He loved having her in his arms, that familiar shape that was molded to fit into his arms perfectly. Though he had deep feelings for her, which had him aching to do more than hold her, he didn't indulge them. He simply took in her warmth.
His smooth words dripped off his lips like the sweetest nectar. His voice was heavy and deep, but carried the weight of a butterfly's wings. "Clouds flow slowly down a sea of blue over her head, crossing the sky that keeps her eyes from seeing heaven. The sun casts its warm light upon her hair, making it shine like a million threads of spun gold. Dear, sweet dreamer says the sun, a deal I will make with thee. Love me, and I shall gift you with wings that will take you past the clouds and to the gilded gates of heaven."
She closed her eyes as she waited for him to continue. When he didn't, she spoke, "Why did you stop? I want to hear the rest of the story."
"As you wish." He laughed softly. "The dreamer walks on, ignoring the promise of heaven from the sun. Darkness invades the realm of light. The vicious battle pierces the clouds, their blood spreading out into the sea of blue and slowly pushing the light from the sky. The sky darkens. The ruler of the night floats like a sentinel in the sky. His eyes are hidden, but always upon her.
“Dear, sweet dreamer, the moon says, a deal I will make with thee. Love me, and I shall gift you with eternal beauty and make you Queen. The dreamer ponders the offer, but then refuses. Again, he offers—together we will taste the blood of the sun and murder the clouds, so you may see the heaven that lies beyond. You will never hunger under my rays, and in the darkness, I shall mold your every dream. Give me that to which the sun desires, love me, oh dear dreamer."
He paused as his fingers slowly stroked the surface of her jacket.
She waited, but he never finished. Her head rose to look at him. "So, what did she choose?"
A wicked smile filled out his perfect lips. His emerald eyes fell on hers as he spoke softly, "The devil, of course."
She laughed as she lay her head back down on his chest. "You're definitely going in my next book."
"I do not wish to become immortalized in such a fashion."
"You don't wish to be a perfect prince in my imagination?"
"Imagination is for children. What you produce as a writer is art, a voice that opens a vein and leaves the reader lapping at the blood that has been drawn. You are an incredible writer, Ashleigh." His tone softened a little, "But please refrain from calling me an emerald-eyed snake."
She closed her eyes. "I didn't call you that."
"Yes, you did."
"I didn't…" Her voice trailed, and her body became heavy in his arms.
"I see someone's calmed down." Neal sat on the couch next to Ashleigh, gesturing toward her with his hand.
"Her blood is soaking my jacket." The Count chuckled softly, but his grip around her didn't lessen, even though what he said was true.
"She seems to be adjusting better." Neal glanced briefly at June, who sat next to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
"Her hatred of me has seemed to lessen slightly, yes." The Count rubbed his chin against Ashleigh’s soft curls. His eyes were distant as he frowned. "Do you think me a fool, Neal?"
"A fool, your grace?"
"For thinking my love has returned to me. What if my queen wakes? Will she punish me for replacing her with this girl? I could not bear that."
"Don't give up, yet. The Countess will never awaken because she's right here. Her soul is now in this young girl, so this is the only option you have. The woman in the tomb is just a shell. You don't have to mourn for her anymore. There is nothing you can do to wake her."
"A shell." The Count's fingers danced lightly over the surface of Ashleigh's skin. "A beautiful shell that holds my heart in her icy flesh."
"Don't sound so sad, your grace. You need to move on. This girl is the Countess."
"I'm trying, but this girl will not let me near her heart."
"She will." Neal pointed to Ashleigh. "I'd say having her in your arms means you're getting closer to getting her to stay."
"I could tell her a million times of my loss…of my pain…but she would never understand." His voice was soft, but there was a hard expression etched on his handsome features. A deep anger was reflected in his sparkling green eyes. "Of sleepless nights spent alone, my dreams haunted by her death.
“Now, she lays in my arms like a child, ignorant and forgetting the promises she had made. This woman whom was once mine—her every breath used to voice her love for me—is buried like Ashleigh's desire. I want this too greatly and fear it will never be as I wish—that she is not what I wish."
