* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Saturday Evening
Something was most definitely wrong. Jolie was acutely aware that she was no longer where she had retired for the evening. When she went to death, she’d been tucked comfortably between both men.
Only now, she was dressed and not in their bedroom.
Jolie’s first instinct was to panic, but then a quick scan of her surroundings revealed her location. She was outside in the garden, and Flynn was nearby.
Immediately, she relaxed.
Her mate was planning something.
She could tell.
When she went to death, she’d asked Chloe to wake her earlier, but obviously Flynn had other plans.
He was watching her.
Jolie could feel the warmth of his gaze caressing her body. Immediately, it heated her blood. Opening her eyes, Jolie found herself on a couch in the soft dewy grass, surrounded by her secret garden.
It appeared that someone had moved the couch from the library to the outside. Already, her heart began fluttering at the effort this took.
Around the private space that they’d built for her were tons of candles. Before glancing over at her nervous mate, her gaze slid down her own body.
She was dressed, and there was no doubt who the culprit was. The white flow-y gown caressed her body, settling around her like a gentle kiss.
“Flynn?” she called, glancing over.
Then it happened.
He stole her breath.
There stood her handsome detective, and he wasn’t messing around. He was in a tuxedo, awash in the candles’ flickering lights. The collar of the white shirt was open, revealing a touch of his tan flesh.
His handsome face showed nerves, and Jolie longed to kiss that fear away.
“I missed you,” he stated.
“Hello, Flynn. It seems I’ve missed you too,” she replied, staying where he had placed her.
Obviously, Flynn had something planned, and Jolie was incredibly curious. Generally, if he abducted her, it was for sex and time alone. But this looked to be dripping with romance. If she didn’t feel how anxious he was, she’d assume Jacques had something to do with this.
“Did you rest well, baby?” he asked nervously.
Jolie could feel the anxiety pulsing through his body and had no idea why he was feeling so worked up. “Yes, I did. Did I forget a special event?” she asked, pointing toward his attire.
He looked so handsome, and Jolie was enthralled.
“No, you didn't forget anything,” he replied.
“So, you’ve kidnapped me?” Jolie inquired, watching him move around the couch to get to her side.
“Yes, I have, but it’s for a good reason.”
Jolie took his hand when he sat beside her on the leather couch. “What’s wrong, Flynn? You feel terrified. Has something happened that has you freaked out?” she asked, gazing into his icy blue eyes only to find worry. “Did you shoot Balzac again?”
He laughed. He only wished it was that simple. This whole thing was scaring the shit out of him.
“Yeah, something has happened, and we need to talk about it.” Flynn took a deep breath.
Jolie immediately felt ill. “Okay.” She watched as he slid from the seat, beside her, to drop onto his knees. With warm fingers, Flynn took hers in his large hand.
“I’ve never done this before, but I know deep down that it’s right. Nothing in my life has ever felt this perfect.”
She waited and listened. With a gentle caress to his cheek, Jolie urged him to continue.
“I don’t want to go on another moment without telling you that I want to make an everlasting commitment to you.”
Her heart flipped in her chest at how sweet her detective was. Here he was, trying to convey something so important, despite how uncomfortable it was making him.
“I know your kind doesn’t marry. It’s not something you’ve ever even considered, but I have.”
Oh, he was so very wrong. Jolie thought about it all the time when she looked at him. Her detective made her want that one very human thing so very much.
“I want you, Jolie. Not just sexually, but to be part of my life for all eternity. I know Jacques gave you his ring as a symbol of his love, and I’d like to give you mine too, so we can make this permanent. If we were both human and the situation was different, I’d be asking you to marry me. Since we aren’t, this is as close as I can come to telling you how I feel.”
“Oh, wow,” she said, covering her mouth with her hand in surprise. Her eyes went wide and she was definitely caught off guard.
“If I could, I’d make you my wife. That’s how much I love you.”
This was not what she was expecting.
There was no doubt in her mind that Flynn loved her, but this was a very big thing for him. She’d always wondered about his feelings regarding marriage. He wasn’t one to flaunt his emotion, but she was curious.
“This scares me,” he offered.
That had her attention. “Why?”
“I don’t know if I’m worthy of your heart.”
She stared into his eyes. “You’re more than worthy, Flynn. You’re a treasure.”
It was time to do it.
Pulling the box from his pocket, he held it in his palm. “Then let me do this right,” he stated, popping it open.
Jolie gasped. “Flynn!”
“I know Jacques gave you a band to commemorate your union, but I wanted something more traditional. I wanted an engagement ring. I want to look at it on your finger and know that if you were born human, we still would have found each other. That fate would have given us a chance.”
Her heart melted as tears filled her eyes.
“I want to have others see this on your finger and know that you’re mine, Jolie. I want you to forever be mine.”
He pulled the ring from the box.
“This is a vow for me. I’m not placing this ring on your finger as a whim. It’s a long term commitment from me to you. I want you to know that you’re the one who owns my heart. You’re the mother of my child, and the keeper of my soul. You’re my woman, Jolie, vampyre or not. You were picked for me, and I’m a lucky man.”
