Forever (The Forever series Book One) (14 page)

I stared at him, bewildered. Yes, I had been with
Michelangelo but Constantine knew that at the time. “That’s why you left me?
Because I was with Michelangelo?” I asked, tears close to the surface. I won’t
cry in front of him. Anger taking over and pushing the hurt aside I glared at
him. He remained impassive, saying nothing, just looking at me with those hard,
almost black eyes quizzically. Gathering my resolve, I hissed and turned to
leave.

“Not so fast, my sweet,” gripping my arm in his vice like
grip. “Word around the palace is that ‘Élisabeth’ is the best courtesan
Versailles has ever seen,” he whispered harshly. “So court me.”

I shivered at his tone, a mix of fear and pleasure at his
touch after so long.

I tried to pull away but he gripped me harder, hurting
me. ”You wouldn’t want your benefactor knowing you refused one of his important
guests, would you now? Élisabeth?” He said my name in an icy voice. He
tightened his grip even more at my silence, at my glare, my defiance of him.
His handsome face became cruel and I felt a frisson of fear slice through me.
“I could take you by force, if I choose to,” he whispered menacingly, snaking
his other hand down over my hip to bunch up my dress in a tight fist. I caught
my breath, unable to move. I sensed Devon before I heard him speak and I turned
to stop him, just a fraction too late.

“I believe the lady doesn’t want you,” he said just as I
said, “Devon, don’t.”

Ever so slowly Constantine turned his head in Devon’s
direction to meet the furious blue eyes of my charge, ever my protector. I
sighed inwardly and said, “Devon, it’s fine. I’m fine. Leave us.”

Cocky as ever, Devon, never taking his eyes from my--now
livid--sire’s black ones, “Not a chance, my love,” he said mildly. “Remove your
hand, or I will remove it for you,” he threatened Constantine. Constantine’s
gaze shifted back to my panicked blue stare with a murderous look in his eyes.
He inhaled deeply as he closed his eyes briefly, and said so softly, “Tell your
boy to leave before I rip his head off.”

I gulped. He knew. Of course he knew. “Devon, leave us,”
I said again.

“No.” Stubborn to a fault, that boy.

Letting go of me, Constantine turned his full attention
to Devon, who to my absolute pride as his sire didn’t flinch under that
terrifying icy stare. Constantine’s whole body was coiled, prepared to pounce.
I put my hand on his arm, “My love, please. He’s just protecting me,” I
pleaded.

Devon’s eyes snapped to mine. “You know him?” he
inquired, hearing my endearment.

I nodded, “Devon, this is my sire. Constantine.”

Devon’s eyes widened slightly and although now a bit wary
he shifted his unflinching gaze back to Constantine’s. I let out a small sigh
of relief. Most of the menace had gone out of his features, replaced with his
usual smug arrogance, clearly pleased to be referred to as my sire.

At a loss for words, I moved to stand in between them,
watching warily as they just stared at each other sizing the other up. Putting
my hand on Devon’s arm, “Constantine, this is my charge, Devon.” I could think
of nothing else to say. This was not how I had hoped this would go. All sires
are incredibly territorial of their charges, Constantine was no different, in
fact probably more so than most when it came to me. Introducing your sire to
your charge needed to be handled delicately and with care and finesse, which
were all in short supply here.

Constantine’s eyes looked at my hand on Devon’s arm
before moving up to my eyes. The look of menace returned and I quickly pulled
my hand away.

“Aefre,” he called me again, “tell your boy to leave
before I rip his head off.” He enunciated each word of his earlier statement.

Devon shifted at the threat, preparing for a fight.

I reached out and pulled him to the side, my eyes on
Constantine. “Devon,” I whispered even though I knew Constantine could hear me.
”Devon,” I reached up and pulled his face towards me, forcing his eyes on mine.
“Do as he says, please.”

“I’m not leaving you alone with him,” he insisted.

“Devon, do as he says or he won’t hesitate to hurt you.”

“And what of you? Will he not hesitate to hurt you?
You’ve been running from him for over 180 years, my love. I won’t let you be
hurt by him again.” Turning to look at Constantine who was watching our
exchange with what looks to be amusement, I turned back to Devon.

“No, he won’t hurt me. I need this now, my love. I need
him. It’s been long enough.”

He sighed and nodded, reluctantly understanding my need
for my sire. Instead of walking away though he turned to Constantine and said
to him, “If you hurt one hair on her head, I will hunt you down and kill you.”
And with that he disappeared into the crowd.

“So suffice it to say, it was a disaster,” I finish with a
look at Devon who appears to be ignoring me in favor of his phone.

