by Calista Fox
Time was clearly of the essence, but… “You saw what happened. I turned her. And she was pure evil.”
“I’m…not…Amy…”
His eyes squeezed shut. There was nothing more painful for him than this moment. Knowing he’d lose the only thing he’d ever wanted—the only woman he would ever love—if he didn’t act this very second.
But to damn her soul. To make her a demon. How could he?
“Please.” Her voice was even weaker, dying instantly on the warm, night air.
“Forgive me,” he said, his tone strained as every ounce of humanity he’d finally gained was threatened by this horrible turn of events. But to lose Bev… He’d be a mad vampire without her. Twisted by guilt and shame and remorse. Empty. Hollow.
Like Amy.
“It’ll hurt more before it gets better.” That was the only warning he gave before he tore into his wrist and pressed the ravaged, bleeding flesh to her mouth. She had to do no more than let the crimson liquid trickle down her throat. Her first gulp caused her to cough and some of the blood spewed from her mouth. He sat her up, though she was practically lifeless in his arms. Her head fell back on her shoulders and he continued to feed her. Not knowing whether it was too late.
She wasn’t responding, other than occasionally swallowing in a mechanical way, and choking in response. Fear seized his insides. Had he waited too long? Warred with his feelings when he should have pushed aside his own torment and done everything in his power to save her?
“Bev.” He couldn’t remember exactly how it felt to go through the change. It had been so long ago. And he’d been dying like this too, the victim of a werewolf attack, when a vampire picked up his scent. There hadn’t been enough blood left in his body to satiate the demon so Cane had been offered salvation instead of death. Immortality. He’d taken it, nothing more than ego driving him. He couldn’t fathom losing all he’d built back in London. Hadn’t been ready for death, so he’d chosen this life.
It really wasn’t a choice for Bev. He didn’t want to let her go. Plain and simple.
When her body started to convulse in his arms, he felt relief and guilt battle it out in his gut. The virus was spreading through her body. Her mortal self was adjusting to the immortality that would be restored to her. He held her tightly as she shook violently. Fever took hold of her and beads of perspiration popped out along her hairline and upper lip. Her lids were still clamped closed, but he could see her eyes jump and roll behind the thin skin.
Cane wiped the blood from her mouth. Her breathing picked up, erratic, but that was a hell of a lot better than the wispy, wheezing sound from moments ago.
“I’m here,” he said, careful how he handled her. She was like an epileptic and he didn’t want to inadvertently hurt her. Nor could he leave her to go through the change alone. “You have a good soul, Bevelyn,” he told her. It had to survive this villainous act. “You’re warm and passionate and loving.”
A strangled cry fell from her lips. She tried to speak but no words formed.
“Don’t say anything. Don’t fight it. Just let the change happen. It’ll be days. You’ll wish I let you die. But when it’s all over…” He glanced about the room.
Days. Yes, he remembered how long it took. And since he refused to leave her, he’d have to get her out of here. Out of this light and fresh air she loved so much, both of which would flood the room as soon as the sun rose.
Sooner rather than later, he had to get her someplace safe. Before the change in her genetic composition made her body quake even more. And caused the screaming. He suddenly remembered that part. He hadn’t witnessed Amy’s change, but he recalled now the echoing of his own voice in his ears as the pain had tore through him.
Yes, he had to get Bev out of here. Now.
Chapter Ten
Something buzzed in her ears. A low, constant humming that was annoying and comforting at the same time.
Annoying because it wouldn’t go away. Comforting because that meant…
Bev’s eyes snapped open. Only to be met by inky blackness. She’d never experienced a black abyss like this. Not a shred or twinkle or flicker of light. Nothing. She could see no further than…her pupils.
The air around her was warm and sticky and stale. It sickened her, so used to fresh, fragrant air was she. And the buzzing in her ears seemed to fill her head too. Aside from that, she felt remarkably good. Strong.
Un-bruised, un-battered, undead.
