Forever (The Forever series Book One) (13 page)

“Okay, then,” Devon says sarcastically, “I’ll just come
back.”

“No!” I say a bit too loudly and he raises an eyebrow at me.

“Okay, well we really need to discuss the Harper project.”

“Yes, sure, no problem,” I ramble. “Cole, will you wait?”

“Actually I have a meeting to get to. I just wanted to stop
by to see you.”

I nod, “Okay. I’ll see you later then, at home?”

“Yes, my love,” he whispers as he bends down to kiss me
goodbye.

“Devon,” he nods as he strides passed.

Devon nods back and I roll my eyes.

“What was all that about?” he inquires.

“I really don’t know,” I say truthfully. Suddenly I’m
exhausted with all this and I flop ungracefully into my chair.

Back at home the atmosphere is tense and I just can’t take
it anymore and say so. Cole grimaces at my tone but agrees to step into my
office to talk.

“Cole, I’m just going to come out with this. You keep
teasing me and it’s driving me crazy. Do you want me to bite you?” There, I’ve
said it. Ball. Court. Him.

He doesn’t look surprised by the question. More thoughtful,
really. “Do you want to bite me?” he asks after what seems like hours.

“Yes,” I reply bluntly

“Then, I want you to,” he answers slowly.

Relief floods over me and I let out the breath I didn’t know
I was holding. I grin at him, “Okay, then.”

He grins back, “Okay then.” He pauses before asking, “Now?” and
looking round the office.

I giggle to myself. “No, not here. Later on, in bed.”

His eyes cloud over with lust and anticipation. “Going to
make me wait?”

“It’ll be better then,” I say softly and his breath catches
in his throat.

Dinner is interminable. I’m getting more and more turned on
at the thought of my fangs sinking into him.

Finally I can’t wait any longer and bid Devon goodnight with
a quick hug and kiss that makes him sigh softly. Dragging Cole upstairs, I once
again curse the number of the damn things. Pushing open the sitting room door,
we both rush to the bedroom shedding clothes as we go, leaving them in
forgotten heaps.

Cole is now eyeing me warily. I think he’s expecting me to
bare my fangs and pounce. I smile to show him my regular teeth and he relaxes a
bit. He takes me in his arms and kisses me hard. I respond, already aroused by
the wait. His hands move over my naked breasts and he tweaks my nipples. I emit
a groan of appreciation and he kisses me even harder. I push him to the bed, my
Vampire self aching to dominate. He falls back and I’m on him in a flash. He
groans and pulls my mouth back to his. He runs his tongue over my teeth and I
hiss at the slight ache. I pull back and whisper, “Let me know when you are
ready.”

He nods but doesn’t say anything. I kiss him again and
position myself over him. Hands on my hips, he pulls me down roughly onto him
and I gasp. He is rock hard, clearly as turned on by the wait as I am. I
quickly find a rhythm. Hands on his chest, he laces his over mine and whispers,
“Do it.”

I nearly come on the spot but push it down. Gripping his
shoulders I pull him up so he’s sitting upright. His hands return to my hips,
pushing him further into me. I glance quickly into his eyes, now a blue so dark
they look black. “Do it,” he whispers again.

Apparently needing to be told twice I nod and drop my fangs.
He gasps in wonder. Lowering my mouth to his neck I tilt his head to the side
and nuzzle him breathing in his delicious AB negative scent, feeling his pulse
beating against my lips. A quick sharp bite down and he hisses and tenses at
the pain but then he soon relaxes as the pleasure takes over. I suckle gently,
coaxing the blood into my mouth. I growl deep in my throat at his taste, as his
blood pours into my mouth making me stronger. Oh it’s been too long since I fed
on human blood. I can feel the difference in me already. He moans and
encouraged I bite a bit harder, gripping his shoulders hard, never stopping the
frantic rhythm of my hips. Reluctantly I release the bite and lick over the
puncture marks, which heal over slowly, and looking back into his eyes I come
really hard around him. Retracting my fangs, I kiss him and he comes inside me
gripping my hips to him. I release his shoulders and he slumps back to the bed.
“Holy fuck!” he says in amazement, looking at me with wonder. “That was
incredible.”

Basking in the afterglow of fresh human blood, amazing sex
and the compliment, I grin smugly. “I told you it would be.”

