Before the Moonrise

by Dawn Gray

  “What I’m sorry about is that I want more,” he explained, tugging her to him so she could feel his desire against her waist. “So much more.”

  “So do I, but …” she stopped and sighed softly.

  “Lily,” he said against her cheek, brushing his lips along her skin as he moved down to her neck. “Do you know what I am?”

  “You saved my life, Jared. Whatever you are, however you can heal, you’re not evil.”

  “How can you say that?” he snapped, backing away from her. “I can take a life just as easily as that vampire almost took yours.”

  “But to save one is so much harder, and shows so much more strength,” she replied as he released her, and watched him walk away. Sighing, Lily closed her eyes before following him down the hallway. “I don’t get it. What is going on here? What is happening between us?”

  “Nothing,” he answered, keeping his back to her as he ran a hand through his hair.

  “Bullshit!” she barked, and this made him turn around to look at her. “That’s bullshit, Jared, and you know it! You can’t tell me you didn’t feel it back there, and that it was just a kiss.”

  “It can’t happen, Lily, as much as I would love it. It just can’t.” He sighed.

  “Why?” When he just shook his head she snapped, “Fine.” Grabbing her shoes and coat, she prepared to leave. “Maybe I should just do what Kylie said and go find someone just to fuck around with, some half-drunk college kid to screw.”

  “Lily,” Jared said softly, watching her get dressed.

  “You just said yourself it can’t happen, so what would you care if I went out and got someone else?” She moved towards the door, about to turn to face him when she found him standing right in front of him. “Move!”

  “I will not,” he stated, his hands clenched at his sides.

  “Goddamit, Jared, move out of my way!” She moved to go past him, but his strong arms caught her around the waist and she felt herself lifted from the floor. He brought her to his level, up against the wall once again to brace her from falling, while his other arm reached around to hold her under her bottom. “Get away from me!”

  “I can’t let you go!” he whispered, his voice deep and seductive, but it shook with passion. “You can’t be with someone else. You’re mine!”

  This stopped Lily; she ceased to move and for a moment forgot to breathe. His words weren’t forceful, threatening, or in the very least intimidating. Instead they were timid and scared, as if he were unsure of what he was saying to her.

  She watched him struggle to find his voice, his lips moving but nothing flowed from them, and his eyes told her that he waited on her reaction to know what to do next. She cautiously leaned towards him, brushing her lips against his open mouth—not once, but twice—and it registered that she was no longer fighting him. He kissed her back, pressing his lips against hers before pulling away to breathe.

  He released her slowly, lowering her feet to the ground as he stood there, his body shielding her. She reached up to touch his chest with her hand, placing the palm of it directly over his heart.

  “What are you, Jared?” she inquired. He shook his head, as if pleading with her not to ask.

  Sinking to his knees, he wrapped his arms around her hips and placed his head against her belly. For a while she just stood there, running her hands through his hair as she listened to him breathe.

  Jared felt her knees tremble, and looked up to see her eyes closed and her head back against the wall. Her hands had come to rest against his shoulder, and gently he moved to lift her. With one arm under her knees, and the other cradling her against him, Jared brought Lily to her room and lay her down on her bed. He backed away, wanting to leave her in peace, but her hand clamped down around his. He glanced at her half closed eyes.

  “Stay with me, please,” she begged. After a moment of debating with himself, he nodded.

  Jared slipped into the bed beside her as she turned on her side. He curled up around her, pulling her close and wrapping her possessively in his arms. After many years of troubled sleep, he couldn’t remember closing his eyes, or dreaming, he just welcomed the peaceful darkness.

  

  Jared could hear the shower running as his eyes lazily opened, and he looked around the empty room. His hand caressed the warm spot on the comforter where Lily had laid while he slept, and he turned over as the door opened to the bedroom. He watched the steam bellow into the room and through it; Lily emerged wearing only a towel. Jared rolled his eyes, smiling at her.

  “Are you trying to give me a heart attack this early in the morning?” he moaned, looking over the length of her legs from her toes up to the point where they disappeared under the towel.

  “It could have been worse,” she replied and smiled at him, grabbing jeans and a shirt out of the closet. “I could have come out with only the towel on my head.”

  “Agh, someone save me!” He laughed and closed his eyes. “You, woman, are the ultimate temptation.”

  “I love your laugh,” Lily remarked, slipping on the panties in her hand, and then pulling on her jeans, all movements done under the towel.

  Jared looked at her, caught up in her movements. He smiled as his thoughts wandered to just how she was going to pull off getting her shirt on. She slipped on the t-shirt, a blue v-neck that was tight against her skin, over the towel and then stripped the white cloth out from underneath it.

  “Very clever.” He grinned, but noticed just how much that shirt clung to her.

  He could see the roundness of her breasts and the small peaks of her nipples as she shivered from the cold. He sat on the edge as she moved around the bed, heading for the dresser, and grabbed her arm. Lily looked at him, surprised by his action she stepped closer, standing between his open thighs. Jared could hear her heart racing as he brushed the back of his fingers against those hard nubs. He watched, locking his gaze on her face, as she closed her eyes. Her lips parted as her breathing became harder and the corners of his lips turned up in a knowing smile.

