I don't think I'll be able to stand being away from Liam for more than two days." Glancing back at Anton, she said, "I don't think the people at work are even going to recognize you once Max is born. You're going to become an entirely different person. At least, I'm pretty sure I have." "You have changed some, Lindy. And I'm not just referring to your Transformation." He smiled at her. "You seem more mature now, more settled, and definitely more happy with your life in general. But you're still you, underneath it all." "Thank you." She gave him a soft smile, then looked back to Liam, and then Nate's folded sweater on the counter. "I've got some pretty amazing men in my life." It had been so hard to leave Liam with his grandparents, although she knew that they would take excellent care of him. Still, Lindy couldn't help but wonder how her son was, what he was doing, if he missed her. It had also seemed to take forever between the time she talked to Anton and right now. Nate had confirmed their reservations for late check-in as they packed. There had been a few mysterious packages that Nate had personally placed in the suitcase, giving her strict orders not to peek. Curiosity awakened, she had managed to keep away from the parcels. But that didn't mean she didn't think about them as they spent the two hours driving northwards into the Napa Valley. The vineyard was cast in almost total darkness by the time they arrived. She felt a twinge of disappointment, but felt a bit reassured as Nate took her hand and promised they'd be able to see more early in the morning. The large Tudor-style inn was lovely, however, and she found herself getting excited as she looked around the lobby. The interior was filled with warm woods, glowing fires, and large windows. Once he was reassured the room they'd been given had heavy curtains on all of the windows, Nate smiled at her and let her lead the way, behind the manager, to their room. Lindy let out a gasp when she saw room, which was actually a split level suite with bedroom, living area with a fireplace and sliding doors to a patio, and an in-room spa. "Oh my God," she said, looking around the room. "Is this where we're staying, Nate?" He smiled at her reaction, quietly giving his thanks to the manager and tipping the bellhop that had brought their luggage to the room. Once they were alone, and the door was securely closed, he walked up behind Lindy and wrapped his arms around her waist. Instead of staring outside at the well-manicured lawn and sparkling pool, he looked at her reflection in the window. "Luckily, I was able to schmooze us in here. I practically begged them for it. We were going to be stuck with just a regular room, until they had a last minute cancellation. They called me back last night with the good news." She turned around in his arms. "It's wonderful, Nate. Just perfect." She reached up and kissed him. Before the kiss could become something more serious, Lindy pulled away. "I almost forgot. Anton asked that I give this to you," she pulled a sealed envelope out of her jacket pocket, "when we got into the rooms." He took the envelope, and opened it. The message had been printed in Anton's neat script. One thing I forgot to mention, Nathaniel, is they do frown on frantically masturbating in the hotel rooms. He let out a snort and shook his head, then handed the message over to Lindy. She read it, looked up at him with her nose wrinkled, and said, "What the--" "Don't ask. Inside joke, I guess you'd call it." She smiled at him. "That's so cute." He groaned. "Lind, I already told you, I'm not cute--and he most certainly isn't, either." Putting the note back in the envelope, he tossed it on the bed. "Now, I've made us reservations for dinner at Terra, one of the restaurants in town. Does Mediterranean food sound good to you?" "Sounds wonderful to me, Nate." She brushed her lips across his. "Let me use the bathroom first and freshen up, okay?" "Okay." He quietly watched her walk into the bathroom and close the door behind her, then he moved briskly to the other side of the bed. Flipping open the locks on their suitcase, he popped the lid open and dug through his clothes until he found the gold-wrapped rectangular box. He tucked it into the inside pocket of his coat, then sealed up the suitcase once again. He felt somewhat nervous as he pulled on the coat and waited for Lindy. She deserved a nice weekend. He hoped he could make it the best two days she'd had in a long time. Lindy finished placing her order for pasta primavera and handed the menu back to the waiter. "You know, Nate, for some reason, I'm reminded of our first date." "Why's that, baby?" He reached across the table to hold her hand. The restaurant was elegant and charming, fairly quiet at such a late hour. They'd ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc to have with dinner. "This feels entirely different to me. Warmer, more comfortable. Happier. Although, I was just as attracted to you then as I am