Cole is silent for a moment but then bursts out laughing.
Startled, both Devon and I look up at him.

“I’m sorry,” he manages in between sniggers. “I’m fairly
certain our meeting will be better than that!”

Smiling at him I assure him, with a conviction I don’t feel,
that it couldn’t be any worse.

Devon snorts, “No, I think I win that contest hands down.”

After a few moments Cole settles back down and pulls me to
him still smiling. “Oh, Liv. You have lived such an interesting life,” he says
wistfully.

“Hm, it’s not all been good. There has been a lot of bad and
a lot of boring.”

“I like hearing your stories. You’ve seen and done so much,
both of you. You will carry on seeing the world, forming history, long after
we’ve all gone.” I exchange a look with Devon as he picks up on it as well. He
sounds so matter-of-fact about him dying and me carrying on. It clearly hasn’t
occurred to him that I could turn him. Or maybe it has, but he doesn’t want me
to. Again I think of Fraser. I stay silent. As does he.

Cole leaves my house soon after that awkward moment. He has
a busy week of meetings to attend and my own work is piling up. He is reluctant
to leave and I don’t want him to go. We have a long, lingering goodbye that
leaves me wanting so much more from him. I don’t want him to leave me, ever.

Lending him the keys to my Aston Martin DB9, he promises to
return it and himself to my care the next night. I pull my face at the amount
of time between now and then but I know he has a life to get on with, as do I.
Our happy bubble had to burst at some point.  Waving him off from the door, I
close it and sigh. I miss him already.

Devon appears as if by magic with a drink for me. He always
knows what I need when I need it. “Fancy a swim?” he asks.

“I’d love to but I’ve got that meeting with Harlow tomorrow
that I need to prep for. He’s bringing us loads of work at the mo. Need to keep
him happy.”

“Need any help?”

I shake my head, “No but thanks. It’s pretty standard, just
a lot of it.”

“Well nothing your super brain can’t retain,” he jokes.

I smile. I miss Cole but it’s nice just having the two of us
alone again. “Come and sit with me though while I work?”

He lights up at the invitation, “Of course. I’ve some shit
that needs looking at too.”

A couple of hours later we are both still sitting in the
office, heads bent over our files. My Blackberry buzzes for a message.

It’s from Cole: “I miss you. Xx.”

I message him back: “I miss you too and I love you. Is it
tomorrow night yet? Xx.”

He replies: “I love you. I wish it was
L
xx.”

The sad face makes me chuckle and I send one back.

Now that my concentration has been disturbed, I declare
bedtime.

After our heart-to-heart the other day Devon is clingy now
that we are alone and in need of reassurance that all will be well with us. He
spends the night in my bed and every so often makes love to me throughout the
night. I wake up at 6 AM as usual feeling very loved and very satisfied. Still
fast asleep, I move quietly so as not to disturb him. Jumping in the shower I
quickly go through the process and get out before Devon has even woken up. I
disturb him, however, when I walk back into the bedroom.

“Come back to bed,” he mumbles into the pillow.

“Work, my darling. I’ve got Harlow first thing, remember?”

“Oh the old bastard can wait,” he complains.

“Need I remind you the old bastard brings in lots of
business? Get up lazy arse.”

He squints at me and scowls while saying, “You’re just no
fun.” But he gets up anyway and goes to shower.

Thirty minutes later we are on our way to the office.
Grayson is driving us today as neither of us can be bothered fighting our way
through the morning traffic. Devon spends the entire drive on his Blackberry
and I am thinking of my meeting with Mr. Louis Harlow. He is an obscenely rich
Texan who comes from a long line of French Aristocracy before the overthrowing
of the crown in 1792 during the French Revolution. What was left of the
L’orleau family escaped to England and then eventually on to America to embark
on the oil business down in Texas. The name eventually became Harlow and the
head of the family now is the very Mr. Harlow I am going to meet. I find his
history very interesting as I knew his ancestors, but also as he has property
still in France that I am trying to purchase from him, yet he refuses every
offer I have made to date. Much to my frustration, and part of my need to keep
him happy.

The day goes quickly and the next is just as busy and
fortunately I don’t have time to dwell on this Council thing. The end of the
workday comes around before I know it and Devon and I are driving home. Well,
Devon is driving; I am enjoying being driven, in my Viper SRT. Just for a
change. When in America, drive American. Every now and again, of course.

“What do you have planned for dinner? Out or in?” Devon
asks.

“In. Too much hassle to go out. We’ve barely left the house
together and have you seen the amount of press? I just don’t get the
fascination with my private life,” I grouch and he chuckles.

