Dad held out his elbow. “Shall we?”
“Can I have a minute?”
“We’ll be in the hall,” Dad said as he escorted Darcy out with him.
I kept blinking until my eyes dried, although the butterflies were having a party in my stomach. I was about to get married to one of the most gorgeous vampires a girl could want. Dad was right. I had had a rough life. So much had happened. Dad had all but disappeared on Sam and me when we could barely walk. Our mother had died at a young age. Sam and I had jumped from one foster family to another until the day our last foster dad had attacked me. Since that day, my life had changed so drastically. But in the end, I wouldn’t have changed a moment, day, or anything, although I could’ve done without Edmund and his team. Still, if it weren’t for him, I might not have been getting married.
And on that note, I walked out to start my new life.
22
Webb
As I fidgeted with the bow tie on my tuxedo, I couldn’t believe that I was actually standing in a bedroom in Victor Costner’s mansion, waiting to get married. In mere minutes, I would say I do to the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on.
I’d barely seen Jo since we had returned from Alaska, and I’d been having withdrawals. Every time I’d made a point of seeking her out during the last four weeks, she was doing something for the wedding, which was probably a good thing since I had business to shore up before I retired. The elders had approved my retirement papers, and I couldn’t have been more stoked.
Speaking of the elders, Dyson had been shipped off to the vampire prison in Puerto Rico, which left an opening for a new elder. Hollings and Raddison made an offer to Steven, who had gladly accepted. So that left Steven’s position open. He had asked if I would reconsider retiring to take on the role of commander, but I’d said no thank you. I was done with the military, and if I did want to work at some point in the future, then I would do something along the lines of private security or private detective work. For now, work wasn’t on my agenda. My final responsibilities before my wedding day had been making arrangements to move Nicki to the same vampire prison as Dyson then working with Sam to erase Agent Thomas and Dr. Case’s memories. Steven and I had decided to wipe Case’s memories rather than stick him in a prison somewhere. He knew too much. Even part of Nicki’s memories had been wiped. We couldn’t risk an ounce of what Patrick had concocted getting into anyone’s hands, whether human or vampire.
In fact, Steven had had a team of folks clean out an office complex that Patrick had owned. Jonah had gotten the key that helped us to confiscate all Patrick’s research data. Dr. Vieira had wanted to examine it, but Steven had said no. Instead, the servers and all Patrick’s notebooks and files were burned.
Footsteps clobbered on the wood floor outside the door before Tripp entered, looking as though he’d just stepped off the pages of a GQ magazine. His tuxedo was sculpted to his broad body, his blond locks were slicked back but free about his shoulders, and his jaw was clean-shaven. “Ready?”
Even though nerves poked at my stomach, I was more than ready. I couldn’t wait to see my bride, kiss my bride, say I do, and above all else, make love to my vampire beauty. I blew by Tripp and out the door into the short hall.
“Wait up.” He chuckled. “We’re not putting out a fire.”
“You don’t understand.” I stopped in the doorway of the large room on the first floor of the mansion, the same room in which the charity event had been held many months ago.
Soft music played in the distance.
Tripp clapped me on the shoulder. “Oh, I understand. Let’s not forget you’ve been talking about your big night with Jo since you proposed to her. My only advice—go slow and be gentle.”
I angled my head even though I knew he was talking about how I had wanted to make love to her since I met her. I’d confided in my best friend from the beginning. “I’m always gentle.”
He laughed, showing white teeth. “You may be, but your body will be screaming.”
No doubt about that. “Well, I have to get married first.”
We walked into the pine-scented room that was saturated with big and small Christmas trees, poinsettias, chairs filled with guests, and a piano. We hadn’t invited many people. We’d wanted to keep it small and relegated to family and close friends.
George nodded at me from the front row, while Sam, Kraft, and Kodiak strutted down from the back of the room, dressed in tuxedos to match Tripp and me. All three were groomsmen.
Kraft’s mahogany gaze swept over me. “Are you ready?”
“You better treat my sister well,” Sam said.