He took her hand in his, and placed the ring at the tip of her finger. “Will you be mine until the end of time?”
After all that, how could she ever say no?
Here was half of her heart, and he was giving her something that she never thought she’d get.
“Yes, Flynn. I’ll belong to you forever.”
Gently, he slipped it on her finger.
Jolie stared down at the gorgeous ring. It sparkled in the moonlight, and must have cost a small fortune.
He was in her mind and laughed.
“Yeah, it did, and I’ll be paying it off until I’m about six hundred.”
She didn't understand. “Why?”
“I didn't use family money. I’m paying for this with my salary. If this ring is going to be the last part of my humanity, then it’s not going to be paid for with vampyre coffers. This is from me, Jolie and not the fortune Jacques has made for us.”
She couldn’t help it. A tear slid down her cheek. She fell even harder for her mate--if that was possible.
“That’s the most beautiful gift anyone’s given me, Flynn. What you’ve just done is so very special. This is amazing,” she said, running her fingers over the ring.
“Did I do okay?” he asked.
Jolie grinned. “Oh, you did more than okay. This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever been given, and Jacques has pulled off quite a few winners.”
Flynn relaxed.
“I love the black diamonds,” she admitted.
“Regular ones don’t do you justice,” he whispered softly, looking down at his hands on her lap.
“You were wrong,” she stated.
He didn't understand. “What do you mean?”
“I do think about marriage, Flynn. Whenever I watch you waking up or when you’re working out, I th
ink about it. I wonder what it would be like to have that bond with someone. Not because you’re born for them, but because you want them that much.”
He didn't speak.
“I’d marry you. If I was human, and our situation was different, I’d do it in a heartbeat. You’re an amazing man, and I’m astounded that after all you’ve seen from our lives, you love me enough to do this.”
“I’ll always need you this much,” he promised.
Jolie moved closer to him, pulling his mouth to hers. The second their lips touched, magic happened.
The candles flickered.
The energy wrapped around them.
Their hearts beat as one.
“Jolie,” he murmured as his body was pulled down over hers on the couch. Flynn owed Chloe for this one. Who would have thought moving a couch to the garden would get him the woman of his dreams?
Jolie’s hands slid up his torso, beneath his shirt. The second her fingers touched his warm flesh, Flynn shook.
“Jolie,” he whispered.
God!
He needed her.
Jolie was in his mind as she touched him everywhere. Floating through his thoughts were love and gentleness. What he was feeling for her completely overwhelmed Jolie. His emotions were pure and gave her joy. After all they’d been through the last few weeks with her past, and Goethe, he still loved her.
Flaws and all.
She was very fortunate.
This was her reward for all the years she’d suffered in pain and misery.
Flynn’s mouth made love to hers. His tongue slid across hers in a mating of lips. Jolie held on as the torrent of emotions filled her.
Peace.
Lust.
Need.
It was all there.
When he moved off her body, Jolie couldn’t help but watch him. His fingers were adeptly working on the tiny white buttons.
“Please,” she whispered. “I want to see all of you.”
His hands paused. How had he gotten so lucky?
“You will, my love,” he promised.
Her heart skipped at the words.
Flynn shrugged out of the jacket and shirt, bare to his waist. Immediately, Jolie moved toward him, leaving heated kisses across his flesh. As her warm lips caressed his chest, her hands went to the button of his pants.
“Tonight’s for you, baby,” he whispered. “I never want you to forget.”
How could she?
When she looked up into his eyes, she spoke, “It’s for you too, Flynn. I want you to look back at tonight and remember that we had love.”
“I’ll hold this one night in my heart forever,” he promised.
That was more than enough for her.
As her hands drove him wild, He couldn’t wait any more. Pulling Jolie closer, he dove back into the kiss. Now it wasn’t gentle.
It was heated and filled with need.
“Oh, Flynn,” she murmured as his one hand slid up her pale white thigh to the wetness waiting for him. When he’d dressed her, he’d purposely left her bare beneath the dress. What he had planned didn't need panties.
They’d only slow him down.
With experienced caresses, Flynn teased and tormented Jolie until his fingers were slick with her wetness. As she moaned, her mouth refusing to set his free, Flynn believed that he’d go mad with lust.
When he coaxed her to fall with his fingers alone, Jolie moaned and squirmed beneath him. Just as she was about to tumble, he stopped.
Jolie was breathing heavily.
“Flynn.”
“I want you to know what I feel like every second of the day I’m near you.”
Her body ached for release.
“Please.”
Tugging her forward by her hips, Flynn moved into position. What he wanted was to taste Jolie. Touching wasn’t enough, and it would never be.
He wanted to devour her.
She shook as he lowered his mouth to the most sensitive part of her body.
“Flynn,” she begged as he teased her with only the tip of his tongue. The tight bundle of nerves couldn’t handle his wicked little flicks.
“Oh, God,” she muttered, getting ready to tumble.
Then he stopped.
She was frustrated. “Please.”
He wanted to dine even more on her. With the flat part of his tongue, he continued to torment her with slow deep licks.