now." Lindy squeezed his hand and shrugged slightly. "Maybe it's me, then. I guess I'm feeling like I did then. Uncertain, unsettled, and a little confused. Not about you, but about me." She gave a quiet sigh. "I can't help feeling like I've let a lot of people down. My parents by becoming a vampire, and you by not handling this so well." "What do I have to do to convince you that you haven't let me down, Lind?" He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "If anything, you're doing much better than I expected you to. It's hard for everyone. A lot of..." He looked around before lowering his voice. "A lot of vampires, just after they're Transformed, go into a deep depression. I can't even begin to tell you how many of them end up almost starving themselves into a coma because they can't handle it. And it would've made me sick to see you go through something like that, Lindy, but I certainly wouldn't be disappointed in you. It's like a stage of grieving. You don't feel disappointed in people who are grieving, because everyone goes through it at their own pace." She managed to give him a half smile. "So in other words, I should stop being so rough on myself?" "Yes. Exactly." He wrapped his other hand around their joined hands. "As for your parents, they've had time to come to terms with the idea of you being Transformed. We told them about it before the last time we were going to Transform you. And when we didn't do it, when we decided to wait, they had even more time to think about it. If they weren't ready, that's not your fault. You gave them plenty of opportunity to speak up, and they didn't. So if they're disappointed now, they shouldn't be putting any blame on you. The blame would rest on them." He cleared his throat. "That being said, I don't think they are disappointed. I think they miss the wolf that they knew so well. But that's not disappointment, baby. They just need to get used to the idea that you can't Change anymore, but you're still the same person." She added her free hand to the ones already joined. "That makes sense. They haven't known me any other way, so it's got to be an adjustment. But how about you? Do you miss the wolf?" He smiled warmly. "The physical form? Of course, I do. But I'm not foolish enough to think that bitch is completely gone. She's still in there somewhere." Lindy grinned back. "I'm sure of that, Nate. I'm sure she'll show up the first time I get really mad." "Lucky me." Still smiling, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out the small box he'd put inside earlier. Setting the gold-wrapped present in front of her, he held his hand on top of it for a moment. "I wanted to give you this, to remind you that no matter what you are in your life, you'll still be the same person. You'll always be a good, caring, generous soul. And I will always love you, no matter what." She took the box, which was roughly the same size as her palm, and almost four inches thick. She looked up and smiled. "You didn't have to do this, Nate." "I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. Go on, open it." Picking up the box, she ran a nail under the tape, and started carefully tearing away the gold paper. It didn't take her long to uncover the black lacquered box, or to open it. But the velvet jewelry box inside made her nervous. She carefully took it out and heard something sliding around inside. It was heavy, she noticed. Her hands were shaking as she opened the hinge and looked inside--then she could only stare in shock at what was inside. It couldn't be real. Slightly larger than a quarter, the heart-shaped gem had to be cubic zirconia. Or possibly crystal. Certainly not a real diamond. She met his gaze, and his wide grin confirmed it. She was holding a ten-carat diamond pendant in her hand. She looked back to the stone, tilting her hand this way and that to watch the light reflect off of it. Colorless and flawless, she didn't want to think about how much this diamond alone must cost. Mouth dry from shock, she closed her eyes and opened them. Yes, it was still there. She met Nate's grin with a wide-eyed stare. "Somehow...saying 'thank you' doesn't seem to be enough." He let out a small laugh. "I know you have your aunt's cross, and it was probably presumptuous of me to get this...but I asked the salesman for something phenomenal, and this was what he showed me. So, if you want to wear your cross instead, maybe you can just save this for special occasions. We'll need to get you chain, though. I thought you might want to pick that yourself." "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to wear it, period. I'd be afraid of losing it." She looked at it thoughtfully. "It would have to be a heavy chain, maybe some sort of choker?" Then she leaned across the table to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Nathaniel. I love it." "You're welcome. I'm glad you like it." He did look relieved. Certainly more relaxed, as he took another sip of his wine. "It's already very