Kodiak rolled his eyes at Sam. “Seriously, dude? Webb is the most put-together man I know. It’s Jo who better treat Webb well.”
I chuckled. “Okay, you two. No fighting. Jo would tear us a new one if any of our tuxedos got ripped before the vows.”
Laughter rolled off them.
Victor crossed the room over to us. His dark hair was slicked back, and a black robe covered his suit. “In your places as we rehearsed last night.”
Victor had been appointed by the council of elders to marry us. Unlike the human world, vampires didn’t need a priest or a minister, nor did the person marrying a couple need to be licensed. He just needed approval from the council of elders. Victor had asked Jo and me if he could marry us. He’d wanted to repay us in some way for saving his grandson, even though opening up his home was payment enough, at least in my book.
Once everyone was in place—Tripp next to me, then Sam, Kraft, and Kodiak—and the guests were settled, Matthew keyed up the piano. On the first key, Abbey came into view from around chairs in the back row. She wore a white dress and black shoes with white lace ankle socks. She smiled and waved before Alia, who was behind her, urged Abbey to throw rose petals down before she took a step. All eyes watched the little girl as I kept searching behind Alia, Crysta, Olivia, and Darcy for Jo.
Once Abbey reached the end of the aisle near me, she ran up and hugged my leg. That wasn’t in the rehearsal, but who cared?
I squatted down while the bridesmaids slowly closed the distance to the makeshift altar. “You look beautiful.”
She shied away.
“Why don’t you go sit with George,” I said.
Abbey beamed up at me. “When am I going to live with you and Jo?”
“Not for a few weeks. We talked about this, remember?”
Her mom, Rachel, didn’t have any family. Rachel’s mom had passed away after battling cancer for years, her father had died in a car wreck, and Rachel didn’t have any siblings. Even if she did have family, I wasn’t sure if we would have allowed Abbey to live with humans, considering her supernatural powers and the fact that she was naturally turning into a vampire.
Steven and I had talked about asking Alia to take care of Abbey, but Jo wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted Abbey to live with us, and I agreed. Since Jo couldn’t have kids, Abbey would be the perfect addition to our family. Regardless, Jo and I did want a few weeks alone to spend some quality time together before Abbey joined us.
She nodded, biting her lip, almost as though she was going to cry.
“What’s wrong?” If she was about to have a vision, I might lose it unless her vision was of something happy.
She threw her tiny arms around me. “I love you.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “I love you too.”
She squeezed me tightly then darted over to sit with George.
By the time I stood up, all the bridesmaids were next to me, and the music had stopped. The guests rose, fabric rustling, whispers buzzing, as all eyes went to Jo and her father. My heart stopped when my gaze landed on Jo. From there, I didn’t see anything or anyone else. All sounds died. My knees even buckled.
Tripp caught my arm. “I got you.”
Jo’s lips tipped up in a generous smile as she clutched her father, who I would guess was holding her steady because I could hear her heart ramming against her ribs. H
ell, my pulse was doing the same. Ever so slowly, her father guided her down the aisle toward me. The closer she got, the more I itched to touch her soft skin, feel her lips on mine, and breathe in her lavender scent.
Once she reached me, Steven lifted her veil, kissed her on both cheeks, then grasped her hand and placed it in mine. “Webb London, I expect nothing but the best for my daughter.”
I nodded because it was the only thing I could do. I was afraid that if I spoke, only a squeak would come out. I took Jo’s cold, trembling hand, and we locked eyes for a moment before facing Victor.
He started in on a speech about vampire laws and marriage. I tuned him out. All I could do was stare at how Jo’s gown clung to her curves, savor how sweet she smelled, and marvel at how my heart soared with happiness because I had finally found someone as beautiful as her to spend eternity with.
23
Jo
No sooner had Webb and I checked into the Waldorf Hotel—the same one we’d stayed in last month—than my palms began to sweat. My body had been iced up until now, simply from nerves. In fact, the entire ceremony was a blur. All I kept thinking about was our future and waking up to Webb every morning. I also thought about what we would do with our time now that we would be Abbey’s adoptive parents.
