“Welcome to the family, Alex,” her mother was saying. “I can’t say that I approve of this marriage, but I can see that you love my daughter and she loves you. Be kind to one another.”
“I’ll take good care of her, Mrs. Wagner. I promise.”
Not long after that, Alex and Rylee slipped out the side door.
“I can’t believe Rhys gave you his car,” Rylee said as they drove to her new home. “What bet was he talking about?”
“When I sent you away, I was afraid you’d never forgive me. Rhys was sure I could win you back if I admitted I’d been a damn fool and begged for your forgiveness. I told him I didn’t think it would be that easy and he said if you turned me down, he’d give me the Jag.”
“And he gave it to you, even though he won? He must really like you.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Rylee felt as if a million butterflies had taken wing in the pit of her stomach when Alex carried her across the threshold and into their bedroom.
“Welcome home, Mrs. O’Donnell,” he said.
She glanced around as he set her on her feet. A bottle of wine and two crystal goblets waited on the table beside the bed. Vases filled with flowers were on every available surface. Hundreds of fragrant rose petals were spread across the quilt. “Did you do all this?”
He nodded.
“When did you have time?”
“While you were at the church getting dressed. Mom helped me.”
“I love you, my husband,” she said, slipping her arms around his waist.
“I love you more, my wife,” he said, his voice husky. “So much more than you’ll ever know. I’ll try to make you happy.”
“You already make me happy.” She smiled up at him as she slid his jacket over his shoulders and tossed it on the chair in the corner. “Don’t you think it’s time we tried out our new bed?”
“Past time, I would say.” Removing her veil, he laid on top of his jacket.
Gazing into each other’s eyes, they took turns undressing each other down to their underwear.
Rylee felt her cheeks grow hot when she saw the evidence of his desire. She had never been intimate with a man, and although she had come close a few times in college, she had always backed away. She frowned, feeling suddenly jealous of Alex’s first wife, and how wrong was that?
Drawing her close, Alex murmured, “I’ve never loved anyone else the way I love you. You are and always will be the love of my life and the wife of my heart.”
His words brought tears to her eyes but when he lifted her into his arms and laid her gently on the mattress, everything that had happened before this night ceased to matter. He loved her, of that she had no doubt, and she loved him, body and soul.
“I asked Rhys about a baby,” Alex whispered as he caressed her. “He said he’d never heard of that happening, but that anything is possible.”
Rylee’s eyelids fluttered down as he rained featherlight kisses over her face, breasts, and belly. “I believe in miracles,” she whispered. How could she not, when this incredible man loved her?
She gasped as his clever hands aroused her to fever pitch.
And then, as Alex rose over her, there was no more time for thought, only sensation after sensation as he carried her away to a world where there was room only for two.
EPILOGUE
18 Years Later
Rylee stood naked in front of the bathroom mirror, turning this way and that. Thanks to drinking a little of Alex’s blood every year, no one would ever guess she was over forty years old. The lines on her face were faint, her body still firm and slim.
The last eighteen years of her life had been wonderful. To the astonishment of everyone in the family, she had given birth to a healthy little girl. Not only was Miranda a miracle baby, her birth had performed a miracle on Rylee’s father, who had swallowed his pride and apologized for his past behavior, all so he could hold his first, and likely only, grandchild.
Miranda had grown up to be a strong, independent young woman. She had graduated from high school a few months ago and gone off to college in New York City.
Rylee and Alex had told their daughter the truth about her father when she was old enough to understand and keep his secret.
Rylee had been a stay-at-home mom until Miranda was old enough for kindergarten, and then she had returned to her love of photography. In the intervening years, she had become quite well-known, and had even won a few local and national awards.
Tonight, she was going to pursue an adventure of another kind.
She glanced over her shoulder as Alex came up behind her. He wore only a pair of black briefs and a smile.
Slipping his arms around her waist, he nuzzled her neck. “Are you ready?”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Was she?
“You don’t have to do this, love.”
She turned in his arms, her gaze moving over his face. He looked exactly the same as he had the night they’d met. And while she didn’t look to be in her forties, she didn’t look like she was in her twenties, either. “I want to.”
“You’re sure? There’s no going back.”
“You’ve never done this before,” she remarked thoughtfully. “Are you sure you know how?”
“Not really. That’s why I alerted Rhys. He’ll be here in a heartbeat if I need him.”
Rylee had grown quite fond of the Master of the West Coast vampires. It was comforting to know he was on call should anything go wrong. “Let’s do it.”
Hand-in-hand, they kissed their way into the bedroom. Rylee grinned as she looked around. While she’d been bathing, Alex had filled the room with flowers. Candles provided a soft, warm glow. He had turned down the covers on the bed and sprinkled the sheets with rose petals. It reminded her of their wedding night.
“Any questions before we begin?” he asked, gathering her into his arms.
“Will it hurt?”
“Not at all.”
She blew out a sigh, kissed his cheek, then stretched out on the mattress.
Alex removed his briefs, then drew her into his arms again.
Feeling giddy and a little anxious, she ran her hands over him, loving the way her touch aroused him, the low growl that rumbled low in his throat as they kissed and caressed. They had been married for years, yet every time they made love was as wonderful and exciting as the first time.
When she was on fire for him, he buried himself deep within her, carrying her over the edge to completion. She cried his name as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her.
And then, while she was still caught up in the aftermath of their love-making, he bit her. But tonight was not like any other night. Tonight, as he had so often yearned to do when he’d been a new vampire, he drank to his heart’s content, drank until she was at the point of death. He knew a moment of panic as her heartbeat grew faint and the color faded from her cheeks. Had he taken too much? Biting into his wrist, he fed her his blood.
Relief washed through him as the color returned to her cheeks, her breathing slowed, her body relaxed.
Everything’s okay, fledgling. Costain’s voice sounded in his mind. Well done.
Alex slipped an arm around Rylee’s shoulders, pulled the sheet over the two of them and drew her close to his side. When she woke tomorrow night, she would be a new vampire. She would see the world as if for the first time. And he would be there to share it with her.
Time no longer had any meaning, he thought as he brushed a kiss across her cheek.
Tomorrow night, they would begin a new life together. But best of all, she would be his now and forevermore.
~ finis ~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Ashley started writing for the fun of it. Her first book, a historical romance written as Madeline Baker, was published in 1985. Since then, she has published numerous historical and paranormal romances and novellas, many of which have appeared on various bestseller lists, including the New York Times Bestseller List and US
A Today.
Amanda makes her home in Southern California, where she and her husband share their house with a Pomeranian named Lady, a cat named Kitty, and a tortoise named Buddy.
For more information on her books, please visit her websites at
www.amandaashley.net
and
www.madelinebaker.net
Email: [email protected]
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
This book is published on behalf of the author by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency.
https://ethanellenberg.com
Email: [email protected]
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