Neal's eyes narrowed on the Count. "Do you want to release her? After all we have done to find her?"
"No, I wish for her to love me." His arms squeezed tighter. "Just like she has before, but I am impatient. I crave her taste more than my own breath, and my thoughts are not as they should be. Taking her by force or trickery will not satisfy anything but the desires that brew in my loins. My heart desires something greater. I need her so badly."
"Just enjoy having her sleep in your arms." Neal looked over at Ashleigh. Her long hair fell over her cheek and hid some of her face from his view. "She's warm flesh with a beating heart. The witch was right, and just like she has prophesied, Lady Sallen has come back to you. Just wait it out—soon, she'll be yours again."
"Can we have a ball, your grace?" June spoke, her voice soft but upbeat. "She could help me plan it. It'll get her mind off being homesick, and it'd give you a great opportunity to woo her."
"Perhaps." The Count sighed as he studied at a few people across from him.
Chapter Eight
Ashleigh had left her phone off for the past few days. Her urge to answer Caleb's constant calls over the past week was too much of a temptation. She now sat in the ballroom. She was supposed to be helping June decorate, but instead was camped out on a nearby couch, typing away on her computer and having a texting conversation with Natalie. She wore earphones and blocked out the rest of the world.
Making a sour face when she saw a picture of Caleb in an online gossip story, Ashleigh couldn't resist the temptation to stare. His hair was swept up into the perfect, mini Mohawk. He was looking at the camera, though it was only a glance. The dark eyeliner around his eyes only intensified their color. Studying his familiar shape, she knew that under his tee her name was inked on his chest.
This wasn't working. Her muse was always going to be right here, smacking her in the face every time she passed a magazine in the store, opened her email, or saw his picture connected to a top news story. Taking a deep breath then letting out a defeated one, she signed into her messenger and sent him a text.
S'up?
"Do you think we need more ribbons on the chandelier? Ashleigh?" June waited for Ashleigh to answer but was ignored. She then turned to the decorators instead. "Please add more ribbon to the main chandelier."
Music starting to play as someone called Ashleigh for an online video chat. She smiled when she saw the name “Mace.” Pushing the answer button, she tried to wipe the happiness from her face. Her earphones allowed her to be the only one to hear him.
"Hey." Caleb smiled nervously. He was holding his phone awkwardly as he walked down the hallway.
"Hey." Her eyes settled on the close up image of Caleb's face. Though it was a weird angle, she liked being able to see him.
"Working on your book?" He glanced down at his cell a few times then quickly up at where he was going. "Aren't those my S Series Turbos you got on?" He laughed when he saw her grin. "Thief."
"I had Nathan send them. They make everything sound amazing…even you." She giggled as she bit her lip sweetly. "I love them." This was the first time the pair had spoken since they had gotten into that fight, and though the first few seconds felt a little awkward, he was the same Caleb she knew. Nothing seemed to have changed between them.
She put her hand over the earphones, the sound of Ashleigh’s
voice making June turn. June watched her for a few seconds. A slight frown settled onto her lips when she noticed the very tender expression on Ashleigh's face.
Caleb tried to send her a smile, but couldn't. "How have you been?"
"Fine. They're throwing a masked ball tomorrow night. You wanna crash it and come visit me? I'd love it if you did."
"Tomorrow?" He made a sour face as he glanced back at Kris. Kris peered over Caleb's shoulder at Ashleigh.
She laughed when she saw Kris stick out his tongue and wrinkle his nose as he threw up a peace sign with his hands. It was a childish action, but she still laughed. Kris' hair was messy, and his eyes were outlined in black like Caleb's.
"I know you can't." She tried not to frown, but it came anyway. Her attention was focused on Kris because she couldn't see Caleb's face. "I was just teasing."
Caleb held the phone up to his face, but he wasn't looking at it. His eyes were focused on the people they passed on the way to the stage. "You wanna go to sound check? Listen to some kick ass, live music?"
"Sure."