Holy shit. She’d lived through Amy’s attack!
Excited, she sat bolt upright. Almost. Her forehead smacked against something hard, solid and unyielding.
“Ouch!” she cried out as she fell back against a pillow.
What the fuck?
Her hands shot out and she felt the walls surrounding her, confining her. Confusion clouded her brain but for a moment. A box. She was in a box.
But then clarity broke through.
No, not a box.
A coffin!
She was in a fucking coffin!
“Hey!” she yelled, loud and clear and with a noticeable amount of fury. Cane had put her in a coffin!
Oh! What a mistake that was!
“You have exactly two seconds to get me out of here!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. So loud, it was possible the neighbors could hear. Provided she wasn’t six feet under. Then… Well, that would put a damper on things. The dead weren’t going to rise up and rescue her.
Shit. A new thought hit her. What if Cane had buried her because he’d thought she was dead? What if she hadn’t responded quickly enough to the blood she only vaguely remembered him feeding her and he’d thought she had died? What if he’d buried her alive!
“Oh no!” She’d been through too much to let it end like this. Entombed while still alive. Destined to spend an eternity inside this small, confining, stale-aired box!
Not a chance in hell!
Panic skittered through her. What if she really was six feet under?
She’d never thought it was possible for a vampire to hyperventilate but was now proving it could happen.
“Cane!” she screamed his name.
“Ah, you’re awake.” His deep voice penetrated the wood surrounding her. He actually sounded amused. Probably because she was so pissed off that he’d put her in a coffin.
“Your two seconds are up!”
“You’re immortal, sweetheart. Remember? A vampire, per your request. Well, okay, and my selfishness because I really couldn’t imagine living one single second without you, but still…”
She smiled, unexpectedly. Unbidden. “You saved me.”
“You knew I would.”
She nodded in the dark. Yes. She knew he would. “Now let me out.”
“Let yourself out.”
Bev laughed. Then busted through the wooden lid like the box was made of paper. On her feet in the next instant, she stared at Cane, who stared back at her. A tentative grin played on his lips.
“You’re okay, then?”
“Okay? No, I’m mad as hell!”
“Bev, you were dying and—”
“Not about that,” she said and smacked him on the arm. A seemingly light touch, but it physically moved him and he winced. “Oh. Stronger than I know. Sorry.”
“Yeah,” he said and rubbed his muscles. “Comes with the territory. You’ll get used to it.”
She inhaled deeply. The dank smell wasn’t the least bit pleasant. A single bulb illuminated the large, brick-walled room in which they stood.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“My basement.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, which was bare, as was the rest of her, she demanded, “Why in the name of all that’s holy did you put me in a coffin?”
“I had to,” he said, looking contrite. And a little tortured. “You were crawling up the walls and clinging to the ceiling. Screaming and hissing and… I figured the cops would show up eventually so I had to put you…away.”
Like some der
anged lunatic in need of being restrained in a padded cell? “That bad?”
He winced. “Let’s just say it was painful to watch.”
She melted instantly. “Oh, Cane.” Falling into his open arms, she said, “I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t want to do this to me.”
“I didn’t want to lose you either. Greed won out.”
“No,” she said as she snuggled close to him, nuzzling his neck, smelling his wonderful, dark, musky, familiar scent. “Love won out.”
“Please tell me you believe that.” His voice was suddenly tight, all traces of teasing vanishing.
And she knew he’d tried to play it light with her in order to gauge her response to becoming a vampire. In order to keep everything on an even keel while he assessed the situation. Made sure she wasn’t a horrible, wretched, evil creature like Amy.
Stepping out of his embrace, she stared up at him. “I heard you. When I was going through the change. I was so lost. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, but I heard you. Talking me through this. Telling me I’d be the same, that I’d still be the woman I was before. The woman you love.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “You were so tormented, having to do this to me. But, Cane, this is exactly what I wanted. To have my immortality back! So that we can be together. Forever.”
