Book 3 - A Werelion for Saxon - Prequel Chapter 1 - The Surprise
Thatcher was running through Sacramento with excitement. Now that the mess in Monterey was taken care of and Kitty and Aiden were married, he wanted to spend quality time with his mate. It was time for Janel to be changed. They were going to Venice for this special occasion. He had a surprise for her before he sunk his teeth into her pretty little neck.
He fixed his clothes and took a deep breath when he got to their apartment. As he opened the door, he stopped. It looked like a hurricane had gone through the place in just the few hours he was gone. Thatcher saw the little blonde running from room to room frantically.
"Is it safe to come in here?" He asked as she ran past him again. Janel came to a screeching halt and then ran to him, throwing herself into his arms.
"I know it's a mess, but I've been going crazy trying to figure out what to pack. I've never been out of the country and don't want to look frumpy compared to everyone else." She looked up at him with her blue eyes shining. Thatcher leaned down and kissed her soft mouth.
"Sweetheart, you could wear sweatpants and a hoodie, and you'd still be the most beautiful woman there." He put his forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. Every time he did that, Janel always felt her knees get weak. It felt more intimate than a kiss at times.
"You always know exactly what to say." She smiled up at him as she rubbed his smooth cheek. It should be a sin to look so perfect with his thick black wavy hair, tan skin, and beautiful amber eyes. His face was so perfectly chiseled sometimes she didn't think he was real.
"I have something I've wanted to ask you for a while, but I didn't want to sound silly." Janel looked up into Thatcher's eyes while biting her lip.
"Nothing you ask would be silly. What is it?" He loved it when she got that shy look in her eyes that made her look like the innocent college student she was when they met.
"Right now, you drink enough of my blood to keep you satisfied. Once I'm changed, you're not going to start drinking blood from other women, are you?" Janel felt a pinch in her heart, thinking of Thatcher biting into another woman. It was an intimate thing for them that led to fantastic sex. He drank enough of her without making her pass out like he'd done at the beginning of their relationship. Thatcher saw the pain in her eyes and kissed her deeply.
"No, I will never drink from another woman. We'll have our own blood bank like most vampires do. It's less risky than biting into humans." Janel felt the weight in her heart lighten. How they had met had been weighing on her mind. Thatcher was a few centuries older than she was, so she couldn't blame him for that. However, she had been worried that he would still want the variety of women he was used to.
"You won't get tired of only being with me?" She asked softly, letting her insecurities show. Janel had never had a lot of confidence after what happened with her dad that night Kitty saved her. If she had been stronger, she would have stopped him herself. Instead, she blamed herself because she was too scared to do anything.
Thatcher finally understood that her concern was more than just about her blood. She was afraid he would cheat on her with blood and sex. He had been with many women but had never been with them more than one night other than about a hundred years ago. That had been just casual sex with another vampire until she met her mate. After meeting Janel, the thought of any other woman had left his mind entirely. He took her in her arms, ensuring she looked into his eyes.
"How could I get tired of being with my other half? I knew there would never be another for me the minute I met you. I love you, and nothing will ever change that." Thatcher leaned down and kissed her gently, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck, he slid his tongue into her mouth, taking it further. Janel pulled away, out of breath and a little dazed.
"Will your kisses do that to me even after I'm changed?" She asked, hoping the answer was yes. Thatcher smiled and ran his fingers through her long blonde hair.
"It will actually be better. Every touch and kiss will have an even stronger effect on both of us than it already does. When I change you, the only thing that will be different is that you'll live for centuries and need blood to survive. Other than that, you'll basically be a human, only with better senses." Thatcher was trying to make her comfortable and not frighten her with all the changes. As ready as she thought she was to be part of his world, he knew it could be overwhelming when it all came down to it.
"Thatcher, I can't thank you enough for approaching me that day when I was at the library studying late. If our paths had never crossed, I would be out there still a virgin with my nose in my books. I had always dreamed about another world. I just never thought it would fall into my lap in the way of the most handsome man in the world sweeping me off my feet." Janel wrapped her arms around him. She didn't think he would ever know how much she loved him.
"Sweetheart, everything happens for a reason. I was in Sacramento to kidnap Cat and use her caladrius powers for my own. When I met you, my plans changed because I finally knew what it meant to love another. I no longer wanted to hurt anyone. My whole outlook on life changed because of you. I spent centuries alone, feeling sorry for myself. I hurt many people because they were happy, and I wasn't. Happiness and love were something I didn't believe in or that I could hope for. When you came into my life, you melted my frozen heart, turning it into something beautiful that only knows your name." Thatcher saw the tears running down her face and knew it was time for the surprise. This wasn't how he'd planned, but he would go with it. He saw her confusion as he got down on one knee in front of her. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the little black box.
"Janel, your love is an addiction I can never live without. I want to spend all of eternity by your side, making you as happy as you've made me. Will you marry me?" Janel put her hands over her mouth as she looked into Thatcher's amber eyes. She then looked into the black box he was holding and saw the most gorgeous ring she'd ever seen. It was old-fashioned with a wide platinum band that looked like ivy. Instead of the typical large stone, there were five diamonds that were the center of flowers that looked like platinum daisies. She looked from the ring to Thatcher's face and realized she hadn't given him an answer yet.
"Of course, I'll marry you." Janel threw herself in his arms as she cried. When she pulled away to kiss him, she saw tears running down his cheeks, and her heart melted even more. "Are you crying?"
"Yes. For a man like me who has always felt like an unwanted outcast, you have pulled me into a life with friends, family, and love. Knowing you want me as much as I want you gave me too many emotions, and I couldn't hold them in any longer. I can't remember the last time I cried, but you are worth it, my love." Thatcher brought his lips to hers and lifted her off the ground. He now understood why so many people tried to find love. Who wouldn't want this feeling of being able to walk on air? He looked down into her eyes as he slipped the ring on her finger, and the joy on her face broke the dam again. He pulled her into his arms, crying like a baby over this beautiful woman's love for him.
