Nightlord Lover (13 page)

His lips took her mouth and she felt the fangs growing and
it thrilled her. No more questions. She was his completely and she’d rejoice in
this new adventure. His mouth brushed her lips. “I love you, Larissa.”

“Garrick,” she breathed.

“Trust me.”

“Always.”

His mouth slid lower and the sharp pain struck her neck. The
pain was over in a second. This was like the blood offering that she’d given
before, but much longer. Then something cold and hot rushed into her neck and
pumped through her veins. A head rush made her dizzy. She felt as if she were
floating above the bed in a sensual fog.

“I could make love to you for hours,” she whispered.

“Forever.”

* * * * *

When she woke up it was dark outside and Garrick was on the
bed watching her. She snuggled into his chest. “How long have you been awake?”

“A while. Sleep well?” He kissed the top of her head and
stroked her back, sliding his hand down over the curve of her ass. Instantly
she was aroused again.

“Yes, I slept wonderfully. Where’s Ramon?”

“He left hours ago, remember?”

“That’s right, I forgot.” She sat up in bed. “Oh no. I slept
all day. Christmas Eve should’ve been one of my busiest sale days. I was
supposed to open the store for a few hours, put the goose in the oven for
dinner.”

Garrick laughed. “Jordan worked the store and it’s too late
for dinner.”

She hung her head. “I wanted to make dinner for you and
Ramon for Christmas Eve. What time is it? I can’t make the goose but I could
make something else.”

“Not for Christmas Eve,” Garrick said.

“Why not? Do you have plans?”

He sat up and took her hands. The man was still naked and
looked incredible. Her stomach did a little twirl. “You slept through Christmas
Eve. It’s Christmas morning, about four a.m.”

Jumping out of bed, Larissa picked up the clock on her
dresser. He was right. “How can that be? I slept about twenty hours?”

“Not unusual after the first marking.” He came over to her
and squeezed her shoulders. “How do you feel?”

“No different really. What should I feel?”

“You’ll notice some changes as the days pass. You’ll need
less sleep now, your hearing and eyesight will be more acute. And your physical
strength will improve. You will also sense my thoughts but not to where you
could read my mind.”

“Ramon’s here,” she said.

Garrick smiled. “How do you know?”

She thought about that for a moment. “I heard him coming
through the tunnel in the basement.”

“Good,” he said. “You’ll be aware of immortals and also
sense danger. Come down to the store, we have another thing to show you about
this building.” He handed her a robe and he got dressed.

They met Ramon as he was coming up from the basement. “Hey,
babe. You look refreshed.” He kissed her. “Merry Christmas. Are we all having
dinner together tonight?”

“Yes, I’d love to since I slept through Christmas Eve.”

“You needed the day to recuperate,” Ramon said. “I got a
text that Darla sent word to Bastian that the alliance is secured. The Council
of Slayers understands the violation was due to a few rogue vamps and doesn’t
hold the Guild responsible. Kashia is imprisoned in the Grotto of Eros until
Bastian decides to release her.”

“Bastian won’t tolerate another transgression against the
Guild,” Garrick said.

“So they’ll release her?” Larissa asked.

“After she’s punished,” Ramon said. “Darla also offered to
train you to use those weapons. In case any rogue vamps turn up.”

“I like Darla. I’ll think about it.” Snow had fallen
overnight and a surreal glow lit up the roads as if the streetlights changed
into flickering old-fashioned gas lamps. “What’s wrong with the lights outside?”

Both Ramon and Garrick looked outside. “Looks okay to me.”

“The light looks different.” She opened the door and stood out
in the snow. “It’s beautiful. The snow looks phosphorescent and the sky has a
pinkish glow. A little early for dawn.”

“No, dawn is a couple hours away. You’re seeing with your
new senses.” Garrick took her hand. “Are you okay?”

She smiled. “Very okay.”

Back inside, Ramon led her over to the large wall unit that
held bras and panties. “There’s something I have to show you here.”

“You put enough screws into that thing when I first opened,”
Larissa said. “The wall will come down before those shelves do.”

Ramon slid his hand along the side of the shelf. “You must
press on these two knots in the wood at the same time.” There was an audible
click and the wall unit swung open silently.

Larissa gasped and took a step forward. “What is it?” Behind
the wall was a large hidden room about the size of a small bedroom. On every
wall and stacked on tables were weapons. Swords, knives, crossbows, chains,
axes of every kind imaginable and unimaginable. A medieval storeroom for a
warrior, or a sadist. She raised her eyebrows at Ramon. “Is this a hobby,
Ramon?”

