Bite Me (20 page)

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

     I stood at the altar of the vampire church dressed in purple and black. Draco wore a black, three piece suit with a purple shirt. The priest sliced our wrists and turned them to pour the blood in the gold chalice. We licked the blood from one another's wrists and then the priest held up the cup with our blood and said. "Drink from this mingled blood."

     I went first and then handed the cup to Draco who partook of it. We handed it back to the priest who set it on the altar. He took a silken cord of scarlet and tied it around our wrists, binding our hands together.

     "You are now bound and sealed throughout eternity."

     I sat up in bed and swore, "Oh, damn!"

     His hand caressed my arm. "What's wrong?"

     I shook my head. "Nothing. Go back to sleep."

     He sat up, curiously furrowing his brow. "You had another dream/vision. Was it about the baby?"

      "No. I wasn't even pregnant." I laid back down. "Can visions be wrong? Could they be made to be changed?"

     "It's a little too late to want your pregnancy to change."

     "Never mind." I grumbled and turned my back to him.

     "They've been known to be wrong or change." He admitted.

     "I can feel you rummaging through my mind. Stop it!"

     "I just don't like you keeping secrets from me."

     "You don't like it because you feel you can't control me. Still sure you made the right choice when you turned me?"

     He slipped his arm around me, kissing my neck. "I have no doubts or regrets." He rolled me on my back and hungrily kissed my lips. I couldn't resist his advances. Pregnancy made me even hornier than before. Draco knew this and took advantage of it. I didn't mind. The man completely satiated my every need. Of course my belly was so round and hard, it made certain positions awkward and uncomfortable but it didn't stop me.

     Hours later, we finally fell asleep, cradled in one another's arms. The fact I felt so comfortable with him in this position scared me. I was afraid I was starting to deeply care for the man I loathed.

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

     "You wanted to see me?" Grace asked, standing in the open doorway of my flat.

     I stepped aside for her to enter and closed the door behind her.

    "Can I get a beer?"

    I gestured to the refrigerator. "Help yourself."

    She opened it and retrieved a bottle. She unscrewed the cap, tossing it in the bin, and tilt the bottle to her red, painted lips. She dragged a hand over her mouth. "What did you want to talk about?"

     I slowly sat down with my glass of wine. "The baby."

     Her eyes widened, "Is it time?"

     I shook my head. "No, but I want you there with me when it is."

     "You don't want me to deliver it, do you?" she cringed.

     "No! Now listen to me. I need you to do something when he's born. And, you can't tell anyone about this talk. Not Draco, not Jack…anyone."

     "You're not going to tell Jack?"

     "No. The man wears his emotions on his sleeve. Draco will read him like an open book. And, I can't have him finding out what I plan to do."

      "So, what is it you want me to do?"

      So, I told her.

*****

     I sat in Tasmania, sipping on a glass of Scotch and working feverishly on my book at my usual table when I sensed him. I sharply looked up. Aiden stood at the table looking so sharp in a hunter green pull over and tight, black jeans.

     "Should you be drinking that?" he indicated the Scotch.

     I picked up the glass, taking another sip before I answered. "It doesn't affect the baby."

     He sat down across from me. "Are you sure the baby's a vampire? You were human."

     "But I got pregnant after I turned and his father is a vampire." I lied. "What are you doing here? I thought you didn't want anything to do with me."

     "Strange things have been happening to me since I was attacked by that vampire. My vision is sharper, my hearing. I'm faster and more energetic." He folded his arms and leaned to me. "Am I turning into one of you?"

     "I don't know."

     "You had these symptoms, didn't you?"

     "Yes." I quietly answered.

     "Damn, that's what I thought."

     "It doesn't mean you'll turn into one." I encouraged.

     "You just said you didn't know."

     "I'm not sure. Every vampire bite is different. I told you that when you were in hospital."

     "Bite? She nearly tore my throat out!"

     "I don't know what to tell you, Aiden. I'm sorry."

     He shook his head. "Why did I ever get mixed up with you?"

     "Because I wasn't a vampire then."

     "Yeah, but you were obsessed with them. I should've known then you were whacked."

     "Thanks. You can leave now, Aiden."

     "It's myself that I'm angry at, not you."

     "Then, go be angry somewhere else. What we had is over. You made it very clear what you think of me. I hope you don't turn but if you do, maybe then, you'll understand."