well insured, so you don't have to be afraid of losing it. Still, it might be a good idea to find out if the Inn has a safe where you can keep it until we leave." He grinned again. "Maybe next time I'll get you some matching earrings." "Matching earrings? I don't think I'd be able to hold my head up." She carefully placed the diamond back in the boxes. "Don't be surprised if I look in that box repeatedly during dinner. I still don't quite believe that it's real. Thank you." "If it's not real, me and the MasterCard people are going to be really pissed." Grabbing the wine bottle, not bothering to wait for the waiter, he poured himself another glass, then topped off hers. "I was going to make you wait until dessert for that, but I couldn't wait myself. I feel like I never give you anything special, so I didn't want to hold off any longer." "Never give me anything special?" Lindy shook her head in disbelief. "What about this?" she said, pointing to her wedding ring. "Or the more important gifts, your companionship, your friendship, your love? That is the most special thing to me." "Well, in that case, I guess I can take this," he placed his hand on the box, "back to the store." When she frowned at him, he gave her a little grin. "You know what I mean, Lind. You deserve caviar and hundred-dollar bottles of wine, and yet we live on pizza and beer. I think you should have something nice every once in a while." "Nate, if I had any problem living on pizza and beer, I would let you know. One thing I strongly believe is that it's not the quality of the things in your life, but the quality of the people. Although..." She gave him a devilish grin. "If you tried to take that back, you'd find that the bitch in me is definitely still around." He shook his head, still smiling. "It looks like our dinner is on its way. Why don't we worry about what--or who--is inside you, later?" Jess wandered around the corrals, not quite at ease, although she couldn't quite say why. It wasn't her concern for Lindy that was causing her to be upset. There was something bothering her, something instinctive that wasn't sitting right with her. Trying to relax, she watched Moonshine trotting around the corral. Whistling the horse over, she offered the apple slices she had palmed earlier. Jess, although she had never learned to ride beyond keeping her balance in the saddle, always had loved horses. Gently she patted the gelding, relieved that the horses didn't seem to be bothered by her scent. Both her ears and Moonshine's pricked when they heard the car engine coming up the long driveway. Bryn waved as she drove near, slowing the car along side the fence. "Hey, shouldn't you have a coat on?" she asked, grinning. "That's what you'd say to me." Jess snorted. "I could put on a fur coat in about five seconds, but I think I'd spook Moonshine here." She gave the horse one last pat and then turned to Bryn. "Got a favor to ask. Michael and Anne would like for Alex, Walter, Amanda, and me to go down to San Jose for dinner. Chandra needs a little time on her own, I think, so I was wondering if you'd mind watching Liam?" "That would be fine. I need to see Anne rather soon, myself." She glanced at the house, noticing that the lights were on. "I'm going to go see if Anton got dinner started...about what time do you think you'll be bringing him over?" Jess wrapped her arms around her torso. "You're right about the coat. I'll be by in about half an hour to give you two some time together." She started towards her home. "Oh, by the way Bryn...I think both Nate and Lindy would appreciate it if he doesn't have a navel ring when they come home." [Uh-oh...] Bryn could feel her entire face flushing with shame, even though she knew this moment would come sooner or later. She wanted to ask if Lindy had ratted her out, but wisely kept her mouth shut. "How much trouble am I in?" "Not too much, I guess. You should have known better, but I'm more pissed at Amanda because I told her she could get one when she was 16. It appears we've hit the teenage rebellion years." Jess sighed. "Just remember that everything I'm going through now you get to look forward to in about thirteen years." Bryn nodded. "You're right, I should've known better. I'm sorry, Jess. I think...I can remember being that age, and wanting to do anything to make someone like me. I guess for a while there I forgot how old I was." Jess shrugged. "That's understandable, I guess. You don't have kids yet, and I'm used to having to say 'no' on a regular basis. And it could have been worse. It could have been a tattoo." She paused to look at Bryn, eyebrows arched in question. "She didn't get a tattoo, right?" "No, we were saving that for your birthday," Bryn said, grinning. When Jess didn't laugh at her joke, she ducked her head. "I guess I'd better go. I'll see you later." "Bye," Jess said, shaking her head. Bryn drove to the end of the long driveway, then pulled into her garage. She smiled to herself as she saw Anton's car. Still