First and foremost, Webb and I would love her unconditionally, and as she grew, we would teach her how to handle her powers and help her as she naturally transitioned into a vampire.
The door to our suite closed with a bang, jarring me from my haze. Webb had stepped out to get some ice, and now he was back.
He set down the ice bucket on the bar near the bottle of champagne. “You haven’t moved from that spot.”
The suite was different than the one Webb and I had stayed in. This one was larger, had a gas fireplace, and the atmosphere felt cozier and warmer. I needed warmth, although sizing up Webb was sending heat all over my body in a frenzied way.
He’d lost the tuxedo jacket, bow tie, and shoes. I raised an eyebrow at my husband. Eeek. It felt weird to say husband. Still, I hadn’t seen him take off his jacket, let alone his shoes. Maybe I shouldn’t have been staring out at Boston’s night skyline.
Webb sauntered up to me, his shoulder-length hair flowing free about his shoulders. He hadn’t pulled it back for the wedding either, which was fine with me since he looked sexier with his hair down.
He gently grasped the sides of my arms and guided me around so I was again looking out at Boston. Then he slowly unzipped my dress, the sound spiking my adrenaline.
I glanced at our reflection in the window. His blue eyes were like headlights until they began to shift to vampire black. Then, ever so slowly, his fangs lowered, and my belly did a wild dance. This was really happening. I’d wanted him desperately for so long, and now that we were married… Yikes. We were married. I was married. He was my husband.
He lowered his head, and his hot breath tickled my neck, making the goose bumps flare to life. “Your heartbeat is off the charts, angel. Breathe. We don’t have to do anything if you’re not ready.”
My dress slid to the floor, exposing my bra and panties. I was more than ready to seal our relationship, our marriage, but I’d never had sex before. Will I be any good? Will I feel pain? When I was human and attended high school, I’d overheard girls talking about their first times and how painful they had been. You’ve endured stabbings. The pain from sex can’t be as bad.
Webb’s fangs grazed my neck. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
I sank back against him as his hands roamed lazily over my stomach. “I know. It’s just I’ve wanted you for so long, but I’ve never done this before.”
He guided me to face him, his eyelids heavy as he kissed me on my forehead, then on my eyelids, my cheeks, my neck, my ears, and everywhere but my lips. My body tingled as my limbs went languid. I arched backward and angled my neck, wanting him to sink his fangs into me and feel the tingling sensation that overpowered my body when he sucked my blood into his mouth.
His large hand caressed one breast then the other.
I moaned. He growled. Then he guided me back until my body was against the window. The cold pane did nothing to quench the heat building inside me.
Slowly, steadily, and with calculated precision, he lifted one of my arms over my head then the other before he levered back. “Don’t move.” The command in his words made me shiver in delight.
Even more trembles of excitement went through me when his hooded gaze swept over every inch of my body as though he was mapping the spots he wanted to attack first.
“Webb.” I said his name, but I swore the girl against the window wasn’t me.
He unbuttoned his shirt as he kept his gaze glued to mine. Then, before I could track another of his movements, the shirt went sailing across the room.
I swallowed thickly, licking my lips. The man was built to perfection. He stood within an arm’s reach with packed abs, a broad chest, and strong muscled arms that I wanted around me. I itched to touch him and jump into his arms.
As though he knew my thought, his husky voice peppered the air. “Don’t move, angel.”
I pouted. “Why not?”
He grinned, a slow and sexy smile that promised a night of pure pleasure. “Because I want to kiss you everywhere.” He closed the distance between us and kneeled down before his calloused hands went to the backs of my thighs. Then he pressed soft lips to one thigh then the other before he kissed his way up my body, his fangs grazing, tickling, and eliciting tingles and all kinds of other sensations.
I drove my fingers through his hair, pulling and tugging. Then, before I could take a breath, I was in his arms. At first, I thought he would head for the bedroom, but instead, he settled on a furry carpet in front of the fireplace then set me down on two feet. The flame flickered, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw, his full lips, and those cobalt-blue eyes that seemed to pierce right through me.