His hands cupped her face. “You still have a lot of adjustment ahead of you. Everything’s different for you, Bev. This isn’t like being an immortal by birthright. You’ll have to get used to some necessities that will be less than pleasant.”
Ah yes. “The blood.”
“For one.”
“And no sunlight.”
“Not direct sunlight.”
“Meaning observe the rays from a dark shadowy corner?” He nodded. She sighed. “Yes, that will definitely take some getting used to. But I can still smell the flowers and the rain at night, so that’s a consolation.”
“You’re not…upset?”
A soft smile touched her lips. “Why would I be? We’re together. That’s all that matters.”
He pulled her back into the warm circle of his arms and held her tightly. An embrace that would have crushed bones when she was mortal, but which now felt just right. Dropping kisses along her temple, her cheek, her jaw, he worked his way to her mouth. His lips sealed over hers and Bev’s unbeating heart burst with joy. He kissed her deeply, and when he pulled away, she reeled from the passion and excitement he so easily sparked.
“Come on,” he said as he took her hand and led her to the stairwell. “There’s something I want to show you.”
She was more than happy to leave the dark, dreary basement, hoping never to return.
They crossed the living room and foyer upstairs. He removed the black button-down shirt he wore with his black jeans and boots. She slipped into it and then they stood out on the veranda, admiring the neatly trimmed town square sprawled before them, illuminated by a full moon and the antique street lamps. Bev pulled in a deep breath of fragrant air, mentally cataloging every scent that filled her nose and chased away the dank, dusty scent of downstairs.
“Absolutely beautiful,” she said, sighing contently. Then her head shifted and she stared at her Victorian, remembering everything that had happened there however-many nights ago. She had no idea how long the change had taken.
Smiling again, she said, “You fixed my house.”
Cane’s gaze followed hers. “The patio doors are different than the previous ones, but as close as I could find on short notice. And the holes in the walls are repaired. I finished your paint job.”
“Nice. Thank you.” She wondered, though, how she could live in that house when it was so light and bright and airy. So many windows. She’d have to change the drapery from sheers to heavy curtains. And that would ruin the ambiance of the entire place. Damn.
As though his thoughts ran along the line of hers, Cane said, “You can move into my house. Already sun-proofed. And I have a house in the mountains too.”
“I love the mountains.” She realized there were so many things they didn’t know about the other. “This is going to be fun, getting to know each other.”
He chuckled. “The Twenty Questions are gonna have to wait, sweetheart.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” His grin was a wicked one as he swept her up in his arms. “You’re immortal again. I can’t break you.”
She laughed. “We might want to leave the TV on, loud, to drown out my screams.”
“The brick walls are thick, baby. Scream all you want.”
A thrill of anticipation and desire chased up her spine, making her shudder in his strong arms. But there was one thing she wanted to know before they waltzed too far down Hot and Heavy Lane.
“Cane,” she asked as he kicked the front door shut behind them. “What happened to Amy?”
“I killed her,” he said without hesitation. Without regret or remorse.
“I mean…before she came after me.”
His jaw tightened for a brief moment and his black eyes clouded. “I killed her.”
Bev didn’t get it. “She didn’t want to be a vampire?”
“She didn’t want to exist. To remember. I didn’t know, didn’t understand. She was living on the streets, trading her body for meth. I found her in an alley, eating food from a trash Dumpster, then vomiting it. I watched her, night after night. When she was on the verge of overdosing, I turned her. I thought…” He shook his head. Climbing the stairs to his room, Bev still cradled in his arms, he said, “I thought I could save her. That if she were a vampire, she wouldn’t be a homeless, drugged-out teenager. She could have made something of herself, survived a horrible childhood and become something else. What I didn’t know was that she didn’t want to live.”
Bev shivered at the memory of Amy’s wild, vacant eyes. “She was soulless.”