wearing her Lycra bodysuit and a T-shirt, she grabbed her gym bag and headed into the house. Surprisingly, Petunia wasn't dancing in the hallway for her attention. As she sniffed the air, she knew why. Anton was cooking...and the dog was no doubt at his feet begging for samples. "I'm home," she called out, as she set her bag down and walked down the hall. "Hey, Bryn," Anton called back. "I'll be out in a minute." Checking the roast, he set the timer for another fifteen minutes. "Good timing, my dear," he said walking out to greet her. "Dinner should be ready shortly." He reached down to pat Petunia, who wandered over to greet Bryn as soon as she realized Anton wouldn't be giving her any more scraps. "How was the gym?" "It was okay," she said, kneeling down to rub Petunia's ears. She sweet-talked the dog for several minutes, scratching its ears and letting it lick her face. Then, with a final pat to the dog's side, she stood up and reached for Anton, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him briefly, before saying, "I think I might've worked a little too hard on my arms, but no pain, no gain, right?" "True," Anton said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "But I can't help but wonder if this is an elaborate ploy for me to give you a massage." He gently kissed her. "Did you look more into those fencing classes? And I hope pot roast sound for dinner?" "It sounds delicious. Thank you for starting dinner." She reached up to kiss him again, lingering this time. She smiled as she settled back on her heels. "And yes, I did have a chance to ask more about the classes. Actually, the fencing instructor, David, was helping me work out today. He offered to be my spotter." "Really?" That sounded slightly unusual to Anton. It might bear some watching. Not that he didn't trust Bryn, but she could be very innocent towards people's intentions towards her. "Have you decided to take lessons, my dear?" She nodded, tugging him around the couch to sit down. "He said he has a beginner's class starting in late January that I could join. I think that would probably be the best time to go." She leaned against him, her head on his shoulder, tired from both her workout and the drive home. "He's a very nice guy. Cute, too. Maybe if Mack doesn't show up in the next month or so, I'll have to introduce Chandra to David." She gave him a small smile. "How was your day, sugar?" Not really certain what to say about introducing David to Chandra, he mentioned something that was starting to concern him. "It was pretty quiet at work. The economic slowdown is really starting to affect us. It's going to take some creative juggling to keep from having to do some layoffs." He sighed. "It's not that we need the money. Just that there are several employees where their jobs are their sole support, and I'd hate to cut them off from it." "Oh...I'm sorry." She placed her hand on his thigh, lightly squeezing. "Is there maybe something you could do, like...I don't know, start promoting patriotism? I know buying antiques isn't going to be very high on many people's lists, but showing their love for America is, and maybe if you shifted the focus to American-made things, old war memorabilia, flags, things like that, it might help somewhat. It's an idea, anyway." Anton thought about it for a moment, resting his chin on her shoulder as he placed his hand on hers. "You know, my dear, that might help. I was just planning on not drawing pay for six months, which wouldn't solve the problem, but help it somewhat. I'm not sure if Lindy would be willing to do the same or not. Thanks for the idea." He gently kissed Bryn, squeezing her hand. She gave him a slight smile. "I don't know how much help it would be, but it's something I guess." "It's a start, and more of an idea than I had before." He kissed her forehead. "I better go check on the roast." Standing up, Anton started towards the kitchen. "So tell me, Bryn. Why do you think Chandra and David would make a good couple?" She lay back on the couch, lounging on the pillows with her legs stretched out across the cushions. "I don't know that they would...but he's nice and he's handsome. Sounds like a good start to me. Plus, he owns dogs. Another point in his favor." He opened the oven, crouching down to pull out the roast. "Really?" Pulling off the oven mitts, he hissed slightly when one of his fingers accidentally touched the roasting pan. "And how did you find all this out, my dear?" "He was talking to me while I lifted weights. Granted, I can't lift all that much, but it's nice to have something to distract me from the burning in my arms." She paused for a moment. "Do you want some help, sugar?" "Sure, my dear," he said, transferring the roast to a cutting board. "If you would make the salad?" Plugging in the electric knife, he started slicing up the roast. "So this David is cute? How cute is he?" She didn't say a word as she opened the fridge and pulled out the lettuce and tomatoes. Then, turning and facing