“Yeah you did. Fuck me. I’ve been imagining this for days
now. It never went like that,” he admits shyly. “Can we do it again?” he asks
suddenly.

My awakened need for human blood cries out to me but I crawl
off him holding up a hand, “Slow down cowboy. I’ve taken enough for one night.”

Looking disappointed he asks, “Tomorrow then?”

I nod slowly and he smiles again. “I love you Liv. That was
the most intimate, erotic moment of my life.”

I smile softly. “It was good for me too. I’m glad you liked
it. I was afraid…” I shrug.

“Why did you wait so long to ask me?” he asks curiously.

“Why did you not ask me? That’s how it usually goes,” I ask
back.

He ponders that for a moment. “I guess I just assumed you’d
just do it.” His turn to shrug.

I frown at that revelation. I shake my head. “I would never
do that. I would never take your blood without your permission,” I say
seriously.

“Oh,” he says after a pause. “Does that violate some kind of
Vampire code?” he chuckles.

I shake my head again, “No. It violates you. Makes you a
victim.”

He sobers instantly and I wish I hadn’t been so harsh.

“Hm, I guess I never thought about it that way.”

I touch his face gently to reassure him and he smiles that
half smile I love.

I eventually fall into a fitful sleep. It’s unusual for me
to be sleeping at this time and with somebody else no less.

I dream that Cole is in danger. No, it’s not Cole. I see him
clearly in the field. I am running towards him as fast as I can. “Fraser!” I
shout, desperate to get to him. He hears me and turns towards me, but no, it’s
not Fraser, it is Cole. The blade flashes and I scream…

“Liv! Liv! Baby wake up. It’s just a dream. It’s just a
dream.” Cole is hovering over me as I blink, awake now – sort of. Trying to
gather my thoughts.

“Are you okay?” Cole asks, concern etched on his face.

“Erm,” still a bit disorientated, I shake my head, “Not
sure.” It comes out as a mumble.

“Liv, you were screaming in your sleep and thrashing about.
Do you remember what you were dreaming about?” he asks.

Yes. Yes, I remember perfectly, but I can’t tell him. I
shake my head. He takes me in his arms, “It’s okay now. You’re safe, here with
me. I love you.”

I know I am shaking. It’s my worst fear, to have something
bad happen to him. I’ve been down this road before with Fraser and it’s not
something I want to relive.

“Are you okay?” He asks.

I nod, “I’m fine now. Just hold me.” And he does.

The next night, Cole and I are cuddled together on the sofa,
while Devon in typical fashion chats away on his phone.

“So, the ‘C’ is for Constantine?” Cole asks, spinning the
charm on my bracelet.

I nod briefly.

“And there I thought it was for me.” He laughs and I smile
distractedly at him. “Will I get to meet him?” he asks casually.

“Erm, maybe sooner than you think.”

Even Devon pauses mid-sentence then.

Crap, crap.

Devon is intrigued now, no doubt remembering his own first
introduction to my formidable sire that is CK. As I’ve mentioned sires are very
possessive and territorial, which is pretty ironic considering our penchant for
multiple lovers. Needless to say Devon and CK barely tolerate each other and
only that much because of me.

“Oh? When?” Cole asks oblivious to the sudden atmosphere.

Devon ends his call abruptly, “Yes Liv, when is Constantine
going to grace us with his almighty presence?”

I glare at him while Cole raises an eyebrow, “Almighty
presence? That doesn’t sound intimidating,” he jokes.

“He’s not coming to L.A.,” I say through gritted teeth at
Devon. “Cole, I was going to ask you later, but seeing as it has come up now. I
have annual seats at the Monaco Grand Prix in a couple of weeks. I would like
you to join us. Me and Devon that is… and Constantine apparently,” I add with a
sigh.

“Wow, really? I would love to. Thank you.” He smiles warmly
at me.

My heart flutters at the acceptance of the invitation and
the sincerity of his thanks.

“I am heavily invested in the sport,” I tell him. “It’s a
passion of mine.”

“I love F1,” he says. “Going to Monaco to watch it live is
just too awesome! You are just too awesome.” He kisses me and I smile at his
enthusiasm.

Devon pipes up then, “Constantine is leaving Italy to go to
Monte Carlo? Seems odd.”

I glance at Cole and he catches on quick as ever, my boy.