“Yes. Even before I turned her. She was just a body with a head full of horrific memories of abuse and solitude. And she was stuck with them for eternity because I made her a vampire.”
“Oh.” Now she got it. The anger, the violent rage. Amy had hated Cane for turning her because she’d been trying to escape her memories and her life. Not be chained to them for centuries. “How tragic. But how could you have known? You wanted to help her.”
He crossed to the enormous bed in the center of the room and set her in the middle of it. “I fought so hard to retain my own soul during the change.” His weight made the mattress dip as he settled beside her. “I wanted to become a vampire. I had a choice—an opportunity to continue my existence—and I took it without a second thought. And because I knew what I was doing, I somehow managed to keep my humanity. For the most part. The first few decades were…a little sketchy. I had to work hard to train myself not to prey on humans, not to crave their blood. And even hunting animals was a challenge at first. But I didn’t want to be a demon. I just wanted to…still exist on this planet.”
“Lucky for me,” she said as she lifted a hand and swept her fingers over his clenched jaw. “You have to forgive yourself for Amy. She was twisted and tormented before you came along. You were just trying to help her.”
“I’m so sorry she came after you. I had no idea, Bev. I never would have left you alone if I’d known she was lying in wait, ready to pounce.”
“I believe you. And it doesn’t matter now anyway. Or maybe…maybe it was a good thing. Meant to be. Otherwise.” She glanced around the dimly lit room at the boxes stacked along the far wall. “You would have left me.”
He nodded. “And it would have been the death of me. I would have understood all too well what Amy had to live with, day after day, year after year, decade after decade. The memories of you, of our night together, would have haunted me. Drove me mad because I couldn’t have you.”
“That’s all in the past. You can have me. All of me. My love, my body, my soul… They belong to you. Only to you.”
He pulled in a long breath, let it out slowly. “I’ve waited so long for you.”
> She smiled sweetly. “I have you beat in that area, remember?”
“Ah yes.” His fingers deftly worked the buttons on the shirt she wore and he pushed the material over her shoulders and down her arms. “The world’s oldest cougar.”
“Hey, I look damn good for six hundred and change.”
“Stunningly beautiful,” he said as his dark eyes feasted on her naked body, no longer bruised. “Absolutely breathtaking.”
Her stomach fluttered. She reached for him, her fingers burning to touch his skin, his muscles. “I want you so much.”
“You can have me,” he said. His head dipped, his lips brushing against hers as he repeated her words. “All of me. My love, my body, my soul. They belong to you. Only you. Forever.”
“Forever.” She loved that word. Loved this man. “Perfect.”
“Not yet,” he murmured.
Shifting off the bed, he stripped off the rest of his clothes and then returned to her, stretching out on top her, settling between her parted legs. Their bodies melded together, becoming one again. When he drove deep into her wet pussy, making her cry out from the intense pleasure that rocketed through her more acutely than ever before, he added, “Now this is perfect.”
She couldn’t agree more.
About the Author
Calista Fox in a multi-published, award-winning author of contemporary, suspense and paranormal erotic romances. She began her professional fiction-writing career in 2004, following a successful career in PR, where she specialized in writing speeches and Congressional testimonies. Her books have received rave reviews and she is also the recipient of a Reviewers Choice Award for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Novella.
Calista is a member of Romance Writers of America and two of its Phoenix Chapters, Desert Rose and Valley of the Sun Romance Writers. She has served on the Board of Directors, been the newsletter director and chaired the annual Golden Quill Contest for the Desert Rose Chapter. She is also a member of Passionate Ink, RWA’s erotic romance chapter. In addition, Calista gives presentations and workshops on writing novellas.
Calista attended college on a Journalism scholarship and has worked on newspapers as an editor and reporter. She holds degrees in General Studies and Communications. Calista lives in Arizona, but travels frequently to places like Mexico, Europe, San Diego and Washington, D.C. She has traveled the country by Lear Jet, always with her laptop in tow, and is a spa aficionado!