the cutting board, she grabbed a knife out of the stand. "Like 'bodybuilder-magazine model' cute. He looks like he should be on the cover of that Men's Health magazine. I think he's about my age...maybe six feet tall. Dark hair, lovely blue eyes, a very nice smile." She kept chopping for a moment before adding, "I don't think he'd be your type, though." Anton snorted. "And exactly what is my type, my dear?" He put down the knife and stepped up behind her, framing his arms around her. "Dark hair, lovely blue eyes, a nice smile, devastatingly sexy. I think you just described her perfectly. Him, however..." She let out a snicker, tilting her head back and to the side to kiss him. "You're entirely too good at sweet-talking, Anton. No wonder you have me wrapped around your finger all the time." Returning to the task before her, she added, "Would you mind getting me a bowl before I forget about dinner altogether?" Anton made a face. "In that case, I guess we should eat first." He stepped away and grabbed a large bowl from the cupboard. "I'm not sure what I should be doing about Chandra. If I should encourage her to forget Mack and move on, or to encourage her to wait. I'm not certain exactly how a werewolf would handle dating." She giggled. "You haven't noticed any males around her marking their territory, have you?" Before he could answer, she let out a gasp. "I almost forgot! Jess asked if she could bring over Liam tonight while they go out to dinner...so it looks like we're not going to have much time alone, after all." "Hmmph. Well, there is something to be said for delayed gratification, I guess. Besides, we may have to get used to it." He looked over everything. "I think we're about ready to eat, my dear. What would you like to drink?" "A big chocolate-peanut butter shake with chunks of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups." She gave him a wide grin. "I guess that would defeat the purpose of going to the gym, though. So, I guess...water." She sighed, then walked over to where he stood. "We do have a short while before they come over. Maybe we could just make-out for a while?" He grinned. "Well, when you put it that way, my dear, let me put the roast back in the oven to keep it warm." After doing so, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You know how much I love you, don't you Bryn?" She was deliberately hesitant. "Hmm, I think so..." She lifted up on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his mouth. "You might want to remind me, though, just to make sure." Swaying his hips, he grinned at her. "Well, with Liam coming over, I can't remind you the way I really want to. So we'll have to settle for this." He leaned down, cupping her face in his hands as he kissed her, nibbling on her upper lip. She smiled against his mouth, hooking her thumbs in the belt loops on his pants. She splayed her fingers across his hips, pulling herself close to him, enjoying the softness of his lips. After a moment, she pulled back, panting, and met his gaze. "So why don't you tell me how you were going to show me. Maybe we could do it later?" "Well..." He looked her up and down, eyes caressing her body. "I'd start by kissing you, long, deep, and lovingly. I'd explore every inch of your mouth, memorizing every texture and taste. My hands cradling your head until I slowly start to rub your shoulders. Like this." He leaned down and nudged her lips apart with his tongue, his hands caressing the back of her head and her neck. She let her hands slide down over his shoulders and onto his chest. She leaned into him, wanting to melt into him, enjoying his touch. He was warm, his arms secure and gentle around her, and she wanted to wrap him around her like a cozy blanket. "Then what?" she whispered against his lips. He paused to take a breath. His eyes were closed as his hands wandered over her shoulder. "Then, I'd nibble your earlobes, along your jaw line, and down your neck. Maybe raise a hickey right about...here." He hunched down a bit so he could suck and nip at the base of her neck, just above her collarbones. His hands started sliding down her back. She let out a soft moan, shuddering in delight. Part of her wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and have him lift her up on the countertop again. But the rest of her knew Jess was likely to show up just as things started getting really intimate. Instead, she held on tightly to his shoulders, kissed his ear, and whispered solemnly, "I love you so much, Anton. Talking to any other man just reminds me how much better I have it. No one could ever, ever compare to you. I only ever want to be with you." He rumbled contentedly. His hand slid down to cup her ass. "And then, I'd lift you up, so your legs wrap around my waist tightly." He hoisted her up, grinning as she did just what he said. "And I'd work my hand under your shirt so I could rub my thumb against your--" A sharp cough interrupted Anton's speech and actions. "Should I come back in about