Ramon and Garrick laughed out loud. “This room was once a
hiding place for slaves, part of the Underground Railroad. We use it as one of
many storehouses for our weapons in case we have another war. Hopefully that
will never happen. You’re now a guardian, Larissa. Now you know why Lazaro
wanted this building. Besides the strategic point to the slayers’ home base.”

Garrick closed up the weapons room.

“I don’t understand,” Larissa said. “When you came to
Lazaro’s place to rescue me, why didn’t you have any of these weapons?”

“These are only to be used if we go to war with a large
group of outsiders or slayers. This fight was against a few rebels,” Garrick
said.

“But Lazaro almost killed you. You should carry weapons.
What if there are others?”

“What time is dinner?” Garrick asked, avoiding the question.
“Can we help?”

Obviously Garrick didn’t like to discuss Guild business.
“Come back at three. I have something special for both of you.”

Garrick and Ramon helped Larissa finish cleaning up the last
of their Christmas meal. It was amazing how the simple routine of cooking a
holiday dinner for two men could help fade the nightmare of the last couple
days. She wondered if the death of Lazaro’s clan would end the violence or if
there would be more. The sword she used against him was kept behind the counter
in her store or in her apartment. Just in case.

“Dinner was perfect.” Garrick took Larissa into his arms and
kissed her. Every kiss made her body melt. He glanced around at all the
decorations and smiled. “I can’t remember a Christmas that was so festive.”

“It was an odd combination for a Christmas dinner but I
wanted something to remind you both of your earlier holidays.” A roast goose
for Ramon and his Victorian days. Jordan also knew a chef in town who helped
get the last-minute ingredients and recipe for Garrick’s New Orleans Jambalaya.
French pastries were her own specialty. Whether that was common during
Garrick’s day in Paris, she didn’t know but hoped the thought would be
appreciated.

“Coffee, more wine?” she asked the two men whose presence
overpowered her tiny kitchen with their muscular builds and supernatural
strength. She had yet to get used to having them in her life.

“No,” both men said together.

“Good, then come into the living room,” she said. “I have
small gifts for each of you. And dessert.”

“Always full of surprises,” Ramon said.

Larissa retrieved her gifts from under the tree, a tree that
Jordan had found. It was skimpy on decorations but Larissa looked forward to
visiting the shops in town to start collecting ornaments for next year.

As she brought the gifts over, she wondered if the men would
like them. She handed each man a wrapped package then knelt on the floor in
front of them. “Jordan did help a little,” she admitted. “She could be the
mayor of this town.”

Ramon opened his package and grinned. He examined the
professional set of oil paints and artist brushes, picking up each brush and
touching the bristles. “Perfect and excellent quality. I recently started
painting again. I think someone has inspired me.” He got up and kissed her.
“Thank you. Great timing. I’m running low on supplies.”

“Good. I’m glad you can use them.”

Garrick opened his next. He opened the small box and his
eyes widened. “Wow. Exquisite. It’s moonstone?” He lifted out the detailed
silver ring with large moonstone cabochon.

“If it doesn’t fit, the shop owner said he’d—”

Garrick slipped it on his index finger. “It fits perfect.”

“We can count on Jordan.” She laughed. “She took me to an
antiques shop the other day and that ring caught my attention. I could see you
wearing it.”

“A marked mortal will become perceptive to her nightlord’s
needs. Our connection was forming even before you were marked. Moonstone is
appropriate for a nightlord.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her
slow and deep until she gasped for breath. Another kiss that tingled to her
toes.

She picked up one more gift from under the tree and a tray
from the kitchen. “Two more things. I have worked as a baker for years so I
made a number of pies and French pastries.” She placed them on the table with
napkins, plates and forks.

Ramon bit into a flaky apple turnover. “You should be a
baker instead of selling lingerie.”

“Maybe I’ll open another shop.” She handed Garrick the other
package. “One more gift. This is for all of us but especially for you.”

He smiled and opened the CDs. He took a breath and didn’t
say a word.

“So? What are they?” Ramon asked.

“Christmas carols. In French.” Garrick’s grin was pleased
but a little sad.

“Would you like me to play them?”

He handed her the CDs. “Please.”