  He was hard and uncomfortable where he sat, and there was no way to shift to relieve it. So he came to his feet, pulling Lily to him as he cupped her bottom and gave her a gentle squeeze. She moaned quietly, sending heat through him to that one place that was already as hard as steel, and he couldn’t stand the separation any longer.

  His lips captured hers in a fiery embrace as his hand rested over her right breast, covering completely and caressing gently. Lily wrapped her arms around Jared’s neck, holding him close to her, not wanting to let go as his tongue delved deeper into her, teasing her own with promises of what he could do with it should he have the chance.

  A knock at the door stopped them both, bringing back the awareness of the world around them. Lily looked toward it as she drew in a deep breath.

  “I think Kylie is awake.” She smiled, and looked back at him. The possessiveness in his eyes made her shake, but the passion in them set her on fire, and unconsciously she pressed her hips against the hard evidence of his arousal. “You look like you want to eat me.”

  “Temptation, Lily.” He grinned and leaned down, kissing her neck lovingly before he walked into the bathroom, leaving her there wanting more.

  He closed the door behind him, and then shut his eyes as he leaned against it. With clenched fists, he sighed and shook his head. This woman may be his light, but she was going to be the death of him if he wasn’t careful. Slowly, he walked over and switched on the shower, adjusting the temperature to create a warm steam, but thoughts of Lily swarmed his mind. So instead he turned the water to cold, mumbling curses under his breath.

  

  The three of them sat out at a balcony table, overlooking the lower half of Bourbon Street. Jared and Kylie looked over the railing, surveying the people below as Lily sat towards the end of the table, a good three feet from the railing. She was quite happy where she was, observing from that distance, and it gave her the opportunity to study the noble curves of Jar
ed’s face. He glanced over towards her, smiling handsomely in her direction, and she grinned back warmly.

  The waitress approached and smiled at the group of them, more in Jared’s direction than anyone else’s, and Lily felt the heat of jealousy flash through her. Jared shot her a look, and then winked at her, letting her know that he was all hers. He answered the woman when she asked what they would want, but Lily had looked around and found herself caught in the stare of an unknown man.

  “Lily?” Kylie whispered, breaking the spell that ensnared her friend.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, smiling up at the woman. “The chicken fajitas, please, with extra sour cream.”

  “And to drink?”

  Lily sighed, knowing that what she really wanted was something good and strong, but a reminder of the other night changed her mind.

  “Just a cola please, whatever kind you have.” She watched the woman collect the menus before glancing uneasily over at the man that stood on the other balcony.

  He stood still, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, and he had no problem being conspicuous in his gestures. Lily glanced over at Jared, his eyes locked on her face, and without words, she motioned over to the other balcony. Jared stretched his arms above his head and turned towards the man, but the relaxed way he moved changed as the two men locked eyes. Lily automatically reached for his arm as he growled deep in his throat, which caused Kylie to sit back and the people who surrounded them to turn in wonder of the noise.

  “Jared,” Lily whispered as she moved closer to him. He bared his teeth, causing her to look over at the other building, and at the man. She watched as this one also made it look as if he smiled, showing the tips of his fangs as he did. With wide eyes, she watched as he shimmered out of existence.

  “He was one of them, wasn’t he?” Kylie questioned, turning to watch Lily as she placed a hand on Jared’s cheek and turned his face towards her.

  “He’s gone,” she said softly, looking deep into his silver eyes, watching them slowly fade to the light blue she had come to recognize. With a sigh and closed eyes, she leaned her forehead against his, and then gently kissed him on the lips. “He didn’t hurt us.”

  “He was a warning,” Jared explained, sitting back from her. He slipped his hand around her small hand, intertwining her fingers in his to show his support. “He was sent out to let us know that they are watching.”

  “Why do they want Lily?” Kylie demanded.

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head and looked out over the balcony again, rubbing his upper lip with his finger as he leaned his elbow on the table.

  Lily looked at Kylie, who winked and smiled warily at her, before moving over as the waitress delivered their food. A shadow cast over the table as they ate in silence, causing all three of them to look up, finding the knowledgeable face of Jean as he sat down beside Kylie.

  “Make yourself at home,” Jared said mockingly, which got a smile out of Jean.

  “Thank you, I intended to,” he replied and watched Jared smile and shake his head. “Good afternoon, ladies.”

  “Hello, Jean,” Lily said, laughing. Kylie blushed as the new arrival took her hand under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. “To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”

  “I was strolling around for a place to eat lunch and my ears detected the growl of a certain protective young man. I thought I might track you down and crash your lunch date,” he answered.

  “Crash away,” Kylie said, smiling at him.

  Lily reached under the table and ran her hand along Jared’s leg, brushing her nails against the fabric of his jeans. She watched his eyes grow droopy as he looked out at the people once again. Quickly he placed his upon hers, and leaned down towards her ear.

  “Easy, flower, you’re making it hard to concentrate on lunch,” he whispered, his warm breath caressing her skin.

