ROMANCE: Vampire Romance Collection (Menage BBW Young Adult Paranormal) (Vampire Shapeshifter Romance Short Stories) (3 page)

Marcus’ fury boiled over.  It took everything he had to contain himself in front of her for he could not show her his true nature just yet. 

“Would you mind if I played it for you?” Sage asked.  “I can’t repeat the words.  I’m going to step out of the room while you listen.  I can’t handle hearing it again tonight.”

“Sure.  I’ll listen to it.  I’ll come get you when it’s over.”

Sage walked into her bedroom.  Dread filled her belly for she could already hear the words in her mind despite her efforts to get away.

As Marcus listened to the words of the man who hurt the woman who held his soul in place, he vowed silently to find this man and make him pay dearly. 

“Sage?” Marcus called after ensuring he had his composure in place.

Sage peeked her head out of her bedroom around the corner.  “Is it over?” she asked timidly.

“It is.  Listen, Sage.  I want you to know that you will not have to fear this man.  You have my number in your phone from my calls and text messages, right?”

“Yes.”

“Save it to your contacts.  No matter if this goes no further, I want you to know that I will forever protect you until my last breath.”  Marcus failed to tell her that he would have no last breath—only Jake would.  “It is late and I see that you are still troubled.  Would you like me to leave you to yourself for the evening?  I will only be a phone call away.  Or I could stay if you like.”

Sage wanted nothing more than Marcus to stay, yet she felt a sense of indescribable fear.  She didn’t know why she would be afraid of Marcus staying over.  Perhaps it was because she was conflicted over her feelings for him versus the fear of Jake’s return into her world.  Now, she would have to move, change her name, and leave her ‘children’ behind.  She thought of those adorable and smiling faces.  She did not want to leave them behind, but she could not bear to place them in danger. 

“I think I’d like to be alone for a while, please.  Please don’t be offended.  I just need some time to let things settle.”

“I completely understand.  Remember,” he said as he bridged the physical space between them and clasped his hands around hers.  “I am just a phone call away.  He bent his head down and kissed the top of her hand as he made his departure.

After Marcus left, Sage locked the doors and set the alarm. She was sure she wouldn't sleep any during the night, but to her surprise, she quickly feel asleep on the couch watching a re-run of I Love Lucy.

***

Marcus slammed the car door shut before he stomped into his rented house. He knew he had to tell Sage how he felt, and sooner than later. Her life was being threatened by a sorry excuse for a human. He wouldn't let Jake get anywhere near his bride to be.

As he entered his bedroom, Marcus walked over to his night stand and pulled open the top drawer. He reached in and pulled out the small black velvet box. Slowly he opened it and looked at the 3 karat princess cut diamond he had been holding onto. He closed the lid with a pop and placed back inside the drawer before he slammed it shut and retrieved his phone from his pocket. Unlocking the screen, he opened his text messages and pulled up Sage's name as he began to text her.

Marcus: Meet me tomorrow at 11 at 213 North Starview Drive, Please.

After the screen read sent, Marcus stripped his clothes and went into his restroom to shower. Many people would not think a vampire king needed to shower—that their god-like nature alone made them sparkle and shine, but he rather enjoyed the sensation of the water cascading off of his taut musculature. 

After drying off and getting dressed, Marcus picked up his phone, there was a new message from Sage.

Sage: I'll be there. Thank you so much for tonight. I have never opened up to anyone about my past but I am glad I and did and I am glad it was you. I feel safe with you Marcus. I'm going to head to bed now, have a nice night and I'll see you in the morning, Goodnight <3

Marcus beamed from ear to ear after reading her text. Tomorrow, he would lay it all on the line, tell her how he felt, and propose to her. He hoped she took it well, and hope she felt the same way. If she said yes, he would whisk her away, back to his castle and far, far away from Jake.

Marcus curled up under his covers that night. His thoughts remained on Sage, on the trust you had in him, on the things she shared, on how she said she felt safe with him. He smiled as he thought of what tomorrow could bring, and hoped it would turn out like he wanted.

***

The sun shone brightly through the window, warming Sage as she was still somewhat asleep in her bed. Yawning softly, she slowly sat up as her thoughts drifted toward Marcus. She knew she had feelings for him.  After baring her soul and her past to him, she knew she loved him. The thought scared her, but at the same time it excited her. It was a totally different feeling than how she felt about Jake. That had to be a good sign right? She wondered where this address was going to lead her and what Marcus had planned for the day.

Once Sage was out of bed, she took a quick shower and quickly decided to put on a yellow sun dress.  She dressed, applied a light coating of make-up, and then went down to eat some cereal.  She stared at the clock continually as she shoveled spoonful after spoonful of Cheerios in her mouth.  The minutes on the clock seemed to be going slower than ever as she waited until time for her to leave. Sage was lost inside her own head when she heard the vibration from her phone, letting her know she had an incoming text.

Marcus: Good morning beautiful, I hope you are having a great day so far. I can't wait to see you soon.

Sage fought the urge to squeal like a high school teenage girl when she read his text. How sweet is this man?

Sage: Good morning handsome. I am doing great, I hope you are too. I can't wait to see what you have planned and to finally get our chance at a date today.

Sage quickly typed her reply before she got up to wash her breakfast dishes and to freshen up. Once she was sure she looked almost perfect, she grabbed her purse, her keys, and her phone from the bar and headed to the door. After setting the alarm and locking the door, she got into her car and noticed the notification light on her phone was blinking. She unlocked the phone and began to read his text.

Marcus: I am doing great, just about to walk out the door. Please drive safe, Mi Amour, I shall see you soon.

Sage looked puzzled.  ‘Mi Amour?’ What does that mean, and I didn't know Marcus spoke another language. Shaking her head she backed out of her drive, closed the garage, and set out to her destination.