“Ah, I see,” he says quietly. “Well Cole, seems you’ve made
it onto the radar. Congrats.” A sneer if I ever did see one.

Looking slightly puzzled, Cole looks at me, “Radar?”

I sigh heavily again. “Radar,” I confirm and leave it at
that.

“I’m not sure I want to meet this guy,” he says wryly.

I giggle, “It’ll be fine. He’s a lot of bark.”

“What and no bite?”

“No, he’s a lot of bite too,” I giggle and he blanches. “But
don’t let him intimidate you. If he senses fear he will pounce. Figuratively,”
I add hastily.

“How did it go when Devon first met him?” he asks with a
quick look at him.

We both sigh and I snuggle into Cole and he pulls me closer.
“Not well, but he wasn’t prepared. Neither of us were.” Tracing small circles
on his chest, I recall the circumstances of my sire and my charges first
encounter.

Versailles, France, 1691 - Élisabeth

It was the reign of Louis XIV and a great time to be in
France. Devon and I had travelled from England in 1640 during the reign of
Louis XIII. I was quickly spotted about Paris and was asked to attend court at
Versailles as what the Italians called a ‘
cortigiana onesta,
’ meaning an
honest courtesan, one who was cast as an intellectual, well educated and
worldly. Such a request was quite the honor and I accepted the role readily,
bringing Devon with me to the palace. As it turned out the French Aristocracy
were quite aware of Vampires so we were quickly accepted and almost revered. I
was very popular, as the oldest (at 628) and the most worldly and well educated
and was kept busy most days teaching the younger nobles reading, writing, and
arithmetic. Most nights I was kept busy with the noblemen who liked a bit of
bite with their sex with the added bonus of no bastards being conceived in the
process. It was accepted that we didn’t age and was probably France’s best kept
secret that we served at Versailles for over fifty years. Devon
was kept
busy himself with his good looks and charm. He was very popular with the noble
ladies who liked a bit of bite with their sex and the added bonus of no
bastards being conceived in the process. It was due to this hectic schedule
that we didn’t see it coming. I had told Devon all about Constantine over the
years. After he left me in Italy, I had hoped to not see him again for several
centuries and had done a good job of avoiding him thus far, always moving on
when word came that he was close by. However, it was inevitable he would catch
up with me. He did in 1691. King Louis was holding a lavish party for visiting
Italian nobles. That should have been my first clue. These types of affairs
kept me busy, as the planning was immense, not to mention the actual running of
the show. Several days of wine, food, music, poetry, dancing and orgies,
drunken nobles fucking everything in sight was quite the spectacle, it had to
be said. It was the first night and the masquerade ball. A night of anonymity
where everyone, men and women, threw caution to the wind. I had long since lost
track of Devon to a bevy of beautiful Italian noble women and in a moment to
myself I went to get a glass of wine. As a courtesan I was masked but only with
half a mask so I could still be recognized and called upon. Gulping down the
wine, I felt a tingle on the back of my neck. Recognizing it at once I spun
around, eyes frantically searching the crowd. He must have felt it too, even
though I was in the guise of Élisabeth, having adopted the French version of
Elizabeth, he would still know me. I felt his eyes on me from across the room
and I picked him out of the mass of people. Turning on my heel I headed into
one of the back rooms where plenty of couples were blatantly fucking and
drinking. Dressed in a loose-fitting gown for the occasion, I made my way over
to an Italian dignitary who caught my eye and beckoned me over. I was hoping my
sire would leave me be, but I should have known better than that. He
intercepted me before I had even taken two steps. I jolt to a halt and faced
him, unmasked, and my breath caught in my throat. Damn him, but I missed him.
Missed his touch, his smile, his eyes that were now boring into mine like two
hard flints.

“Aefre,” my heart thudded as he used my first name, “you
have been most difficult to find, my sweet.” He smirked.

Pulling myself together I said shortly, “I didn’t want to
be found.” And he chuckled.

Cursing myself as I do, I asked, “Why were you looking?”
He cocked his eyebrow at me, but I continued. “If I recall, you left me 185
years ago, for no apparent reason,” I added, the hurt is still so close to the
surface.

“For no apparent reason?” he repeated incredulously, his
face like granite. “I recall a very good reason in the guise of Michelangelo di
Lodovico Buonarotti Simoni.”