Fateful 2-Fractured

by Cheri Schmidt

  “Will you ever be able to return to mortality?” She wanted that part of their relationship back so badly. The way he snuggled with her and kept her warm all night long. The way he woke her with hugs and kisses. The way he hummed when he enjoyed food.

  There was a heavy pause, where the only sound was their breathing, and then he said, “As soon as things are safe, I’ll go back to that. I swear it.”

  “Can you stay with me tonight?”

  Ethan placed one kiss on her cheek and looked down at her through a lash-filtered gaze, and instead of answering her question he suggested, “Let’s go see our new transportation.” His hand slid around hers and he helped her from the bed.

  She was towed gently from their room, down the hall and then he turned toward the garage, silently bypassing the others. All the while she wondered how far in the future it would be before she got her mortal Ethan back. He’d been right on their wedding day when he’d said she wouldn’t like being married to a vampire. She’d always sort of liked his possessive side, but right now she wasn’t so sure. Before this they’d been enjoying wedded bliss. Then he’d been turned and it wasn’t until he’d joined her in Colorado that she’d been able to spend this much time with him ... as a cursed man. Of course they’d dated like this, but now they were in the same home and that was becoming a problem.

  Ethan flipped the switch and flooded the garage with light.

  Her mouth slackened and hung open as he led her further into the room and stopped next to a red monster of a…. “What is that? It looks like something from the military.”

  “Well, these things are only made for the US armed forces now.”

  “Do missiles come out of the top of it?” she scoffed.

  His deep laughter echoed from the cement and metal. “This is a custom H1 Humvee. I suppose we could soup it up that way, and maybe we should with how many vamps you have gunning for you. And maybe we should deck it out in camo, although I’m quite fond of the red. Anyway, as of now, it’s just an awesome thing to cart you and your detail around in. Would you like to test drive it?”

  “This is what you expect me to drive? I’d need two parking spaces for that! What’s wrong with my Mini?”

  She watched the overprotective worry return as the muscles in his jaw flexed. It was obvious that he pretty much had to force himself to calm down before he spoke. “This is safer. And if they give chase, we could escape through just about any route.”

  “The Mini has a really high safety rate—”

  “It doesn’t have 4-wheel drive.”

  “It’s—” Another ripple of muscle in his cheek made it clear he couldn’t be budged in the matter. So she dropped it. “You said ‘vehicles’ earlier, what else did you buy?”

  His entire expression sparked with excitement as he pulled her around the Hummer and revealed the fancy blue car hidden behind its massive frame. Ethan rushed to the passenger side door and swung it open for her. Danielle settled into the seat, and was surrounded by the smell of new leather. Ethan moved hastily around, and then dropped into the driver side seat.

  He ran his hands over the control panel like a boy in love, then slid the key into the ignition and turned it. A low rumble and the car came to life. He pressed a button and opened the garage door to let the exhaust out. “Don’t you love it? I’ve secretly wanted one of these for a while now.”

  Danielle twisted to look into the back seat, but there was no such thing. “How do we go anywhere in this with a baby? There’s no room for a baby, Ethan.”

  His shoulders lifted with a shrug. “We’ll take the Hummer then.”

  “What is this?”

  He smiled. “A Phantom Coupé.”

  “Who makes it?”

  She got the impression he wanted to say You’re such a girl for not knowing that, but responded patiently with, “Rolls.”

  “As in Rolls-Royce?”

  “Of course.”

  “I take it you were feeling frugal?” she mentioned sarcastically.

  He laughed, a fun, boisterous sound.

  “Can I drive it?”

  And he choked on that laughter.

  She knew that meant no. “Why not?” she asked feeling her bottom lip jut out.

  “It’s simply not safe enough. You couldn’t escape in this.”

  “I’ll bet it goes plenty fast for that.”

  He pursed his lips. “Yes, of course, but you couldn’t take to the woods.”

  “Figures,” she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest, then jumped when someone rapped on the glass of her door. She turned to see Max there. Danielle tried not to feel embarrassed about what he’d witnessed earlier.

  Ethan set his finger on a button to unroll the window.

  “Like what we picked out?” Max asked, his gaze averted.

  “If I could actually drive them, sure…”

  Max grinned. “You should have seen Ethan driving the Humvee home—just like a Brit—on the left side of the road. And the fool that I am, I followed him!”

  She turned to Ethan. “You didn’t! Really?”

  His guarded expression became defensive. “I’ve been driving longer than you’ve been alive. It was an easy mistake to make.”

  “But dangerous.”

  “Oh, trust me, people were more than eager to get out of the way of that thing.”

  She laughed. “I’m sure they were.”

  Danielle considered the Humvee again, then asked, “Is this really what you selected for me to drive?”

  When he didn’t respond she realized the truth. “You didn’t really get anything for me, did you?”

  “Well,” he looked so guilty, “technically this is for your safety…”

  “But not really for me to drive.”

  “I’m certain you can drive it.” With your guards with you, she figured he added in his head.

  “I have my own car, Ethan.” She set her jaw when he didn’t respond again. “Max, help me out.”