Jolie shook, trying to figure out his rhythm.
He was making her absolutely crazy.
Suddenly, his mouth was replaced with fingers.
They worked in and out of her body, at first slow, and then hard and fast. As she once more was ready to break apart, Flynn changed the pattern.
Enough was enough.
Jolie needed him more than she’d ever thought possible. Her body screamed in lust, wanting him to bury himself in her, over and over again.
She took matters into her own hands. Standing, she pushed him back onto the leather couch.
He stared up at her, grinning wickedly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, trying not to laugh.
“You don’t give your girl a ring and then tease her all night,” she stated, yanking her dress off her body.
He would have laughed if his breath wasn’t caught in his chest.
She was lovely.
“You let her scream your name over and over again as you take her.”
“Oh, is that how it’s done? I must have missed that lesson,” he stated, as her hand pulled him free from his pants.
Jolie dropped to her knees and licked at his erection. With the tip of her tongue, she swirled around the head of him, making Flynn squirm.
“It isn’t fun, is it?”
Jolie didn't even see him move. Sometimes, she forgot that Flynn was more like them than human. When he yanked her forward, pushing her body down his erection, they both moaned.
“Enough foreplay,” he muttered. “Use me.”
Jolie wanted just that. With Flynn buried in her body, there was this need to ride him to release.
His hands went to her hips as he helped her bounce in his lap. “Jolie, baby,” he whispered. “Take more. Take all.”
As he slid in and out of her wetness, Flynn couldn’t look away.
As he shook beneath her, she knew Flynn was close. With one more slide down his rock hard erection, Jolie could feel the end of the ride just ahead.
Immediately, Flynn turned his head, bearing his throat for her. “Feed, Jolie. Drink me in while I pour into you.”
She didn't hesitate. With one last stroke, she found the spot she loved best and sunk into that too.
They came.
It ruptured around them, firing off so much energy and a cascade of lights. As she drank, the sensations only intensified.
He was addicted.
Jolie was his drug.
As she slowed her drinking, they floated to the surface as one. Feeling returned to both their bodies.
“That was perfect, Flynn,” she whispered, as she released his throat.
He cradled her against his hot skin. “I love you, Jolie,” he replied, leaving gentle kisses against her cheek. “I only want to make you happy.”
She paused. “Know what would do that?” she asked.
“What?”
“Feed from me. I want to share my blood with you.”
When she turned her head, he contemplated it.
“They’re safe. I promise,” she stated, meaning the little lives she was just beginning to grow.
Gently, he teased her throat. When he sunk in, they both moaned. As the hot blood rushed into his mouth, Flynn was in heaven.
‘I love my ring.’
‘I’m glad. I hope you’ll wear it forever.’
‘I will.’
As he finished up his feeding, they felt him near.
“Here comes Jacques,” she whispered.
Still he languidly sipped from her throat. When their other mate arrived, he wasn’t concerned.
This moment was his to savor for the next million years.
“Wow, I never thought to decorate the garden with library furniture,” he teased. “You crazy kids these days.”
Jolie pulled away from Flynn when he was done feeding. “It was genius. We got to fool around on a couch in the outdoors. It definitely gets a perfect score for creativity, and one for comfort.”
Flynn grinned.
“I see we have a little game afoot,” stated Jacques. “I’ve underestimated you, my friend. I think I’m going to have to whip out the big guns.”
“You’re too late, I already did that,” he teased, pointing at Jolie still perched in his lap.
Jacques opened, and then closed his mouth when he got it.
She found that funny. Her mates were at it again.
Jolie held out her hand to her other mate.
Jacques took a seat beside them as he inspected the ring.
‘Good choice, Flynn. I’m proud of you.’
‘Thank you,’ he replied into his mind.
“That’s a gorgeous ring, Flynn,” he stated out loud for Jolie to hear. “Are we getting married?” he asked.
Jolie nuzzled Flynn’s cheek. “I think we already are.”
His heart flipped.
Jolie took both of their hands in hers. “I’m a lucky woman,” she admitted. “Before you both, I was so alone. Now, I’ll never have to feel that again.”
“Jolie, my love, how about you feed?” he offered, sitting back on the couch.
Immediately, she went into his arms.
“Did I take too much?” Flynn asked.
“No,” Jacques reassured. “Our little mother to be will need to feed from both of us for the remainder of the pregnancy. That’s why I’m here.”
Jolie took Flynn’s hand in hers as she sought out that one spot on Jacques’s neck. There was no hesitation as Jolie bit down, sinking fangs into his throat. As he tensed beneath her body, the pleasure wrapped itself around both of them.
The men moaned from the joined lust.
Jolie drank deeply from her mate, his blood calling to her fierce hunger. Before she could finish feeding, the clearing was alive with sound.
One of the vampyres rushed toward them.
Both mates hissed in waning, and Flynn moved protectively in front of Jacques and Jolie.
“I’m sorry, Mistress, but something has happened or I wouldn’t have bothered you and your mates,” Percy stated, eyeing up Jacques and Brogan warily. Mates could strike at any moment if another vampyre encroached on their woman while feeding.
Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 24