The sun was bright, but Marcus was immune to the daylight.  Normally, he only felt slightly weakened, but that didn’t matter.  He was the oldest of their kind.  This meant that ‘weak’ to him was still equal to another vampire’s ‘strongest’.  The light from the sun streamed through the foliage above as he sat on the picnic table waiting on Sage to arrive.  Beads of sweat cascaded down his face.  He must have been really nervous to sweat like human.  Then again, he had not fed in a few days.  He cast his gaze over the land that encompassed his lake front ranch.  Any moment, he knew that Sage would be driving up.  He felt like a boy approaching a girl for the first time.  Then again, in the day of his youth, apprehension was not allowed or even known of.  Men were men.  Boys were men.  Women were women.  Things were much simpler back then, but he was dealing with a woman of the modern age.  It was an age he almost detested, but his position required that he remain abreast of the knowledge that each generation presented. 

Yet, his nerves were not rustled from the idea of proposing to Sage.  No, that was as natural as breathing was to all humans.  He felt no apprehension in telling her of his feelings for her that he cultivated over the last five years.  No, it was not that.  His apprehension was linked to his true nature.  He would have to tell her what he was and how he came to be.  Would she reject him?  Would she consider him crazy and call the police?   Would she attempt to kill him?  However, the first and foremost fear that wrapped his heart was that she wouldn't feel the same.  Even more nervous that if she did, the truth about whom he was would frighten her and send her back into the arms of Jake, or someone much worse. The sound of gravel being driven across brought him back to the here and now as he saw Sage pulling up the drive in her blue Honda Passport. Sage gave him a quick wave as she pulled her car next to his black Ford F-150. 

Marcus walked over to her car door and opened it gently. As Sage got out, Marcus could not help but to be taken back by her beauty.  She had her had pulled back in a soft pony tail that was tosses over one shoulder, and she was wearing the most beautiful and simple yellow sun dress. Sage wrapped her arms around him, giving him a simple hug.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" Marcus asked as he released Sage from his grasp. She nodded softly, and he took her hand. As they made their way around to the back of the house, the many rose gardens game into view. He heard Sage gasp softly at the sight. In the center, sat a gazebo next to a great water fountain.  The bottom of the fountain was encircled with marble dolphins with their noses pointed inward toward the next level of the fountain with water spraying from the tips into the next bowl.  On the edge of the second bowl, rose vines were intertwined with a Celtic design.  He lead Sage over to the gazebo and asked her to sit beside him. 

Sage it has been wonderful working with you and getting to know you. It was even more wonderful last night and learning about your past.  Despite the fact that you feel ashamed of it, I feel it is what made you the beautiful soul you are today.  Everyone has a past that they would rather escape from.  Some are much worse than others, not to impugn the situation you found yourself in five years ago.  I want you to know first off that it was not your fault at all.  He made those heinous choices.  The moment he slapped your face that first time, he took away your freedom to choose.  We all have a past, some worse than other but I thank you for sharing with me and for feeling safe with me."  He smiled at her softly. 

Sage was terrified. The mention of what happened—what she told him—brought up feelings of fear and self-hatred that she had long fought off.  But the velvet tone of his voice ensnared her attention once again as he continued.

"There is something I do need to tell you. Sage, I have been in love with you for months—for years, even. You are the most beautiful and magnificent woman I have ever had the privilege to lay my eyes on. I know this is fast, seeing how this is technically our first date, but I believe fate brought us together. I don't know if you feel the same, or if you will think I am crazy and leave here running but there is something I want or well need to ask you."  He continued to speak to her as he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the black velvet box. He dropped down on his right knee and took her left hand into his.  As he looked up into her eyes, he noticed at first the sight of panic but then he thought he saw a single tear. 

Marcus felt himself losing his nerve, but he swallowed his pride and continued.  He had to before his own fear rendered him unable to speak. 

"Sage Jenner, I know this is fast and a little crazy, but I know for certain I want to spend the rest of my days loving you, cherishing you, and giving you the world. So, I am asking that you take a chance with me, trust in faith, and do me the honor of being my wife?" He noticed tears now freely falling from her beautiful as she smiled down at him. A soft whisper came from Sage’s direction. "Yes."

A single word.  A single word was all that it took to bring a king to his knees.  A single word was all that was needed to quieten the rage of a monster.  A single word was all that could be heard before he pulled her onto his bended knee and kissed her with the most passionate of embraces—one he longed to share with the one that was his other half and his true mate. 

As he broke their kiss, he pulled her tightly against his body. "Let’s take a small vacation.  Just the two of us.  I’d like to celebrate." She nodded in agreement as he continued. "Then let’s go back to your place.  We will need to pack a bag for a few days.  From there, I will take you to my home, but please keep an open mind and know that no matter what happens, I will always love you." She smiled nervously and placed her hand in his as they made their way to their separate cars.  He followed behind her to her place.

***

Sage pulled into her garage and turned off her car.  She waited until Marcus pulled up in his truck.  The entire way over, she wondered what it was that he needed to tell her that required so much trust all of the sudden.  For the past several months, she worked side by side with the man and had no clue what it was he could have been hiding.  He was a normal guy.  He joked with the other co-workers, though he did seem to stare at her a lot.  However, with the events of today, Sage reckoned that he had developed a crush on her from the start. 

What Sage did not know is that he had been watching her long before that.  He had seen the events of what happened to her—rather the results of it.  He knew she was in the hospital.  He was the reason she did not die.  Yet, he knew that was not the time to reveal himself.  What Sage did not know about Marcus is that he had kept watch over her all along.  He, first, tried to keep Jake from harming her by getting him drunk.  He hoped that he would die in a fatal car crash after leaving the bar drunk, but Marcus had no such luck.