  Lily felt the rush of blood to her cheeks and couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face, but as his words registered, the smile faded and she rose quickly. “Excuse me.”

  Jared watched her leave, but he could also hear that she had not stopped at the ladies’ room, where he had suspected that she was going. He glanced at Jean and Kylie, then nodded and headed down to follow her. Once outside the restaurant, it took him only moments to find her scent and he moved in her direction, turning left onto Toulouse. He could see her moving, the sway of her hips were almost hypnotic. When he finally caught up with her, he took her by the arm and moved into a doorway big enough to fit the two of them with room to spare.

  Confusion filled his eyes as he watched the tears run down her cheeks, and he reached out gently to wipe them with his thumb. With one hand, he stretched out his arm and leaned against the doorjamb; with the other, he gently touched her cheek.

  “What did I say to get you so upset?” he inquired, a small smile playing on the corner of his mouth.

  “It was you,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she shook her head. “You were in my head all those nights, helping me.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jared questioned, stepping back to lean against the doorjamb behind him.

  “You called me flower,” she answered, and watched his eyes as he thought for a moment. They grew wide with the acknowledgement of her statement. He placed a hand over his open mouth, unable to respond, to move, and then he shook his head. “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”

  “How is it possible?” The shock drained all the color from his face, which told her that she had guessed wrong and he knew exactly what she meant. “The last time was almost two months ago. I thought it was just a dream.”

  “It wasn’t a dream, Jared, it was me.” Lily shook her head as she closed her eyes, unsure of how to feel, until the sensation of his hands pulling her close surrounded her with warmth. His arms were strong, holding her tightly as he placed his cheek against her head. “What does this mean?”

  “There are too many questions right now that I don’t have the answer for, but that you and I are here together has to mean something important.” He sighed, and then kissed her head. “Come. Let’s go back to the other two.”

  Lily sniffled and nodded her head. The two of them moved, hand in hand through the crowd, back to the balcony where Kylie and Jean waited patiently. They sat down and glanced at each other, then back at the staring twosome before them.

  “It’s quite all right if you don’t want to explain,” Jean said, smiling as he placed his napkin down on his lap. “I just wanted to get that statement out of the way.”

  Lily laughed at him.. “Thank you.”

  

  “Would you mind if I went out to dinner with Jean tonight?” Kylie asked as the two girls walked side by side down the quiet end of Bourbon Street. Jean and Jared followed closely behind.

  “Yes.” Lily laughed, and watched the shock on her friend’s face.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Of course I’m not serious. Go and have a good time! That’s what we’re here for, right?” Kylie reached over and kissed Lily on the cheek. “Keep that up and they’ll think that we’re funny.”

  “Jean already thinks that,” she said, which got an odd look from Lily. “While you were gone, I gave him the lowdown on our lives and he thinks that we’re completely nuts.”

  

  “Care to explain what happened back there, my friend?” Jean questioned, walking beside Jared with his hands behind his back.

  “Let’s just say that we’ve come to a realization about who exactly we are to each other,” he answered, but the smile in his voice didn’t reach his face, and he jammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “For the first time in a long time, I’m actually frightened of losing something.”

  “We should know by tonight what the vampires are up to. In the meantime, keeping her from them might just pose to be a greater problem than we anticipated.” Jared looked at his long-time friend in confusion. “I didn’t realize just how ma
ny vampires we housed in New Orleans. Madame LaQue has informed me of the numerous clans that now reside here, and I believe they are all working together.”

  “She’s never going to go for being locked in, and I won’t keep her tied down.” Jared sighed, looking at the sidewalk below him. “There is too much at stake for me to lose her.”

  “I realize that, and it is for that reason that we must do all that we can.” Jean saw Lily stop and look around. Curiosity took over and he stared at her as she rubbed her arms. “They’re here.”

  Jared looked up quickly at Jean, then over at Lily who began to glance around. He stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her muscles jump under his touch. She glanced up at him, worry clouding her hazel eyes.

  “I can feel them, Jared, they’re watching,” she whispered, and stepped back as she watched the shadows under the trees ahead of them start to change.

  “What the hell?” Kylie questioned, as Jean stepped up beside her.

  There were four of them, and they seemed to materialize out of nothingness, sliding out of the shadows silently to stand watching them. The one closest to them smiled, his long, dark hair came down over his shoulders, draping over his thin face like a curtain. It was his bright eyes, which seemed to glow a fiery red, that caught her attention. Two of the others looked exactly alike, with flaming red hair that spiked out in every direction and cruel smiles that matched the evil in their eyes. In unison, they flicked out their fingers, exposing the sharp tips of their nails. The last one was the blond that had attacked her. The smug smile on his face, and the way he leaned against the wall of the building, told them that he wasn’t expecting much resistance.

  “Be gone!” Jared growled. The rumble of his demand shook through his body as Lily backed up to him.

  “Jared, what a pleasant surprise.” The one with the long hair smiled. Stepping closer to them, Lily could smell the unmistakable scent of death. He glanced over at the twins and nodded towards Jared. “Let me introduce Marquise and Morgaine. They’re quite the enforcers, stronger than most vampires twice their age.”