“I think they are probably more interested in his, but you
should embrace it. Live in the now, and all that.”

I snort, “Yeah, you are probably right, famous movie star.
Pity he wasn’t some boring old banker or something, but I’d rather be living on
a mountain somewhere.”

He bursts out laughing at that comment, “Yeah right, like
you could live without all the modern conveniences. And heels,” he adds with a
sidelong glance.

I have to smile. “It’s true. I wonder sometimes how we
managed back then without electricity, plumbing, cell phones, and Louboutins!”

“And the rest!” he says enjoying the moment. “But sometimes
I do wish for the good old days. We had some epic times.”

“Epic? Yes, I suppose we did. Things are so different now.
We are so different now.”

“Evolution of the species, baby,” he winks.

“Indeed,” I wink back.

And we sit in companionable silence for the rest of the way
home each lost in our thoughts of the past.

Cole turns up right on time at 7 PM. I feel like I haven’t
seen him in years, even though I saw him last night and kiss him accordingly.
He kisses me back the same way and soon we are heading upstairs, dinner
forgotten.

Hours later, we are spent.

“Will you stay the night tonight?” I ask.

“I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to,” he answers with a
chuckle, and I snuggle into him more comfortably.

“Are you hungry?” I ask suddenly, remembering we didn’t eat.

“Uh, no. I ate before I set off,” he admits with a shy smile
and I giggle uncontrollably. “Presumptuous much, Mr. O’Dell?” To which he
laughs and shrugs.

“A man can dream,” he says. “And I do, I dream of you every
moment.”

“As do I, of you,” I return with a lingering kiss.

He falls asleep soon after but I lie awake thinking about
this stupid Council prophecy business. Talk about ruining my happy time.

Busy before our trip to Monaco, the day has finally arrived
for us to leave for LAX. Devon and I have worked overtime to get the time off
work, while Cole has been negotiating a new movie contract, a very lucrative
deal by the sounds of it.

Grayson pulls the limo round and loads up our luggage as we
pile in.

“Excited?” I ask, snuggling up to Cole.

“Very,” he says enthusiastically. “I still can’t believe you
have the GP Suite at the Fairmont. It’s going to be epic!” I grin at his
enthusiasm.

Devon, on the other hand, looks less than impressed. Usually
the one to share the GP Suite with me, he has been booked into the Riviera
Suite this year. “Don’t pout,” I say to him. “It’s not like you are going to
miss the race.”

“No, just something else,” he replies petulantly and I
grimace at him.

“So where will Constantine be staying?” Cole asks trying but
failing for indifference. I know he is nervous. So am I, truth be told.

I snort in amusement, as does Devon. “CK doesn’t do hotels.
He will commute by chopper from his penthouse in Milan,” I inform him.

“Oh. What, every day?” he asks surprised.

I nod. “It’s only 142 miles from Milan to Monte Carlo.”

“Only! That’s some commute.”

“No, not really. Couple of hours either way.”

“I meant money-wise,” Cole remarks.

Devon snorts again, “Not really an issue in this case.”

“Rich then, is he?” Cole inquires.

I nod. “As Croesus.”

“More than you?”

“Well he is over twice my age with probably over twice my
fortune,” I shrug. “Forbes can only estimate, but they are waaaay off.”

“Are they waaaay off about you, as well?” he asks curiously.

Devon answers for me, “Waaaaay off.” I am uncomfortable with
this topic.

“Huh,” Cole says then goes silent.

Awkward, much?

Thankfully my Blackberry buzzes and I grab it like a
lifeline. It’s CK. “Ciao, my love.”

“My sweet,” he responds and I go all warm and fuzzy inside.
“Are you on the way to the airport?”

“Si, about ten minutes out. We’ll have to refuel the G6 at
JFK so we’ll land in Nice around 11 AM tomorrow, local time. I hope to be at
the Fairmont by 1 PM.”

“By ‘we’, I hope you mean just you and Devon,” he growls.

“Uh, no. The three of us,” I say biting the inside of my
lip.

“I see,” he says, which usually means he doesn’t. “Very
well, I will see you at 2:30 PM then. I
now
have some business to sort
which will keep me here most of the morning. Message me when you land,
capisce,”
he demands.

“I will. Be safe,
arrivederci
,” I say to the dial
tone as he has hung up on me again. I sigh and the pang of nerves I get makes
Devon’s eyes narrow in suspicion at me.

“Nice?” Cole asks.

“Huh? Oh, Monaco doesn’t have an airport. We have to land in
Nice and get a chopper into Monte Carlo.”