"How bout I…" He went over to the edge of the stage and propped up the phone so it had a good view. Then, he bent down and smiled. "Can ya see all right?"
"Aim a few feet higher, and it'll be at the perfect angle."
He grabbed himself through his baggy pants, giving it a playful shake as he stuck his tongue out at her jokingly. "Better?"
Ashleigh nodded as she disabled the webcam on her end. Her face was filled with huge smile, one that reddened her cheeks and squinted her eyes. She was in love, the awestruck look easy to recognize.
Caleb joined the others and started strumming on his guitar. Kris was arguing with Armageddon's drummer, Sam. Sam pointed a drumstick at him and motioned for him to get to his place. Kris was the troublemaker of the band, but he had been Caleb's best friend since childhood. Because of that, Sam had to put up with Kris' antics.
Ashleigh stared up at the ceiling. Sparkling ribbons crawled along it. The ballroom looked amazing, and it was just like a ball in a fairytale.
But even this gorgeous place couldn't keep her eyes from wandering back down to the Caleb when she heard him start to sing. Then, everything melted away. He sounded amazing live. The video quality wasn't the best, neither was the sound, but for these brief moments she could be with Caleb, something she had been trying to convince herself not to do.
A hand tapped her shoulder, making her jump and quickly spin around. Ashleigh pulled off her earphones and faced the girl standing behind her. She was young, in her early twenties, and dressed in jeans and a sweater with her college logo on it.
"Can I bum a cigarette off you?" The girl seemed antsy. She walked around the couch and stood in front of Ashleigh. "My mom is driving me nuts."
"Cigarettes?" Ashleigh laughed. "I don't smoke, but sometimes Caleb shoves some of his…" Ashleigh picked up her purse and rooted through it. Picking up a small sandwich bag, she shook the contents cheerfully.
"Damn, I would, but my mom would kill me if she smelled that shit on me right now. I'm supposed to be helping."
"Wuss." Ashleigh wrinkled her nose as she put the bag back into the small pocket of her purse. "I wish I'd known this was in here earlier, or it still wouldn't be."
"I'll hit you up on it later, though." The girl looked toward June than back at Ashleigh. "I'm Nicki."
"Ashleigh." She set her purse down. In her fingers was a piece of gum. "How's this instead?"
"Fine." Nicki took the stick and quickly unwrapped it. Her eyes gravitated toward Ashleigh's laptop. "What you watching? Some kind of concert?"
"Kinda." She gazed back at the screen. She could hear the distant sound of Caleb’s voice coming from the earphones around her neck.
"You're an Armageddon fan?" Nicki chewed noisily as she pointed to Ashleigh's computer bag. There were several buttons and patches sewn there.
"Huge. They're my favorite band."
"Mine, too." Nicki glanced toward June again then over at her mother, who was working on decorating the buffet tables. "‘Nightmare’ is my favorite."
Ashleigh frowned when the screen went blank. "I like that song, too." She put her laptop back in her bag. It was the same one she’d had for years and some of the straps were broken. She buckled the ones that weren't and set it on the floor. "Caleb's got an amazing voice."
"That's not all that's amazing about him." Nicki laughed as she gently japed Ashleigh on the arm. "God, I'd love to get a backstage pass and see if he's as hot in person as he is in pictures. Meeting a guy like that is probably surreal, you know?"
"I know." Ashleigh looked down briefly and tried to stop the frown from infecting her smile. "When I met him, I felt that way."
"You've met him?" A light giggle escaped Nicki's lips. She turned her body more toward Ashleigh. "What's he like?"
"He's a big goofball."
Ashleigh could see the Count walking into the room, a slight heat filling her chest at the thought of him. Whenever he was around, he made her very nervous. The power his sweet words had over her was scary. He knew exactly how to make her swoon. She loved that, but at the same time, she wondered if she could control herself around him.
Now that she and the Count were speaking, they got along well. Even though he had the fresh, handsome face of a twenty-five year old, he was much older. The age gap had become an issue at times. His worldly experience calmed his personality, but she was still young. She couldn't participate in a lot of his detailed discussions, so most of their conversations were light and simple.
