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  He came up behind her and gently rested his hands on her shoulders. He lowered his head to her neck and inhaled, before he began leaving small kisses over the vein that ran up the side of her neck.

  Chapter Two

  The cold glass against her palms helped her realize this was reality. She wasn’t asleep and dreaming. Looking out over a pool to the million dollar yachts below she drew in a breath. She was really standing in a penthouse apartment at the Docklands. This place was easily worth more than a few million, especially if it was 'vampire friendly'.

  Angelo’s cool fingers caressed her shoulders, moments before soft lips began trailing kisses up her neck.

  "Do you like the view, piccola?"

  "Hmmm, it’s very nice."

  He chuckled. It was a soft and sexy sound that cut straight through her.

  "I am guessing you are feeling overwhelmed, si?"

  "You could say that. This morning I was thinking up ways to celebrate my five-year anniversary with my boyfriend. By dinnertime I was alone in a bar drowning my sorrows at having caught him in the act of cheating on me. Now, at nearly midnight, I’m standing in a vampire’s very lush, very expensive apartment in the Docklands."

  She paused to let a chuckle escape, "You could say it’s been a long, strange day."

  "How about a swim? To relax. You can ask me any questions you like. I want you to be comfortable with me and your place in my life."

  "What do you mean 'my place in your life'?"

  He nipped her ear, "Come for a swim then ask your questions, Darcy."

  "I need to get changed. What room will I be sleeping in?"

  "The central master bedroom, of course. Where else would a vampire have his Eternal Bride sleep?"

  Where indeed.

  She still wasn’t ready to believe in this happily ever after which had landed in her lap. It was just too good to be true after all the hardships her life had provided so far. Growing up in the foster care system hadn’t been easy, nor had making it out in the real world as an adult all alone.

  She followed Angelo through the apartment and watched as he carried her bags into a large walk in closet.

  "The bathroom is through there. This is your space. I will get changed out in the bedroom then meet you back at the pool."

  He walked away, leaving her alone. She quickly opened her bags and found her swimsuit. She pushed past the practical one piece she normally wore and grabbed her little bikini, the deep blue one she had bought on a whim but had previously never had the guts to wear. Before she could talk herself out of it she pulled it out and started undressing.

  Once changed, she nervously walked back to the glass wall. She froze as she saw him. He was facing away from her, leaning against the side of the pool with his arms stretched out to either side. She could see the lines of the muscles in his arms and his upper back. Damn, but the man was sex on a stick.

  She must have sighed as he suddenly turned toward her. His sapphire blue eyes flashed with heat as he ran his gaze over her body. A grin crept over his face and he raised a hand and curled a finger in her direction, wanting her to come to him. Darcy glanced up and down the wall looking for the door. When she located it, she forced her feet to move and headed out to the pool.

  Angelo walked up to the steps of the pool and held his hand out for her to hold as she descended into the warm water. When she reached the bottom step, he stepped in close to her, ran a finger lightly across her collarbone and over her shoulder. He grazed the cool fingertip down her arm. Her body felt like it was about to combust, every touch left her skin tingling and her body aching for more.

  "You are a vision, piccola."

  His whispered words caused further havoc in her body.

  He wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her from the step. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Her breath froze in her lungs as his hard length came into contact with the aroused flesh between her thighs. With each of them only wearing thin swimsuits, there wasn’t much of a barrier. Before she could get her breathing back on track, he tangled his other hand in her hair and devoured her mouth in a kiss so raw and filled with passion she saw spots before her eyes.

  She gasped when he finally released her lips and she guessed they were now in rather deep water. She clung tighter to his body and he chuckled in her ear.

  "You can still reach the bottom. I am sitting on a ledge."

  She tentatively lowered her feet to the bottom of the pool and stood before him. The water felt so good, and without another thought she dropped back, going under the surface. With a kick she was off to the other side. It felt good to stretch her arms and legs. The feel of liquid sliding against her skin had always been one of her favorite sensations.

  When she reached the other side, she stood and swam back. First freestyle until she got close to Angelo then she ducked under and glided underneath the water’s surface. She came up just in front of him. Quickly wiping the water from her face before looking to see Angelo’s reaction, her breath caught at the look on his face. His eyes shone with laughter and arousal, and his mouth twitched up at one side with a sly sexy grin.

  "Grande, you looked like an acqua dea; a water goddess rising from the ocean just now."