  He’d been snickering to himself through this whole debate. “Just seduce it out of him, Danielle. I’ve seen you do it quite successfully before.”

  She measured her husband for a moment and knew it would never work this time. “Please?” She tried desperately. “Can I go get my Mini?”

  “Oh, you have a Cooper?” Max said, his expression brightening with the topic of cars. “What color is it?”

  “It’s blue and it has—”

  “I cannot allow that,” Ethan ground out.

  Max was forced to lunge backward when she threw the car door open and left. The sound of Ethan following caused her to scowl and pick up her pace, even when knowing she could never outrun him, especially at night.

  She made her way back to her—their—bedroom and shut the door again. But she couldn’t lock it since Ethan broke that.

  She tried to ignore him when he rejoined her in bed.

  “Leave me alone,” she muttered when he curled next to her and looped one arm around her waist.

  “I’ll stay with you...” when he trailed off she realized he really meant: I’ll stay until you fall asleep.

  “I changed my mind.”

  “I’m not that easy to get rid of.” He kissed her hair, and she could feel his breath drift through to her skin. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you about the Cooper. I just want what’s best for you and this little one…” he said softly as he stroked her stomach.

  * * * * *

  The next morning she awoke in her husband’s arms just as she’d wanted. She could hear his heart beating inside his chest underneath her ear, and she knew the sun had risen, so it was more than possible that he’d left her after she’d fallen asleep and returned before she’d awakened as he’d done in the past.

  She twisted her face up toward his and asked about it, knowing she shouldn’t. “Where did you sleep?” Her voice came out on a sleep-rich whisper.

  “Does it matter?” he responded while shifting like the bed had suddenly filled with roc
ks and was incredibly uncomfortable.

  It was the most comfortable bed she’d ever slept on, so she knew the source of his discomfort. It was the distance growing between them because he was immortal and she was not. At least he was mostly mortal right now. She believed that deep down he was still probably trying to smooth things over from last night.

  Danielle moved up his chest so they were face-to-face. Their eyes locked and she felt herself fainting again. She really needed to eat before she tried that because while he was mostly mortal she was still extra sensitive to the curse within him. Day or night. Barely holding onto consciousness, she dropped her head to the cradle of his neck.

  “Are you still with me, Danielle?”

  “Uh-huh,” she managed weakly.

  When the silence stretched out between them, Ethan rolled their bodies, placing her on the bottom and matched his gaze with hers again. It helped to be flat on her back when he did that, but the bed started to move and her eyes slid shut.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Just a little dizzy.”

  “Nauseated?”

  “No.” Still feeling like things between them were unresolved, she was prompted to say, “About last night—”

  “Shhh, I’m sorry about that, about everything.”

  When she opened her mouth again, he asked, “What can I do to make it better?”

  “Let me drive my Mini,” she tried.

  “You can drive the Phantom,” he offered after a long pause.

  “I’m not sure I’m satisfied with that.”

  “Please. Go easy on my protective nature, would you?”

  “Your overprotective nature, you mean.”

  “I just worry. About you, about our child.” He sighed. “This has been really hard for me.”

  “All right, fine. I’ll drive the Phantom.”

  “And the Humvee?” He flashed a toothy grin at her when she opened her eyes again.

  “Fine, and the Humvee.”

  “So we’re settled then?” he asked a little too hopefully.

  “Sure, I guess so—”

  “Thanks,” he cooed as his mouth forced hers to silence. Lips, tongue, breath. Oh, that breath…. He began touching his lips to her skin with soft butterfly kisses, covering every inch of her face and throat. Each kiss set her flesh on fire, then it cooled just as his mouth left one place to ignite another. He ministered to her in this way until she was overwhelmed with sensation and forgot what they’d been talking about in the first place. He was just too good at manipulating her but she couldn’t find it in herself to be mad at him for it.

  As his scent engulfed her, those hormonal tears stung her eyes again. “I love you so much,” she sobbed. She loved him even though he worried too much, and even though he used his magic on her. In her heart she knew it wasn’t really to control her but to help her cope with things that were likely stressing him out as much as her.

  Ethan said nothing as he brushed the tears from her face, and then turned that passion into need with intimate caresses. She felt his hands sliding up the sides of her hips and ribs as he removed her nightshirt....

  * * * * *

  “Are you sure I’m forgiven?” Ethan asked, tightening his arm around her waist. And that’s when she realized how much he didn’t like having her mad at him. Clearly he wanted to be forgiven very badly yet....

  “For what, exactly? Because I can’t remember much of anything at the moment.”

  “For yelling at you. For hurting your feelings. For embarrassing you in front of the others. For not allowing you to drive the car you want.”

  “Oh. You shouldn’t have reminded me.”

  He blew that magical potion that she couldn’t resist into her face and she drew it inside as greedily as ever.

  “Does that help?” he asked, again sounding very hopeful.

  She didn’t want to admit it, but after releasing a soft groan, she said, “Yes, that always helps.”

  Danielle looked up into his remorseful pools of blue, with more than a hint of vertigo hitting her and she came to understand he wasn’t using his magic on her to control her but to comfort her.