She placed one in the DVD player that Jordan got with the TV
that also played CDs. A woman singer began with
Noel Blanc—White Christmas
.
Garrick closed his eyes and smiled, listening to the music, then retrieved his
gift from under the tree. A large box. Larissa sat down to open it. Pulling
aside the white tissue paper, she saw the chocolate silk nightgown from her
Paris collection. The piece that Garrick caught her trying on the first day
they met. She loved this gown and she knew how expensive it was. “Oh my. This
is beautiful. Thank you, Garrick.” She frowned. “Wait a minute. Didn’t I sell this
gown to Anja?”

He smiled. “I asked her to buy it for me.”

“And I want to see you in it, but first I have my gift.”
Ramon retrieved his gift he had hid behind the sofa. “This comes with a
demonstration.” He whispered something to Garrick. Nodding, Garrick sat on the
sofa and closed his eyes.

“I’m intrigued,” Larissa said. It was wrapped like a
painting, brown paper and string. Carefully she opened it. The painting was
obviously done by Ramon. It depicted a night view of a woman with
shoulder-length brown hair walking down the middle of Main Street, New Hope, a
black cape flowing behind her. The streets and sidewalks were covered in
pristine snow. No cars or people were in the painting other than the woman, who
Larissa thought could be her. “It’s breathtaking. Surreal, as if she has power
and owns the night.”

“Good, look closer,” Ramon said. “What else do you see?”

In the background, on the side of the road was a ghostly
image. “A horse.”

Ramon took one painting down from the wall and hung this
one. “Now stare at the painting and imagine yourself there. When you feel the
snow under your feet, walk to the horse and get on him. He’ll take you to a
special place. Trust me.”

“Okay.” She stared for a long time and didn’t think anything
would happen. Supernatural things didn’t happen to her, except meeting vampires.
Then her eyes began to blur and she could smell snow. Looking down, she wore
heavy boots and the wool cape kept her warm. The snow was a couple inches deep
and featherlight. She approached the horse. “Captain?” He looked like her horse
Captain from when she was a teenager but that was impossible. A thought came to
mind. Ramon said to get on the horse. She did with little resistance.

“Where are we going, Captain?” She didn’t know his name so
she gave him one. The horse raised his head as if he was listening to
something, then everything changed.

Larissa felt motion, the street scene disappeared and a
moment later she was on another street. No snow here, the streets were wet, the
buildings different. Panic was about to set in when she saw a figure move
toward her.

“Hello, Larissa. You made it.” Garrick raised his hand out
to her. “Come on down and we’ll take a walk.”

She climbed off, holding on to the reins. “Walk where?”

“You’ll see in a minute. I have something to show you quick
before we go back.” He took the horse’s reins from her hand and placed them
over the horse’s neck. “He’s not going anywhere.”

Taking her hand, he led her down the middle of the street. No
people or cars here either. “It looks like a city but there are no people. How
can that be?”

“Your gifts were thoughtful. I was able to remember the good
times with my family here. We visited this city when I was a boy. Turn around,
Larissa.”

She gasped and took a step back. “The Eiffel Tower! This
isn’t real, is it? Ramon bewitched that painting and I was hypnotized, right?”

Garrick shook his head. “No, we’re really here, on an astral
plane. We can choose to drop a bit lower and we’d see people. They won’t see
us.”

“Look at the lights. It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. The
Tower flashed in a light show of colors, even green and red for Christmas. It
was mesmerizing. Garrick squeezed her hand and pulled her closer. “Thank you
for showing me this.”

“My pleasure. I’d forgotten the times I had here with my
parents. They were good memories,” he said. “You helped me remember.”

“Whatever this is, I’m glad we came here. It doesn’t seem
real.”

He pulled her close. “It is. Now that you’re marked, we have
a connection. I can find you this way. Soon you’ll be able to travel without
the help of the painting. I asked Ramon to paint it for your protection. If
you’re ever in trouble, you can find me through this painting. I don’t want to
ever lose you again.”

He walked her back to the horse and helped her up.

“Won’t you ride back with me?”

He shook his head. “I don’t need the horse or the painting.
I’ll see you in a couple minutes. Return the way you came.” He vanished.

A moment of panic gripped her. “What if I don’t know how—”
The horse raised his head and the Paris lights blurred then vanished. A
swirling sensation rushed through her and then she was back on the snowy street
of New Hope. She climbed off the horse. “Thanks, Captain. See you again, I
suppose.”

She strode down the middle of the street, more confident,
fearless. This town was part of her now on so many levels. It was her town and
she belonged here. She was home, forever. On the next step, she appeared in her
living room facing Garrick and Ramon. Her nightlord and sorcerer.

“Welcome home, babe.” Ramon kissed her cheek then walked her
over to Garrick’s waiting arms.