He reached around my head and pulled out my clip, sending my hair tumbling down around me. “You’re stunning.”
I gnawed my lip as I looked away. He’d told me many times how beautiful I was, but at that moment, standing in nothing more than a bra and panties, I felt a little shy.
His powerful hands flattened on my cheeks. “My vows were pure, angel. I will be gentle. I will treat you like an equal. I will cherish you. I will love you unconditionally and for eternity. And above all else, I am yours until the day I die.”
I’d cried at the altar when he’d said his vows. He’d had nothing but love in his eyes, and he’d spoken with such conviction that he had many of the guests sniffling. But now I smiled so wide that my face hurt as the nerves swirling around inside me waned. “You will always have my soul.”
He struck quickly, his fangs sinking into my neck. I cried out, or more like moaned loudly, the feeling euphoric as his emotions blended with mine. The mind-blocking potion had worn off. So it was easy to get inside his head. Images of him and me rolling around on the carpet beneath us flickered in his mind. I snaked my hands around his waist to his back and pressed my fingers into his heated skin.
He let out a groan as he retracted his fangs, licking the puncture wounds as he expertly removed my bra. Then, without warning, I was on my back, and he was hovering over me. He lowered his head to capture a nipple between his lips. I fisted the carpet in both hands, arching into him as he moved to my other breast, his hair caressing my skin.
I trembled and squirmed, enjoying how his tongue swirled as he sucked, his canines poking lightly. All of it was too much yet not enough. I wanted more of him, naked.
I slipped my hands in between us and reached for his belt. But before I could unbuckle it, he was on his feet, shucking the rest of his clothes.
I held back a gasp at the sight of him. If I’d thought his chest was God-like, I was wrong. My gaze traveled down his body, mapping every part of him right down to his groin. My cheeks flushed, and I almost looked away, but I couldn’t. My breathing grew shallow, and all
I could think about was him inside me.
He dropped to his knees and with gentle fingers removed my panties. I watched in quiet fascination as he sucked in a sharp breath, while I lay bare, mind, body, and soul. I wanted him in my head. I wanted him to see what I was thinking, how I felt, and what I wanted him to do to me.
“I know what you want,” he said, his deep, husky voice sliding over my skin like a bath of warm chocolate.
I held my lip hostage. “You know what I’m thinking?”
He nodded as his hands roamed over my entire body, sending flares of heat everywhere. “I drank your blood. You’re a little timid, yet you want me to make love to you so badly that it hurts.”
My gaze fell to his groin, which was hard and ready.
He positioned himself over me, his hands on either side of my head. We locked eyes as he slowly entered me.
I stilled at the tightness and dull pain.
He leaned down, brushing my lips with his. His long locks fell forward to create a curtain around us. “Bring your knees up. It will help.”
I did as he said, and he inched in more. I winced, taking in a deep breath. When I did, he pushed in all the way then stopped.
I dug my nails into his back as a wave of pain hit me. But as he moved in then out in an extremely slow fashion, the pain subsided, and my muscles began to loosen.
A satisfied grin emerged on his face as his eyes drifted close, his body moving against mine. “I love you more than you know.”
At that moment, with him inside me, my body burned for more than making love. I had to taste him. I pulled him down then sank my fangs into his neck. He rolled us without breaking our connection. Now I was on top, and his hands were shaping my hips, helping me move with him while I swallowed the sweet nectar coating my throat as stars began to burst.
Webb let out a low growl as we tumbled again until he was on top. I broke free from his neck and found that his eyes were wild as though a predator had overtaken the man. The air crackled around us, or maybe it was the fire. Our emotions mingled and swirled as he moved faster, taking me higher and higher. That pain I’d felt at first was a distant memory. All I could feel now was love, ecstasy, and the sensation that I was about to explode, a feeling I’d never experienced before. Just as I reached a jumping-off point, Webb stopped. Sweat dripped off him and onto me.
On the Edge of Infinity (A Vampire SEAL Novel Book 5) Page 18