  “I just want you happy. More than anything. And safe,” he said confirming the thoughts in her head. She watched as his gaze shifted to the clock and back. “You have an appointment with the doctor in two hours.”

  Danielle groaned at that bit of news, but laughed. “Way to ruin it.”

  Chapter 18

  Dumb Muggers

  When Ethan returned with a hot breakfast, she ate and then showered. Afterwards, she wrapped herself in a towel, stepped back into the bedroom, then halted. She didn’t know what to think about the gothic outfit laid out on the bed for her.

  “What’s this?”

  “Your disguise,” Ethan said from the closet.

  She considered the black wig, the black shirt and ruffled skirt, as she lifted the silver-studded black belt and black combat boots. Then her eyes moved over the…. “Is that…?”

  “Yes, fake piercings, black eyeliner and lipstick.”

  She gawked when she saw the goth version of Ethan exit the closet.

  “Interesting look for you,” she said, examining his all-black attire. He wore a tight-fitting t-shirt, a pair of ripped jeans, boots, and— “You dyed your hair black?”

  “It’s temporary dye.”

  “You’re fast. Was I in the shower that long?”

  “You always take long showers, darling. Should I time you next time to prove it?”

  She didn’t answer that. “Now you look like a real vampire,” she teased.

  “Is this how vampires dress?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Since when have I ever dressed like this?”

  “My proper British man would never dress like this, at least not that I know of. So I guess you’re not a real vampire, then.”

  “This, my dear, will keep us unseen as we go to the doctor’s office.”

  “Why such extremes?”

  “Well, while you should be here in Glenwood Springs, you shouldn’t be going to the doctor. I’d be surprised if we were ever recognized in this.”

  Me too, she thought. “I really have to go to the doctor like this?” I wonder what she’ll think of me.

  “Yes.”

  “In what car?”

  “We’ll switch cars a few times, and go to a few other places first.”

  “Are we going to this much trouble every time I go in for a visit?”

  “We will if we have to, but hopefully we won’t.” He lifted the shirt from the bed. “Hurry up now, let’s get you dressed.”

  Danielle let out a long exhale as she lowered onto the sofa when they returned. The trip had been exhausting. Not only did she still dislike doctors, they’d switched cars three times on the way back, and had changed out of their costumes at the second switch.

  Of course she knew these visits were necessary and she had liked Ethan’s doctor choice for her, but somehow that never completely soothed the distress of it all. She turned to Ethan as he sat down next to her and said, “Hit me again.”

  He chuckled, leaned closer and exhaled his breath over her face. “Better?”

  “A little,” she said, savoring the vampire magic she could sense within him no matter where the sun was in the sky. But that hadn’t really been enough to comfort her distress either and she pushed to her feet, “I need to paint, and listen to heavy metal,” she said making her way to her studio, but not without staggering a little.

  With Nickleback blasting in the background, she sketched out a self-portrait of a gothic, pregnant girl, who was scowling intently with her eyes, but smiling gently with her lips. And felt much better.

  “Hmmm,” Ethan said from the doorway. “Not your usual style, but I like it. How did you manage to express sadness and joy at the same time?”

  “I don’t know really. I guess it’s just how I’m feeling right now.”

  His arms went around her. “
I hope the baby is the joy part.”

  “It’s both,” she admitted.

  He turned her gently to face him and cradled her face with his hands. “It’s the doctor business that makes you sad, but you feel joy about our child.”

  She could see that he knew his observation was accurate, and nodded to confirm it for him. He understood her so well, and accepted her regardless. She felt she needed to do the same for him, even when he wouldn’t let her have her Mini, and was grumpy after hunting.

  While Ethan was gone hunting that night, she went to take pictures of her artwork to sell. But found that they were missing.

  “Where did my paintings go?” she called out to anyone who might answer.

  After a moment of silence, Richard strode into her studio and said, “I took them to be framed for you.”

  “You did?”

  He nodded, averting his gaze since the sun had set.

  “Oh. But they didn’t need to be framed.”

  “I don’t see why not. Nice work, by the way.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Which ones did you like?”

  “The gothic girl was fascinating, but I favored the fairies.”

  “Really? I never thought you’d be fond of fairies.”

  “I’ve met the little buggers. What’s not to like?”

  Danielle opened her mouth and then closed it, then opened it again. “I plan to sell those paintings on eBay. Will they be back soon?”

  She was surprised when he started to sputter. “You can’t sell them. That wouldn’t be right. You’ve captured their little spirits too well. Those paintings must hang here.”

  “But I can’t always use Ethan’s money. I want my own funds, and that’s what I do.” She stabbed a finger toward the unfinished painting on the easel. “That’s what I can sell.”

  “Ethan’s fine with you spending his money, simply due to the fact that you’re his wife.”

  Danielle frowned and folded her arms. “The paintings are for sell, and they’ll get more money framed, so thanks for that. Plus I need to go get more cadmium green paint. I’m out, and I think I should go alone. If I was immortal, that’s what I would do.” She said the last bit just to get under his skin for always telling her what to do.