"Ooo…" Nicki giggled as she covered her mouth and whispered to Ashleigh, "Here comes the king."
"Huh?" Looking at Nicki with a playful suspicion in her eyes, Ashleigh laughed. "Why do you call him that?"
"Look at him." Nicki turned away, instead of taking her own advice. "He's hot, isn't he? I would die if he came over and talked to us."
"Really?" Ashleigh studied the Count. His eyes were only on her as he strolled toward them.
"Oh my God. He's walking right toward us." Nicki started to fidget. Her face reddened as she motioned for Ashleigh to talk. "Hurry up, start talking about something else, so he doesn't know we're talking about him."
"Hello, your grace." Ashleigh's voice was overly sweet as she tried not to laugh. "We were just talking about you."
"Only good things, I hope." His face was filled with a gentle expression as he held out her thermos. It looked very odd in the hands of this sharply dressed prince.
"You deliver now?"
"For you, yes."
"Thank you." Her hand reached out and took the container. "Mmm…" She unscrewed the top, taking a long drink from it. "It's still warm. How do you get this to taste so good?" She shook the contents, a very satisfied smile on her face. "I've never tasted blood this good."
"Will you walk with me?" He motioned for her to stand. His eyes bypassed Nicki's, which were trying to shyly avoid him.
"Sure." Ashleigh gathered her things and slung her laptop bag over her shoulder.
"However do you feed in such a manner?" He chuckled as he watched her drink from the thermos. "Such a silly girl you are."
"I'm a reluctant vampire." She began walking with him, and her shoulder playfully bumped his arm a few times. "You think that's silly?"
"Yes." He glanced over at June, who was watching them. "What are your thoughts on all this?" He gazed downward, his hands neatly clasped behind his back.
"On what?" She licked her lips and studied his small frown.
"The masked ball tomorrow."
"I think it'll be fun. I'm excited. I've never been to anything like this."
"I hope the festivities do not leave you disappointed."
"As long as you dance with me, it won't be disappointing. It's always hard to go to a dance without a date."
"You wish to be my date?" He turned toward her. A loving smile filled his lips as their eyes met.
"Mmm hmm." She shook her thermos. It was empty. "But I
'm not a good dancer, so you might be the one disappointed."
"Disappointment is not a valid description of the bliss I will feel with a beauty such as you on my arm. I want nothing more than to be with you all night." He took both her hands in his. His grip was light as he swung her hands slowly, his shining eyes capturing hers and not letting go.
He chuckled softly as he took in her shy expression. Her small fang was taking her bottom lip hostage as she gazed at him. "So, to have you as a date would be the best gift I could ever receive. You, my love, will have me groveling at your feet and begging to kiss the soft heaven that is the surface of your hand."
He kissed her hand, and a soft giggle escaped her lips, as his eyes remained locked on hers. "Such beauty you possess, that even the devil could not produce a copy that would compare to you, even in the softest candlelight. To love you is like my need for air, without it, all the life in my breast would cease and leave me an empty man."
"You, sir, are a major flirt."
He turned his eyes from her and took her arm in his, giving a soft laugh. "May I escort you to your room, my lady?"
"Of course." She handed him her thermos. "But could you get me some more, please?"
"As you wish." He took it from her gently. His arm slipped from hers, and he quickly disappeared from her side.
Taking a deep breath, Ashleigh closed her eyes. She spoke under her breath, "Ashleigh, you're in trouble."
* * * *
Dressing up was a fun experience. Her black ball gown made her feel like she had been transported back through the centuries. She was all giggles as she studied her reflection. The corset pinched her stomach, but it made her breasts and figure look amazing. Her hair was styled in long, tight curls falling over her bare shoulder. She donned a sparkling black and white diamond-embellished mask.
She wanted to impress her prince tonight. To leave this man, who seemed to never be at a loss for words, speechless.
Taking out her phone, she struck a sexy pose. It took a few tries to get a good picture, but when she did, she sent it to Caleb with the caption—"Want this?"
Forever Black (Nightwalkers 2) Page 10