“Oh, I see.”

We ride the rest of the way in a companionable silence while
Devon sorts out last minute instructions with his assistant.

Arriving at LAX, we alight and Grayson arranges our luggage
on a cart. Three members of staff are waiting for us to take us through customs
and out to the hangar where the Gulfstream lives.

“Follow me please, Ms. Nelson,” says Mandy, my woman on the
ground for all things air-related.

I take Cole’s hand as we stroll through the airport to the private
passengers’ desk. Passports checked and stamped, Mandy leads us through
security with our baggage pushed by some poor soul who drew the short straw.
Monte Carlo, not a place to travel lightly to!

Once through security we are ushered out to the hangar on a
golf cart type affair. Cole is silent during this whole ordeal.

“You, okay?” I ask.

He nods, “It’s all so easy. I could get used to this.” He
grins.

“Stick with me babe, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” I wink and
he kisses me.

Arriving at the jet, we embark while our luggage is loaded
into the hold. Devon, still on his phone, goes first. I follow and Cole follows
me. I watch Cole’s reaction when he sees the cabin. Custom designed, there are
three sections. Galley at the front, Main Cabin, and a bedroom at the back. The
toilet is opposite the bedroom.

“Holy shit!” he says, taking in the Main Cabin.

Split into two sections, the left side houses two seats
facing another two seats separated by a table and the right side houses a long
bench seat, with another two on opposite sides behind this arrangement. All the
chairs are decked out in cream Italian leather.

“Let me show you the bedroom,” I whisper as I pull him along
the aisle. I push open the bedroom door as Cole says, “Bedroom?” followed by
“Wow!”

A small circular bed takes up most of the space against the
far right wall with a dresser and vanity opposite.

“Liv, this is incredible. You own this?”

I nod. “Technically Saxon Enterprises owns it, but yes, it’s
mine.”

“Just how rich are you?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

I shrug. Thankful for the interruption of my onboard
staff--another special human aware of our nature--Jenna.

“Whenever you’re ready, Ms. Nelson. Captain Evans is ready
for take off.”

“Thank you, Jenna.” I pull Cole back to the Main Cabin and
sit opposite Devon in one of the four facing chairs. Cole sits next to me. We
buckle up and Devon finally ends his conversation and does the same.

“All good?” I ask and he nods curtly. “They have the onboard
phone number if there are any problems.”

“Good. Now relax. It’s fun time,” I smile sweetly and he
softens. “Yes ma’am,” he salutes and then extends his hand for the drink Jenna
has brought him. She looks expectantly at me. “Champagne,” I say, and Cole
orders the same.

Soon we are zooming through the skies to New York. As soon
as the seatbelt sign goes off, Devon pulls out his iPad and plugs in his
earphones. I know he is suffering and my heart breaks. He catches me looking at
him and he smiles in reassurance and I smile back.

Cole leans over and whispers, “Can we try out that bed now?”
A shiver goes down my spine and I nod. Devon ignores us as we rise, but I feel
his eyes on us as we enter the bedroom. Cole pulls me close for a deep kiss and
I respond urgently, suddenly desperate for him. My hands move to the hem of his
t-shirt and I pull it over his head, trailing my hands back down over his
chest. He does the same to my very mini dress, leaving me in just my scant
panties, only there for propriety's sake. Casting his gaze over me, he bends
and kisses me, sucking hard on my bottom lip and teasing me with his teeth. I
moan. I haven’t bitten him since that first time. He hasn’t asked and neither
have I. As a result my fangs are aching to drop. I want to taste him again. I
need to taste him again. The need for blood--human blood--is fierce. He drops
to his knees and slips his fingers into my panties and pulls them down. I step
out of them, still in my heels and he pushes his tongue onto my clit. I push my
hands into his hair and pull him closer as he starts sucking. I groan and then
gasp as he nips me sharply and with a wicked chuckle he stands and leads me to
the bed. Lowering me to sit down he casually undresses as I watch him hungrily.
Dropping to his knees again he opens my legs wide and pushes me back. Then his
tongue is on me again, flicking, teasing, teeth grazing and nipping. I come
before he has even inserted his fingers to play with me. Instead of his fingers
though, I feel his tongue enter me as his thumb circles my clit. With one last
nip he raises his head with a glint in his eye as he stands. I scoot up the bed
and he follows me. I reach for him and he all but falls onto me kissing me,
making me taste myself on him. Wrapping my legs around his waist he enters me
with a quick shove and he groans into my mouth. I roll us over and straddling
him I find a rhythm quickly.