“Mark!” She squeaked. Meghan pushed past Dana and Sorin running headlong into his out-flung arms.
They closed around her immediately, holding her tight. “Meghan! My Meghan!” He lifted her up and spun her around.
Her hands ran over his face, shoulders, arms. “You’re real. You’re human! I can feel your heartbeat,” she said as she lay her hand on his hard chest.
“It beats for you, my love,” he whispered.
“How? When?” She was full of questions, but his lips silenced her, claiming her mouth in a tender and loving kiss. With slow deliberation, Mark explored her lips.
In between thrilling nips, and sexy caresses he whispered “So warm, so soft. So forgiving.”
“I can’t believe it.” Meghan’s voice broke on a sob.
“Don’t cry, my love. Don’t cry.” He kissed her tears away. “Fate has given us a second chance. It has given me back my humanity. I can breathe, feel, and grow old.” He pulled back and touched her face, staring into the depths of her beautiful brown eyes. “Will you grow old with me, Meghan?”
Cosmin, Sorin, Dana, Stefan, Ilana, Alexandru, Marius, and Adina watched as the human who was once a vampire, now human once more, waited for their Meghan to give her answer for he was surely proposing.
“I think Anghelescu has waited long enough, Meghan.” Adina chuckled.
Mark glanced at the old woman and smiled. He immediately returned his attention to his love. “So?”
Meghan leaned closer, her lips within a breath of his own, and smiled. “Yes.”
A loud whoop went up behind them as Mark laid a kiss on her that weakened her knees. Filled with passion and joy, he held her close, whispering over and over again how much he loved her.
Adina reached out for Cosmin’s hand. “Gather the family. We have another ceremony to prepare for.”
Dana giggled, and unable to contain herself any longer, ran for her friend, pushing Mark away. “Let someone else hug her, vampire.”
Mark laughed. It was the first time the little gypsy had said that word with affection. Sorin and Stefan each pulled him in for hugs and handshakes. Ilana grabbed his hand, and peeked up at him, arms out.
“Welcome to our family Marku Andrei Anghelescu.”
Mark let her hug him, feeling the love of family after so long. His heart felt like it might explode with joy. Tears filled his eyes.
“Why the tears?’ Meghan wrapped her arms around him, concern in her tone.
“I have been alone for so long, and now there is all of this,” he looked around at the sea of faces surrounding them.
“Oh, my love.” Meghan cupped his face. “You’re not alone anymore. We are not alone.”
“I know, but I wonder if I even deserve all this? The things I’ve done, Meghan…”
“Hey, look at me.” She pulled his face to hers. “Magdalena told me something.”
“What?”
“Your vampirism was caused by her curse, not Petrescu’s. Nothing that you did during that time was on you. You were a weapon under her control, a means to protect her pact and end Petrescu. None of it was part of who you are, and not in any way a stain on your soul.”
Skepticism warred in his eyes with hope. “Truly?”
“Yes. You were a good man before, and despite what she put you through, you held on to being a good man. You loved me, didn’t you?”
He smiled. “Oh, yes. Always.”
“She said the soulless cannot love. You always had your soul, and that soul loved me. That’s a good thing.”
His doubts melted away. “Now I know why I have always loved you.” Mark tucked a strand of her honey-blonde hair behind her ear. “You are everything that is good. You are my blessing, and I will spend every day of the rest of my thankfully much shorter life proving it to you.” He pulled her close and held her head to his heart. The simplicity of enjoying the moment without a hint of bloodlust was amazing. But there was still lust of another kind.
Dana tilted her head in the direction of the house indicating everyone should leave the two love birds alone. Cosmin chuckled and went inside. Stefan held Ilana’s hand and they moved off to the guest house with Alexandru on their heels. Sorin stifled a snort and offered his arm to his grandmother.
Finally alone, Mark lifted Meghan’s chin staring down at her with so much love. He kissed her slowly, softly, and tenderly. When he pulled back, her face was bemused. “Meghan?”
“Um hmmn?” She smiled dreamily up at her man.
“I’m cold…and hungry, I think. In fact, I think I am starving.”
The look of both confusion and wonder on his face made her laugh. “Well, let’s go inside and get you fed, and then later, I’ll work on warming you up,” she said with a saucy wink.
“I’d like that.” He laughed, kissing her thoroughly again. “I love you, Meghan Hartley. Forever.”
And she knew he meant it.
The End.
About Michele
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Once Upon A Midnight Page 239