Chapter Sixty-nine

Sending the children upstairs, Izabella looked around the room. Like the rest of the castle, it had white walls and though there wasn’t a lot of furniture, what was there was immaculately carved in detail. The theme of this room was carved out in large grape designs with ivy leaves sculpted over ever inch of wood. Bram stood in the doorway, bolting the massive door closed with a large wooden rung like they did back in medieval times.

Chewing his lip, his eyes were trained on the decadent rung underfoot, his hands buried deep in his pockets. “You must have a million questions. And I want to apologize, I never intended to keep any of this from you. We just met though, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

Izabella went to him. Though she was angry he hadn’t told her he was married, she couldn’t really blame him if he hadn’t see his wife in four-hundred years. She could almost understand him not wanting to tell her. Sticking her hands in his pockets, her fingers curled with his, and when his blue eyes came up to meet her own, she could see the depth of emotion there. One week. That’s all it had taken for them both to fall head over heals for each other. “You came for us.” She wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in, putting her head on his chest.

“Of course. I will always come for you and Devon, the other children too.” He sighed, “You’re not angry with me?”

“Should I not give you a chance to explain yourself before getting angry?” She asked into his chest. “I do have to admit, since I’ve started to work for you, I feel like life has become very dangerous. But that seems to be balanced with all the happiness I’ve felt too. I never thought I would fall so hard, or fast, for anyone. It’s like there had been absolutely no interest in men, then you showed up. Turning my world upside down. Just being in the same room with you sends my mind into a flurry and I can barely think.”

His arms tightened around her. “I’ve felt the same. After a thousand years of only ever feeling desire as lust, this burning and pounding in my chest has been a mixture of terrifying and exhilarating. I want you desperately, but would wait a thousand years if you asked.”

“Is that why your mother asked if I was your mate? What does that mean, exactly?” She took a step back, though he seemed unwilling to let her go. Instead, he followed her as she moved toward the sofa in front of the fireplace, which was cold. It was relatively warm, since it was July, so there was no need to light a fire.

Bram sat on one corner, while she curled up in the other. Cocking a finger at her, she did as he bade, sliding toward him over the velvet cushion. Bram leaned in, kissing her gently when she reached him, letting his fingers glide through her hair, messaging the back of her neck. “So, I’m going to start by explaining vampires a little more before we start on what a mate for them looks like. As you know, we do feed off human blood. We don’t have to kill the human in order to feed, but if we do, it is substantially better for our recovery. Being what we are, our DNA is enhanced. One thing that means, is that we have an immense attraction to those who would fit with us. When you hear a vampire talk about their mate, it means that they are the best possible spouse for them. It’s an incredibly strong attraction, if we were to have children, they would have the strongest possible genes from us both. A mate is something that screams inside our minds that we have to have. It’s a strong desire to be close to and protect them. Once you find your mate, it’s impossible not to be willing to choose to die for them.”

“So,” she made a contemplative face, pursing her lips, “you think you would be willing to die for me? Or do you not believe I’m your mate?”

“No, I do. If I weren’t willing to die for you, I never would have followed you here. My father and Mihaela have tried to kill me numerous times in the past. There was a very good chance that I was walking into a trap meant to ensure my death. My mother happens to be a fickle woman. She’s been wanting grandchildren for a long time, so I suppose, she’s happy to at least have an adoptive grandson. Both my parents have supported Mihaela as their daughter more than they ever did me. I was a disappointment that eventually became nothing more than a sperm doner to her so that she might be able to provide them the child they really want. Being half a vampire and half a witch, I have a very strong ability to use magic, they believe that if I were to breed with another witch, it would create an even stronger magic user, and the vamp DNA would stay the same as in myself. They’re basically trying to make the most powerful being in the world by mating us like they would dogs trying to make sure they get all the features they want.”

“So… would we be able to have a child?” Her eyes closed as his fingers roamed over her jawline.

“Yes.” His lips met her neck, suckling as he moved over her skin. “But considering, we are going to adopt seven children and already have one, don’t you think that’s enough?” Pulling her into his lap, she sighed. “But lets be honest, I’ll give you anything you want.”