     "Is everything okay here?" Jack asked, now standing at our table.

     I picked up the empty glass. "Bring me another."

     Jack looked at Aiden. "And you?"

     "He's leaving." I sharply stated, glowering at the man I once felt very fondly for.

     Aiden stood and tossed money on the table. "Have the next one on me."

     I swept my hand across the currency, "I don't want anything from you."

     He looked down at the money on the floor and then Jack. "You keep it. Buy yourself something nice." He jeered and strode away.

     I balled my fist. "How did I actually like that guy?" I seethed.

    Jack picked up the money and stuffed it in his pocket. "Don't let him get to you. It's not good for the baby."

     "The baby is fine!" I retorted. "He's doing better than me. Where's my drink?" I ordered.

     "Coming." He replied and hurried off.

     I heavily sighed. Jack didn't deserve that. But Aiden soured my already miserable mood. It felt like I was carrying this child for over a millennia. He started to kick. I put my hand on my stomach. "Go to sleep. I don't feel like going out to feed again right now. I have a story to write."

     After one hard kick in reply, he settled down and I went back to my writing.

     "You didn't come to the club tonight." Draco scolded as he entered my flat.

     "I was visiting Jack." I said from behind my laptop.

     Draco peered at me as he drew closer, "You were with HIM tonight. I smell him all over you."

     "He came into Taz. He sat down and asked me a few questions and then I told him to leave."

     "About the baby?"

     "He was suddenly concerned that I was drinking."

     "He came in just to tell you to stop drinking?" he skeptically asked.

     "Okay, so he asked me some other personal questions that I'm not going to share with you right now. Now, leave me alone, I've got work to do."

     He took a beer from the fridge, popped it open and guzzled a few bracing mouthfuls. I paused typing and looked up at Draco. He was just as good looking as Aiden; maybe better, with his black hair and intense, silver gray eyes. His body was just as sculptured. And, he loved me. He wanted me. He chose me to be his queen.

     I closed the laptop. "You know what? I'm going to jump in the shower. Care to join me?"

     He arched his dark brows. Took another swig of the beer, put the bottle aside and nodded. "Let's go."

     The hot water streamed over our pale bodies as we held one another in a passionate kiss. A kiss that moved to our necks. Soon blood trickled down our torsos, mingled with the water, turning the drain pink. I licked the blood that dripped down his chest and sliced my nail across his paps, groaning when the blood oozed. I caught it with my tongue and began to suckle on the open wound.

     Draco moaned, rolling the back of his head against the white tile wall, while his hands squeezed my buttocks, pressing me against his hardness.

     Our hands continued to fondle one another, bringing us to pleasurable heights of ecstasy.

     By the time the water ran cold, we had released our final orgasm. I remained in his arms, my head on his chest, water running over my cheek.

     "Ask me." I quietly said.

     "Ask you?"

     "Ask me again."

     He hooked his fingers under my chin and tilted my head, looking into my green eyes. "What are you trying to say, my luv?"

     I impatiently sighed. "I want to marry you."

    "Maybe I don't want to now. You turned me down twice."

    "Fine!" I indignantly replied and turned to shut off the faucet.

    He grabbed my arm, pulling me against him. "Marry me, Lucy Blake."

    "Nope, you blew your chance." I snipped.

    He swept me into his arms and carried me into the living room. He laid me on the bed and slowly laid down beside me, kissing me. Like I said before, a vampire has a long lasting stamina and we made love over and over again.  

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

     We stood at the altar in the vampire church, both wearing black, hooded robes trimmed in purple satin. The priest took my hand and ran the dagger across my wrist. He then turned it around and allowed the blood to pour into the jewel encrusted gold chalice. When he finished with me, he took Draco's hand and did the same. Draco and I, in turn, licked the blood from each other's wrist.

     The priest held up the chalice and said, "Your blood has been mingled. Drink of it now that you may seal your bond."

     I partook of the blood first and then handed it to Draco. He drank and returned it to the priest. He took a cord of scarlet and bound our wrists. We held up our hands, our fingers weaved together.

     "You are now bound throughout eternity. No thing shall come between you."

     He cut the cord. Draco pulled back his hood and then did mine. He took me in his arms and we kissed. Those in the pews stood and began to chant. When they finished, everyone rolled back their hoods and Draco and I walked down the aisle, hand-in-hand. We were now bound as husband and wife throughout eternity.

