Her laugh is musical. “They were so excited, and when they saw the grand piano, they were over the moon, ready to play the magnificent instrument. Honestly, I think Mari and Sam were just as happy.”
“We are all family now.” Leaving her coat on a hook by the door, I hurry to the kitchen, where I hear my pot of water boiling. I turn the flame down and pour two glasses of wine.
Taking the wine, her cheeks color. “You’re that sure this thing between us will work out?”
Once I check the fish I have in the hot bath to sous vide, I leave it in the water and turn off all the flames on the stove. With my wine, I sit next to her at the island. “If you wish it, my love, then there is no doubt. I will love you and no other for all the days of my life.”
She leans in until her warm lips press to mine. The kiss is soft and too brief, but her eyes tell me that there is much on her mind. “We’re going to talk about that. First, tell me about California.”
Hesitating, I wish there were a way to forget that monster ever entered our lives. Since reality tells a different story, I relax my muscles and brushed a stray hair from her face. “The vampire has some kind of blood lust. It’s likely psychological. I gave the agency some of my elixir to inject into him. It calmed him enough to have a conversation. In case the cause is viral, I would not go into the glass enclosure where they’re keeping it.”
“That was wise. Is he a relative of yours?” Her jaw is tight, and I wish I were not the cause, even indirectly, of her stress.
“No. He descends from Mica’s bloodline. He was the errand boy.”
She nods. “I’m glad you could help.” With a deep breath, she says, “Are you going to make me ask about the boogeyman?”
“It is secure in a cell nearly three stories deep in the underground facility. It will not get out of there before it dies, which will be quite soon.” It gave me some relief to see the thing barely moving in a dim cage with no way to harm anyone ever again.
“Why is it dying?” She frowns and fidgets with her fingers.
“Because it cannot feed. It is for the best. There are very few creatures without some redeeming qualities, but the boogeyman is a beast that must have been created in a very dark and hateful place.” It is unknown where many creatures originate. Perhaps it knows, but I didn’t bother to ask.
She sips her wine and stares over my shoulder. The crease between her eyebrows tells me she’s deep in thought. “Will they tell us when it dies?”
I knew she would ask. “I have requested to be informed.”
Meeting my gaze, she nods. “It took Livi from her bed and terrorized her. It nearly killed Tilda. Dotty and I were devastated. Max and the rest of your family were traumatized. I’ve lived with creatures of all kinds here in Harmony Glen since the Great Revelation. Each one I’ve known has been interesting in its own way. Few have been unkind or irredeemable. The boogeyman and perhaps Pierre Brochet are the exceptions. I will not be sad when it dies, but I’ll not celebrate anything so morbid.”
My love is perfection. I have other thoughts about Pierre. He could have changed his life, but he chose differently. He was family, and I let him run rampant, terrorizing humans for centuries. His death is on my head. I keep all of this bottled up. The last thing I want is our night to be ruined. “Shall we change the subject to the way you look in this dress?” I run my fingers along the soft material where it plunges between her full breasts.
Gooseflesh rises along her skin, and she makes the most delicious groan. Meeting my gaze, she shakes her head. “Not yet. I must tell you about meeting Tilda at the farm market today.”
“Tilda informed me of the encounter. She stopped by when she heard I was home and was very contrite about having confronted you.” I was not happy with my granddaughter for how she handled her issues with my decision, but I understand and am grateful for her love and care.
“I’m not after an apology, Ion. I want to know why you didn’t tell me about your decision to end your life when I die?”
Sitting on the stools facing each other, her knees press against mine. I place my hands on her soft legs. “I would have eventually, Lori. I wanted this early time in our relationship to be filled with joy and not maudlin thoughts of something that will happen many years from now.”
“You know I do not want you to die, Ion. If you lived and loved again after my death, that would make me happy. You could see the girls grow old and watch over many times over great-grandchildren.” She inches forward, stands, and hugs me.
Standing between my legs, she places my face against her pillowy chest, and I’m drunk on the scent of her. “These last months, they have become daughters to me, and I would not wish to watch the end of their lives. Since in all my years, I have never loved anyone as I do you, I am confident you are singular. I am blessed to have found you, and I’ll die happy after an exceedingly long life. What more can any man want?”
Her pulse speeds up. “That is hard to argue with.”
I laugh. “Good.”
“Now we can talk about my dress.” Her cheeks and chest turn the loveliest shade of pink.
Sliding my hands along her hips to her waist, the vampire side of me wants to rip the dress to shreds and take her on the counter. Luckily, I’m still a man as well. “Are you sure you’re not hungry? I don’t want to be accused of starving you.”
“Will what you’re cooking keep?” She runs her fingers through my hair and arches her back.
I’m painfully aroused, and her cleavage, less than an inch from my mouth, is making my state more urgent. “It will wait until I’ve satisfied whatever other needs you have, my love.”
Reaching both arms behind her neck, she pulls the bow that holds the halter top in place. Keeping hold of both ends, shebrings her hands around, holding the fabric. She turns her back to me. “Will you slide the zipper down?”
“You are driving me quite mad, love.” I kiss the smooth skin along her shoulder blade.