Izabella’s eyes shot open, and she covered his mouth with her hands. “Are you going to turn me into a vampire?”

She didn’t miss the way his breathing became heavier or the way his eyes darkened. “I want to. Not yet, you’re still so young, you have a lot of growing still. The best years to turn someone are usually between the ages of 28-32 these days. Once you hit that age group, I’ll likely become desperate to turn you. The thought of not having you for an eternity, is already terrifying. Of course, if you decided that you don’t want to be a vampire, I can understand. I’ll stay by your side every moment I have otherwise.”

She scoffed at him, “Sure, you, a beautiful, forever thirty would stay with me beyond fifty? Seventy?” She knew it was cold to laugh at him, and she could see in his eyes that this bothered him, but she couldn’t help it.

“That’s part of being a mate for one of us. None of that would ever matter. You know how Tyler and I are, how he’s just completely loyal and there’s no question as to what he would do for me.”

Izabella saw where this was going and pressed her lips together, feeling so badly for Tyler. “You’re his mate? It doesn't go both ways?”

Bram frowned, “That’s right. They usually do, but not always.”

“Oh, poor Tyler.” She felt her shoulders sag.

“Trust me, he and I were not good together. Our relationship is a million times better now than it ever could be with us in a relationship. I’m not entirely sure I’m a real mate for him, not like this. We were toxic. He will be much happier with Gavin. I know he will.” His hands caressed her biceps, running his hands from shoulder to elbow and back again. “Now, about Mihaela…”

“Do you consider yourself married to her?” Shifting on his lap, she straddled him. Placing her arms on his shoulders, she leaned in, her mouth hovering close to his.

“No.” The word was stern, his hands playing at the base of her large bedtime shirt. His fingers grazed her thighs gently as he pushed the shirt up. “I left her. Told her I never wanted to see her again. I mean, she tried to kill me a dozen times in a year, it clearly wasn't working between us.”

“And you haven’t seen her, other than today, for over four-hundred years.” He nodded, leaning forward as her lips brushed his briefly before she backed away far enough for him not to be able to reach. “If she walked in this room, and threw herself at you, would you take her? Even just for sex?”

Bram smiled, letting his fingers trail up the back of her leg, dipping beneath her little black bicycle shorts. “When I can have this instead? Never. Hell, I wouldn’t have even if you and I had never met.” As he squeezed her rear end, he pulled her hips closer.

Gasping, her hips moved over his waist. “Oh!” Her breath started to come quickly, “You’re really excited.”

His lips blazed a trail from the base of her earlobe to her collarbone. “You know what I really, really want?”

“Sex?” She giggled. “I think, if it’s with you…” she stopped, looking away, a deep blush rising on her cheeks.

“I mean, yes. Yes. I want that. Don’t get me wrong. But what I really want? I want to hear you say those words to me again.” He had her shirt halfway up her torso, letting his hands travel slowly enough for her to stop him if she wanted to.

“What words?” She looked at him, confused.

“The last ones you said to me, before I had to hang up on you. God, I felt awful doing that. I want another chance to change my reply.”

Leaning back, she frowned at him. “Yeah, right back at you.”

“I have to be careful of any vampires finding out about you while you’re still human. I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt, or worse, killed. People will use you against me if they know that I love you. I’m so sorry.” The genuine words, in that look in his eye unhinged her.

She pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply. Breaking away long enough to pull the shirt off, then diving back in for another kiss. Once they were both breathless, she moved to his ear, nibbling a moment before giggling softly. “I love you, Bram.”

His hands went to the sides of her face, his lips caressing hers in the gentlest of kisses. “I love you too, Iz.”

***

*Hello Everyone. I wanted to let you know, I have published another book on AnyStories. The title is "The Trials of Rhelia" you can look it up by my name, Justine Hedman, also, if you are interested. I'm planning on getting back into my daily uploads for "Last Kiss" but since the Trials is already completed, I thought that it would be a guarentee that you'll be able to get something uploaded every day. So don't worry, it won't interfere with our schedule here at all!*

*As always, supportive comments are always welcome, happy reading!!*