The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (5 page)

“I wish you could enjoy this meal with me,” Natasha said as she looked at Darian and Xavier.

Her mother looked up from her plate. “It’s a shame that you can’t taste this because it’s delicious. It’s no doub
t that food has changed a great deal since your time.”

Darian chuckled, flashing her mother his signature smile

dimples and all--enchanting her. He discussed the various foods that were around during his time. Xavier revealed more tales about Chicago in t
he early twenties when he was still a member of Al Cantone’s gang which seemed to interest her father a great deal. After finishing their meals, the five continued to converse until they were ready to leave. Darian paid the bill leaving a generous tip as Natasha walked her parents to their car.

“Thank you for coming; I really wanted you to meet them. I’m so happy that you’re so cool about this,” she said as she kissed her mother on the cheek.

“I’m not cool about this at all,” her father Franklin said with a huff. “They never did answer my other question.”

Natasha frowned. “You asked them about a million questions. Which one
didn’t
they answer?”

“Don’t get smart with me, young lady,” Franklin lightly scolded his daughter, who nodded. “I wanted to know how they could share one woman?”

Marian looked at her husband. “Let’s leave that one alone, honey. We have to trust her decision.”

“You sure you’re not just saying that because they charmed you?” Franklin cocked one eyebrow, looking at his wife suspiciously.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Marian blushed slightly.

“Sure… ridiculous. I saw you in there grinning from ear to ear when you were asking them about their views on history and oh, what was that? Right… the cuisine during ‘
his time’,
” Franklin teased.

“Well, they were charming.” Marian smiled.

“Take a hint,” she murmured playfully as she turned towards her daughter. “I just hope that you’re happy and that you know what you’re getting yourself into, Natasha. They seemed like great men and I do believe that their feelings for you are genuine. I just don’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.”

“I know, Mom, but it’s not like they’re bloodthirsty demons hunting the city for innocent, virginal victims. It’s not like what you see in the horror movies. I know what I’m doing. Please try to keep an open mind about this. They love me the way that Dad loves you and vice versa. You don’t have to worry about me.” Natasha smiled at her parents, hoping they wouldn’t worry about her.

“Very well, Tasha, I love you and call me later,” her mom said.

Her parents gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek before climbing into their car. Natasha watched them drive away, feeling a sense of relief that the encounter was finally over, with at least some success.

“Are you ready to go?” Xavier asked her. She walked towards the two men and all three climbed into the limousine.

“Do you believe that they are comfortable with you being with us?” Darian asked Natasha.

“They just need some time to adjust. I wouldn’t worry.” Natasha smiled at her two men.

Darian settled into the cushions. “I think the night had a very interesting beginning. Can’t wait to see what else is in store.” He smiled as he gazed at Natasha. “I liked your parents.”

“Thanks.” Natasha grinned widely.

“The waiter was very polite,” Darian stated with a wolfish grin.

“A year ago, you would have flirted with the waiter and probably a lot more,” Xavier teased Darian.

Darian continued smiling; his dimples emitted a boyish charm.

“Ah, I know... what a loss for him. I’m sure I would have been his greatest pleasure.” He chuckled softly.

Xavier glanced at him and shook his head.

“Darian, Darian, Darian,” he muttered, lifting his hand gingerly to brush a jet black lock from lover’s eyes.

Natasha smirked. To her, Darian was oozing self-confidence, possibly too much of it, but who could tell? She wondered if he was ever this vain in his human life, she decided to let curiosity kill the cat.

“Darian tell me something... tell me about your life when you were still human,” she requested.

He looked at her, his head tilted slightly. Xavier placed one arm on the back of the seat and twirled his fingers through Darian’s long, wavy, jet black hair as he peered into his lover’s breathtakingly handsome visage.

“What do you want to know?” Darian asked, intrigued.

“Well, tell me something you haven’t already told me about your past. For one thing, were you always this arrogant and vain in your human life?” Natasha asked boldly.

Darian smirked.

“What is arrogance and vanity, if not confidence? I am confident in who I am, I have always been. There is
nothing
that I fear. There is
no one
person that I fear. By that same token, there is nothing that I can’t accomplish with the mere wish to do so,” he stated flatly.

Natasha fought the urge to roll her eyes. “I disagree. There are some things that you can’t do.”

“At this point, those things are out of my reach. However, if I really desired to do them, I would find a way. I do not say these things to annoy you, I say them because they are true,” Darian said.

“Let me ask you this, does it bother you to be in a closed relationship?”

It was a bold question, this Natasha knew. But she needed to know the truth before she could make her next move.

Darian smiled then laughed outright. His forest-green eyes sparked with delight as he gazed at her. Xavier kept quiet as he watched the two of them converse.

“I must admit, I didn’t think I would fall in love with you when I first decided to court you. I thought you would submit to me within a week’s time, but you’ve surprised me. You’re a most extraordinary woman, yes indeed, very extraordinary to resist
my
charm. I find myself leaning towards your needs and wants over my own desires. To answer your question, no, it doesn’t bother me to be in an exclusive relationship. I have known the pleasures of many, therefore, I do not feel the loss. I only want to share my bed with you, that is my only desire at this point,” Darian said seductively.

Natasha felt the heat and wetness gather between her legs. She fought the urge to squirm in her seat. She decided it would be a good time to change the subject. Remembering his last relationship, Natasha continued the conversation.

“You know Elise is pregnant, right?” She paused as Darian nodded. “Well, she called me and told me that she’s having twins. Isn’t that wonderful? I wonder if she’s going to have boys or girls or one of each!” she said excitedly.

Xavier chuckled. “I know that Sergio must be beaming with joy,” he stated matter of factly.