half an hour?" Jess asked good-naturedly. Bryn giggled, oddly not embarrassed. "Don't worry, Jess...this is just a mission statement. No action yet. Well," she brushed down her shirt after he removed his hand, "at least nothing too serious." She slid her legs back down, planting her feet on the floor. Walking around the counter, she held her arms out for Liam. "Are you guys going out to dinner, or eating at someone's home?" Jess handed over her grandson, but not before she gave him a peck on the cheek. "We're stopping by to say hi to my brother, and then having a late dinner. I'll pick Liam up before dawn. Chandra'll be at the guesthouse if she's needed, and you should have my pager number. I'll talk to the two of you later. Oh, and sorry for the interruption." With a slight wave, she walked towards the front door. "Bye," Bryn and Anton called out, almost in unison. Walking back to the kitchen, Bryn said, in a softer voice, "Are you getting hungry, Liam? We've got meat. It's not fresh from the cow, but I think it'll do." She grinned at Anton. "Shall we eat, Romeo?" "Lets, Juliet." He pulled out the roast from the oven, making sure the meat and the potato garnish was still warm. "And once Liam's down for the night, I'll resume telling you how much I love you?" "Better yet, sugar, I hope you'll show me." Nate reclined lazily on the bed, Lindy curled up at his side, her diamond pendant lying on his exposed chest. She was lightly tracing the gem over his skin, watching the light sparkle off of the faceted surface. He kissed her forehead, his eyes heavy-lidded with arousal. "I know this may not be something you want to hear anytime soon, but sometimes I enjoy hunting for my prey." When she looked up at him, he nodded. "Sometimes I get a high off of it. And I know I should feel guilty at the time, but I don't. I may feel a slight twinge of guilt later, but it doesn't last long." She rested her head on his shoulder, still stroking the diamond around his chest. "I understand that, sort of. I always got a rush when I was hunting as a wolf, animal or human prey. And the other night, when I fed for the first time, I felt it too. I don't get it, Nate. Why didn't I feel guilty as the wolf, but can only feel guilt as a vampire?" She rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling. "There was a rightness to it as a wolf, like I was fulfilling my role as a predator. I guess I expected to feel that still. That's what I don't understand." Now he rolled onto his side, placing the pendant above her breasts. "What did you feel, baby?" She still stared straight up, not looking at him as she listed her emotions. "Hunger, longing, desperation..." Her last words were little more than a whisper. "Lust, arousal." He let his knuckles slide against the curves of her breasts, carefully watching her face. "It's a much more intimate way to kill someone. Something like the difference between shooting a man and stabbing him. The first is distant and safe, practically anonymous. As a wolf, you could kill a man without him ever knowing what hit him. As a vampire, though, like stabbing someone, it's closer. Personal. You look in their eyes, drink from their body, feel their fear and pain as your own. You hear those little noises they make before they die. You used to be able to kill in a frenzy, to lose yourself in the wildness. You can't do that anymore." She nodded, letting her eyes slide close. "It's definitely harder than I thought it would be. You tried to warn me, but I thought I could handle it. And I don't know what I should do. If I should try hunting again, or if I should hold off for a bit. I have a feeling that the longer I wait, the harder it will be, but I'm not certain that I'm ready to try again." "Don't push it," he murmured, leaning over to kiss the base of her neck. "You'll know when it's time to try again." He started lazily unbuttoning her shirt, his fingertips caressing her skin. "I didn't tell you that sometimes I enjoy hunting because I wanted to scare you. I told you that because I want you to know that your feelings could change. It may take a while, but the total dread doesn't last forever. Even if you only come to accept it, that's much better than fearing it." She gave him a shaky smile. "I think I will, eventually." She snuggled a little closer as Nate's hand began pushing her blouse away, sliding his hand up to cup her breast through her bra. Her eyes flicked to his, gleaming bright with unshed tears. "I just love you so much, and I don't want you to think you made a mistake Transforming me." He paused in his caresses, his expression becoming a bit saddened. "Alinda, I don't think I made a mistake. I think I could've prepared you better, but I would still have done it. I'm not disappointed. Not in you, or the situation. I just wish you weren't so overwhelmingly disappointed in yourself. You haven't done anything wrong. Nothing abnormal. I think you'll see that when we go to the Gathering, and you get a chance to talk to some of the other vampires. It's nothing to be ashamed of." She reached up and stroked her knuckles over his cheek. "Keep telling me that, Nathaniel, and I'll eventually believe you." She leaned forward to kiss her husband, gently nipping at his lips. The pendant slid off her chest to land with a soft thump on the mattress. "We'll need to get a chain for that," she whispered against his lips. "I still can't believe you spent that much money on me." "Why? I'd buy you the moon if it were for sale." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. Sliding his hands down, he squeezed her ass. "I want you to have the best of everything, whether I have to buy it, steal it, or make it myself." He kissed the side of her neck, nibbling her jaw. "And I don't care if you say that it's not necessary, or I don't have to spend that much. I want to. So humor me." "Well, in that case, I will." She smiled and gently shifted so her legs were straddling his waist. Resting her weight on her elbows as well, she kissed his lips, tongue stroking across his before she began exploring his mouth. So familiar, but not any less exciting for it. Her hands slid to cup either side of his face, thumbs brushing across his temples. He let out a moan against her mouth, sliding his hands down to remove her shoes. He kicked his own off, then wrapped his arms around her once more. Her mouth tasted sweet, like the chocolate mousse she'd had for dessert. He sucked greedily on her tongue, wanting that flavor to linger. Hungering for more. Trying not to break their kiss, she slid her shirt off her shoulders and dropped it on the floor. Leaning heavily on him, she undid the catch on her bra as she nipped at his upper lip. Squirming, she couldn't help but give a little triumphant laugh after she worked the straps over her shoulders. Discarding her bra, she rubbed their bare chests together and sucked his tongue into her mouth. He groaned in approval, pressing his hands down on her back and squeezing her breasts between them. He wanted this to last a while, to take his time, but with her efforts he wasn't sure that plan would work anymore. He was becoming more aroused by the second. She let out as soft moan, panting softly. She began nipping at his chin, crouching a little lower along his body. Pushing their groins together, she sat up a little, so she could run just the tips of her fingers over his chest, gently plucking at his nipples. "What do you want, Nate? How do you want me?" "Take off your slacks and panties." He watched as her breath caught, then she leisurely unfastened her pants and got to her feet. Nate was at a loss for breath himself as she pushed her clothes to the floor. "I--I want you on your back, with your legs spread. 'Cause I'm going to start at your mouth and go down on you, until you scream." She trembled visibly as her eyes shut. She took a deep breath and opened them. Not following his instructions at first, she dragged herself back up his body, letting her breasts rub against his silken skin. She gave him one soul- searing kiss, using her tongue, teeth and lips. Eyes hooded and never leaving his, she rolled onto her back and reached over to caress his cheek. "Like this, Nathaniel?" "Mmm, perfect." He rolled over to his hands and knees, then reared up to kneel in front of her. Pulling off his shirt, he teased her deliberately as he slowly pulled down the zipper on his pants. Unfastening the button, he pushed his slacks and briefs to his knees, then pushed them down altogether. He crawled his way up her body, hovering over her like a tiger guarding its kill. Dipping his head a bit, he licked a long stripe up her cleavage and over her neck. He kissed her chin briefly before claiming her mouth with a softly rumbling growl. She let out a soft moan. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, dueling with his as her arms came around his back. She pulled his body to hers, wanting to feel every inch of him against her. "Oh God, Nathaniel..." "You're so pretty, baby. It hurts my eyes to look at you." He kissed her again, squeezing his hand between them to roll her nipple with his thumb. "It's like looking directly at the sun." Pushing himself away from her, he backed up to get his mouth level with her breasts. Palming one breast, he rubbed his hand in a wide circle over her nipple. Then he lowered his mouth to suck and nibble at the other. She let out a loud gasp, arching beneath him. Breathing harshly, her one hand tangled in his hair, the other pushing his hand harder against her breast. She could feel his thighs spreading hers wider apart, his erection nestled against her stomach. She was trembling, and could feel him shaking with desire also. "God, Nathaniel, how come you make me feel so vulnerable and so powerful at the same time?" He lifted his mouth to grin at her. "Magic." Switching sides, he rubbed her wet nipple between his thumb and forefinger, worrying the swollen flesh, torturing her with the light squeeze and pull of his