     There was a celebration at the club. All drinks and food were free for the night but the dungeon was closed. It was something I wanted Draco to do permanently but he refused; saying the vampires needed it.

     "I'm happy for you." Jack proclaimed, seated at our table.

     "It will happen for you." I assured him. "Just don't pick a guy from this club. You don't seem to have much luck with vampires." I teased him.

      But Jack seemed more forlorn than happy. I couldn't tell if it was Donnie or Bobby he longed for. My guess was the former. And I think that's why Bobby dug up Donnie; to see what Jack loved so much. Unfortunately, Donnie was too strong and overpowering for a novice like Bobby.

     The baby was kicking extra hard. I placed my hand on him.

     "Are you all right?" Draco worried.

     "I'm fine. The baby is hungry. I must feed." I told him. I stood up and he grabbed my hand. "Don't be too long. This is our night."

     I nodded and strode through the crowd all bowing their heads to me and congratulating me. In a way, I kind of enjoyed the notoriety.

     That night, we came together for the first time as husband and wife. For the first time, in a long time, I was happy. I'd finally come to accept what I was and that I did love Draco. Sex was a bit awkward with the baby bump in the way but it still satiated me. Draco was right. We belonged together. No man could ever satisfy my every sexual need as he could. We fell asleep, cradled in one another's arms.   

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

    "So, now that you're married, are you going to keep the baby?" Jack asked as he helped me to pack a few things.

     Draco had decided I move into the penthouse. After a few days' arguments, I finally conceded. I didn't have much to move, since Draco had everything. All I needed were my clothes, books (a lot of books), computer and printer.

     "No."

     Jack's eyebrows raised, "Really?"

     "Draco wants me to keep the baby too; even though it's Aiden's but I believe it best I give him up. Besides, I said it before, I'm not cut out for motherhood."

    "You didn't think you'd ever marry either." He reminded.

    "I know."

    "Sounds like you're having regrets already." He commented.

    "I keep wondering if I did the right thing but then I think, Draco is going to be with me through eternity; may as well make it legal per the vampire world."

     "You don't mention love."

     I sighed. "I don't love him. I care for him but I only once experienced the beginning of a passionate love and that went south. Not that I blame him. Who wants to be with a living corpse; besides another living corpse?"

    "You're talking about Aiden?"

    I nodded. "I believe, had I not turned, we'd still be together. So does Draco. Which is why he's so paranoid every time I go out the door. And the real reason behind his wanting me to move into the penthouse."

    "If Aiden asked you back, would you take him?"

    "No. Whatever feelings I was starting to have for him died when he coldly rejected me more than once." I stacked a few books in the box and taped it up. With a deep sigh I looked around the flat. "I'm going to miss this place. Oh well, come on, let's get this stuff in your car and over to the penthouse before Draco comes looking for us."

     Jack picked up a box and the two of us carried them out.

     After dropping off the boxes and an argument with Draco about going out, I went to feed.

I picked up a guy at the pub and took the guy by surprise out in the alley when he thought he was getting something else. The baby was kicking and jumping within me. He nearly made me overdo my feeding. I forced myself to stop, leaving the guy in a slump on the ground. I checked to be sure he was alive and then hurried into the night.

    I took my seat at the back of the church. I was observing the crucifix when a voice said, "I thought I'd find you here."

    I lifted green eyes on Grace. I huffed. "Did Draco send you here?"

    "He was worried about you."

    "He was worried I'd bump into Aiden."

    "Draco really loves you, you know."

    "So he claims." I sighed. I put my hand on my stomach. The baby had been moving way too much. Something just didn't feel right. I felt no pain or sickness, just that something was off.

     The church doors suddenly slammed. Grace and I turned. I was surprised to see Aiden. He growled down at me; fangs bared. His dark eyes were venomous.

     "Aiden!"

     His chest heaved with fury. "Look at what you did to me."

     "I didn't do that." I retorted.

     "You and your kind did this to me. I should kill you all." He declared. His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat.

     Grace sprang to her feet and tried to pull him off of me. He snarled and sliced his hand mid-air, throwing her across the pew. His grip on my throat tightened. The baby kicked harder than usual. It actually hurt.

      My hands were on his taut wrist, trying to peel him off. I could feel myself passing out. Just when I thought I was going into blessed unconsciousness, his hold was broken. Draco howled as he grabbed Aiden and hurled him down the aisle. Aiden hit the altar and slumped. Draco charged him. Aiden barely got up, Draco had his hands around Aiden's throat, pinning him to the floor.