“Yeah, she said that he was. He’s waiting on her hand and foot, his Queen and mate. I’m so happy for them and they make a beautiful couple,” Natasha said then she looked at Darian. “Don’t you agree?”

“Of course I agree. I hope that you’re not asking my opinion out of jealousy,” Darian said as he met Natasha’s gaze.

“No! …No. I was just asking to see if you agreed, that’s all,” she said, it still amazed her just how well Darian could read people.

He was right, she knew that Elise and he had been lovers in the past, and maybe just the smallest hint of jealousy may have sparked the question. She knew full well that Darian would never go back to Elise, and the relationship that he'd had with her was strictly sexual as far as Darian was concerned, but she couldn’t help but ask anyway.

“Well, Elise said the morning sickness is the worse, it’s her first time being pregnant and she’s just as nervous as she is excited,” Natasha said.

“I’m sure she is. If she bares a daughter or daughters, then the position of the Pride’s Queen will be sealed. Her union with Sergio pleases her Pride, I’m sure.” Darian said calmly.

Natasha was beginning to wonder if they were truly happy for Elise and Sergio. “Why do you two seem less than thrilled?” she asked finally.

Both men looked at her and smiled.

“It has nothing to do with me. I’m pleased that Elise is happy finally. However, the fate of her Pride is of no concern to me,” Darian stated.

Xavier glanced at Darian then back to Natasha.

“I feel the same as Darian does. I have no direct impact on her Pride. But if they are happy that is all that matters,” he said.

Natasha looked at both men, sometimes the detachment of the vampires from all other beings concerned her. She didn’t expect them to feel as she felt, but she did expect them to
feel
. Perhaps they did feel, only they didn’t quite express their feelings the way that she did. Natasha knew that she needed to learn much more about vampires. She had been with them for eight months and she spent the last four months truly opening up to them and their lifestyles. She was still learning and it would take time for her to fully understand them.

“Darian, some of those things that you mentioned that were out of your reach… were any those the ability to eat food or have children?” Natasha asked curiously.

“Yes. Many years must pass, perhaps a millennia or two, before I would be able to taste one morsel of food,” Darian said. “Not that I’m terribly anticipating that aspect.”

“Do you ever miss it?” Natasha asked innocently. “Back in the restaurant, you said you missed food.”

“I said that I wished I could remember the taste of food. This is true. But I’ve learned from older vampires that the digestion of human food is far less desirable and enjoyable than one would expect. Let’s just say, I would rather take their word for it.”

“So you’d never eat human food if you had the chance?” Xavier asked.

Darian thought about his question seriously before answering. “I probably would, but I don’t believe I would make a habit of it.”

“Do you ever regret not being able to have children?” Natasha asked.

“At times, I do, but not often. If ever given the choice of mortality over my immortality, I would choose to remain as I am. The greatest thing that has ever happened to me was my immortality. So not being able to have children of my own is an unfortunate loss, but one I am willing to accept.”

Natasha nodded understanding what Darian’s life meant to him. He was very much like Xavier in that regard. Knowing they’d lost aspects of their humanity, but being content with what they had and appreciating it for all that it was worth. She listened to Darian as he continued.

“Natasha, I have seen empires rise and fall. I have witnessed new generations of mankind emerge time and time again. I’ve seen wars form nations. I’ve witnessed natural and unnatural calamities both destroy and rebuild civilizations. I’ve even seen fashions transform and thankfully, for the better. What I’m trying to say is that I have no regrets. Once my Maker explained to me what I would have to sacrifice to become what I am, I accepted my losses along with everything that I gained.”

“I understand now. So I take it you like today’s fashions better?” Natasha asked.

“Yes. The fashion of today is more to my liking. If I cannot wear my togas, then I would prefer to wear what I am wearing,” Darian said as he reminisced on the multitude of fashions of the past.

“You mean to tell me you didn’t relish the lacy fashions of the romantic Victorian era?” Xavier joked.

“Oh! Heavens no.” Darian grimaced, appalled by the memory. “I detested the fashions of those times. The silk and velvet brocade and lacy, ruffled shirts, stockings with buckled boots,” he stated vehemently. “And the fashions of the fifteenth century were no better.” An expression of disgust flashed across his face causing Xavier and Natasha to laugh.

“In my opinion, the fashions did not improve until the middle eighteen hundreds and during the time of the
cowboys
. I did enjoy wearing chaps and spurred boots,” he said chuckling.

“I find it hard to imagine you in a pair of chaps and spurred boots, but I bet you looked very sexy,” Natasha said, trying to get a mental picture of what he would have looked like.

Darian nodded. “Of course I did.”

Natasha smirked.

“You’re almost too modest, you should learn how to gloat more,” she said sarcastically causing both of her men to laugh aloud.

She gazed lovingly at Darian, he intrigued her more than any man she had ever met. That he had been alive for over sixteen hundred years still baffled her, as she was sure it amazed Xavier. She wanted to know so much about his life. She had asked questions in the past and found that he was an athlete during his human years. She was tickled to find that fact out, but it made perfect sense to her. She had been racking her brain trying to figure out how Darian got his wonderful physique. His body was a beautiful work of art; sculptured muscles and bone structure. He was a natural masterpiece, there was no denying it.

Natasha believed that his appearance was one of the reasons why he was so conceited. She could just imagine how much he must have been lusted after in his human years; she could see it now in this day and age. Whenever she went out with them, people looked at her, but they
stared
at Xavier and Darian. Even when they were at the restaurant that night, people were looking at them. Lust-filled gazes were directed at Darian and Xavier. Sometimes she became jealous of this attention, but then she reminded herself that they were with her and by their own choice, and the thought made her feel better.