fingers. He pulled her other areola into his mouth, sucking hard before pulling back to the very tip. He nipped at her, sucked at her, and all the while his hand was sliding down her stomach and tickling the curls between her legs. She whimpered, arching beneath his hand between her legs. She thought she would go mad as he gently teased her with his fingers and his mouth. Lindy spread her legs wider, reaching down to dig her fingers into his back and drag them back up along his spine to his shoulders. He let out a soft hiss then glared at her. Pushing himself down between her legs, he turned his head and stared at her thigh. She was about to ask what he was doing, when suddenly he bit into her flesh, sinking his fangs into her greater saphenous vein. She let out a loud gasp, fighting her instinct to jerk her thigh away. Her hand lightly rested on his head as she felt him drink from her. She could feel his breath stirring her pubic hair. "Ohhhh..." He rumbled deep in his throat as he drank, deeply breathing in the light musk aroma of her sex. His eyelids drooped heavily with arousal and euphoric bliss, and with one last big swallow, he abruptly pulled away from her leg, covering her sex with his mouth. He licked firmly up the entire length of her labia, dragging away the moisture that had escaped from her already. Lindy let out a moan and squirmed against him as he stabbed his tongue into her, and then flicked at her clit. She felt light headed from the blood loss, and the tingles he was inducing were pushing her towards her peak. "Oh God, Nathaniel!" He pressed his thumb down on her clit and shoved his tongue deep inside of her, wiggling it in her tight opening. She squealed, squeezing his tongue with her vaginal muscles, erupting into orgasm. Quickly pulling his mouth away from her, he hurried up her body and pushed his cock none-too-gently inside of her. He gritted his teeth, groaning at the sensation of her spasming around him. She wrapped her legs tight around him, pulling him in deeper. She rocked her hips against him, moaning as her contractions continued from the feel of him pressing against her clit. Her fingers continued to dig into his back in time with his thrusts. As he leaned down to kiss her, she ducked her head and fastened onto his neck, fangs breaking through his skin. "Ohhh..." He moaned, holding her upper body tightly to him. Speeding up the thrusts of his hips, he moved rapidly and deeply inside of her. Her sucking only seemed to make him harder. Grinding himself tightly upon her, he lifted her thighs up high, shifting the angle of his strokes, driving himself into her so hard she scooted across the bed. Releasing his neck, she arched her head back and let out a shriek. Her sex began to spasm even tighter around him and she pushed her body as close to him as she could, wishing they could fuse into one creature. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and she cried out. "Nathaniel!" It was all he needed to drive him into his own orgasm. Shoving himself deep inside her, he let out an almost pained whimper as he emptied himself in five powerful bursts. His body was rigid and quivering, straining to get as deep as he could. Then he went limp, lying heavily upon her, panting as he tried to catch his breath. Lindy lay limp as well, gently stroking his back. Gently she kissed the top of his head, nuzzling his hair. Something was digging into her shoulder blade, and she squirmed, trying to figure out what was causing the discomfort, but not wanting to displace Nate. He stretched, then settled back against her, rubbing his nose against her neck. He closed his eyes for a moment, then forced them back open again before falling asleep. Lazily, he murmured, "It's going to be weird sleeping in a bed without Liam joining us after a while. Wonder what he's up to tonight." Finally giving in and reaching her hand behind her shoulder, her fingers closed on the diamond pendant. Smiling slightly, she placed it on the table besides the bed. "Probably got everyone wrapped around his little finger, catering to his every whim. Just like any other night." She snuggled a little closer to him. "You put the 'do not disturb' sign out, right?" "Yup. I don't plan on moving it all weekend." He reached for the corner of the blankets, pulling it back and urging her to scoot onto the sheets. Once she had, he crawled on top of her again and settled between her legs. He tucked the blankets around them, letting out a groan as he got comfortable. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering against her skin. "I love you, Lind. I love you very much." Her arms went tightly around his waist, not planning on ever letting him go. "I love you too, Nathaniel. So much it scares me sometimes." She brushed her lips across the hollow of his throat. He kissed her temple, then her ear, whispering, "Don't be scared, baby. I'll never hurt you. I promise." End Chapter Fifty-seven <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->