      I stood on shaky legs, holding my abdomen. "Draco, stop!" my voice echoed in the church.

      A priest ran out, halting at the sight of Draco and Aiden on the altar; the figure on the cross looking down with woe.

      "Stop!" the priest hollered but the men ignored him.

      "Draco, the baby!" I shouted over the chaos, holding my abdomen. "Something's wrong!"

     Draco glanced back at me; his hands still around Aiden's throat. He squeezed tighter until Aiden was unconscious. He and the priest ran to me. Grace anxiously put her arm around me.

      "The baby's coming!" she cried.

      "It's not time." Draco declared.

      "Tell the kid that." I retorted and doubled over in pain.

      "Vampire women aren't supposed to have labor pains." Draco stated.

      "Well, there's a first time for everything." Grace replied.

      "We got to call an ambulance." The priest decreed, reaching into his black pants pocket.

      Draco, who was holding me, looked back and shouted. "No! No doctors. No hospital."

      "But she's going into labor." Grace chimed.

      "And, I'm going to deliver it." Draco decided.

      "No, you're not." I retorted.

      "Don't look at me." Grace declared, holding up her hands and shaking her head.

      "Don't argue with me." Draco scolded me. He swept me into his arms and turned to the priest; baffled by the events unfolding before him. "Show me a room I can lay her down in."

       The priest led us through the church, up the stairs to a room on the second floor. Draco laid me down. The baby was kicking full force. I thought my abdomen would rip apart.

       "Now, get out of here." I ordered him.

       Aiden showed up in the doorway, panting. "What's going on?"

      "Nothing! Get out!" Draco commanded.

      "She's having the baby." Grace answered him.

       "Shouldn't you be calling an ambulance?"

       "No!" Draco and I replied in unison.

       "Draco, go! Let this baby come." I ordered.

       "I'm not leaving you."

       "Neither am I." Aiden strongly stated, leaning in the doorway, folding his arms over his chest. "I want to find out who that baby's father really is."

       In an act of fury, I sat up and shoved Draco in the chest. "Go, both of you!"

       "Who's going to deliver the baby if I go?" Draco chastised me.

     "I can." The priest quietly stepped forward.

     The men and Grace looked at him.

      "I've delivered a few babies over the course of years." He admitted.

      "Good." I said. "Now, go!" I ordered Draco and Aiden.

      The two men glowered at each other but eventually exited the room. I could hear them arguing. I couldn't worry about who would kill who. I wanted this baby out of me. Grace was crossing the room.

       "You need to stay." I told her.

       "But…" she cringed.

       "We had a pact." I reminded her.

       She shrugged and returned to the side of the bed.

       I fell back on my elbows and screamed as I felt the head pushing its way through. The priest barely had to do anything. The baby slid out into the cold world. I lifted my head. He wasn't making a sound. Are vampire babies quiet at birth? I wondered.

       "It's a boy." The priest informed me of something I already knew.

       He placed him in my arms. He was a miniature Aiden. Except when he opened his mouth I saw the two small protrusions in his red, swollen gums.

       "I'll go and tell the father." The priest said and started for the door.

       "No!" I called.

       The priest looked back with a frown.

       "I want you tell him that the baby didn't make it."

       He furrowed his brow. "What?"

       "Just do as she says." Grace retorted.

       I handed the baby to Grace. "You know what to do."

      She cradled the infant with the mocha skin and black, tuft of curls and walked out the other door in the room.

       The priest went to tell Draco and Aiden everything I told him. I rolled over on my side; a single tear rolled down my cheek.

       Moments later, Draco and Aiden entered the room. Draco sat beside me on the bed. He leaned his head on my arm.

       "I'm sorry, my luv."

       Without turning to look at him, I replied. "It's for the best. I guess, the vision was wrong."

       Aiden peered at me. "Whose baby was it?"

       "Draco's."

       "Mine." We said together.

       "Good." Aiden flatly replied and walked away.

       "Where's Grace?" Draco noted.

       "She took the baby to be buried in the vampire cemetery." I lied.

       Draco pressed on my shoulder, turning me on my back. "We can always try to have another one." He consoled.

       "I doubt it." I mumbled.

       Draco laid his head on my breasts and wept.