  She felt the heat rise up her cheeks and she looked away from him. She wasn’t used to compliments. Working as a sales clerk at a high-end fashion store on Chapel Street, she was more accustomed to giving out compliments than receiving them. A finger beneath her chin turned her face back so she had no choice but to focus on his handsome features.

  "Do not be embarrassed, Darcy. You are a truly beautiful woman. La sua Sposa Eterna."

  Using both hands he lowered her lips to his and he kissed her senseless again. When he left her mouth he trailed kisses down her throat, over her collarbone and down to her breasts. He laid a kiss on the flesh above the skimpy bikini triangle covering her nipple.

  On their own accord, her hands travelled up to his head. She ran her fingers through his silky shoulder length hair. The black strands stood out against her tanned olive skin.

  He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her in close to his body, sitting on the ledge. His face was at the perfect height to devour her breasts.

  With his other hand he ran a finger along the edge of the bikini causing a shudder to run through her body. He looked up and caught her gaze. While watching her closely he slipped inside the material, as he ran over her nipple it puckered beneath his touch.

  She gasped at the sparks that flew through her body.

  He trailed his hand up behind her neck where he tugged at the bow holding her top in place.

  She felt the straps tickle as they fluttered down over her chest to float beside her.

  He brought both his hands up to cup her breasts then pushed them together and lifted them slightly so her nipples now sat above the water. He lowered his gaze a moment before his mouth descended and he sucked both her nipples into the wet haven of his mouth.

  Her head dropped back on a moan as she tightened her fingers in his hair, holding him to her. He knew just how to play her, he sucked, nipped, and licked at her flesh. When he gave her taut nipples another hard suck, her legs gave way. Before she splashed below the water, his hands dropped to her waist and held her to him.

  He lowered his head into her neck and licked up her throat.

  "You’re not going to bite me are you? I don’t want to die—or be a vampire."

  ~ * ~

  Angelo paused as he heard both arousal and fear in Darcy’s voice. Giving her neck one last open-mouthed kiss he raised his head from her flesh. He shifted back on the ledge and put her over his lap so she straddled him. This position would be so much more fun with no clothes, but he mentally shook his lust filled thoughts aside. His Bride didn’t know all she should. She’d been misled with fairy tales and Hollywood nonsense.

  "I am rushing you, Darcy. I thought you knew about us, but you don’t, do you?"

&n
bsp; "I’ve heard rumors. I’ve never met a real live vampire before, Angelo. It’s not like I’ve had any opportunities to ask one questions."

  "So you know about Eternal Brides from rumors only?"

  He watched her nod. She still held some fear in her eyes but the arousal had died down. Which was good, he needed to tell her things first then he would rekindle what they had started.

  "Va bene, where to start..."

  "How about you begin with how you intend to change me into one of you?"

  "You will never be as I am, Darcy. A vampire is born, not created."

  "Born? As in you could get me pregnant? How—"

  Angelo hated to cut her off, but he could see she was beginning to panic.

  "Once claimed, an Eternal Bride will only ovulate on the twenty-ninth of February. Once every four years, after I claim you, we will be able to have a child. The pregnancy will last thirteen months and the child is born just as a human baby is born. The child will be male and a vampire, but like a human it will be born without any teeth. There is no risk of you being bitten or injured."

  His explanation seemed to calm her a little.

  "How do you claim an Eternal Bride? And how long with I live?"

  "I will claim you by making love to you then biting into your throat and drinking your blood. You will then need to drink some of my blood; not much, only a drop is required. Once claimed, our lives are linked. We will die together. As a vampire or Eternal Bride we could live forever, so long as the Nobles don’t get us."

  "What the hell is a Noble? No, wait, first, you will only ever bite me the once? To claim me?"

  "I need your blood to live. A vampire will die without his Bride’s blood. He is given one hundred years to find and claim her. I will need to drink your blood at least every third day. I can last longer without it though I will be weakened. If I cannot drink from you for a number of weeks I will become sick and die quite quickly. Within a month, I am told I would pass. Do not fear my bite, piccola. It does not hurt, quite the opposite."

  He watched her run her hand up to her neck and rub over her vein. His fangs vibrated with his need for her and her blood.

  "And what is a noble?"

  "That can wait for another time. I need you."

  He swooped in to take her mouth in a hard demanding kiss as he slid off the ledge while supporting her sexy little bottom in his hands. He quickly made his way from the pool into the bathroom and set her down on the bench. As fast as he could, he got the shower going and went back to collect his bride.

  Once under the spray he took pleasure in washing her body. He shampooed her hair then combed conditioner through her long golden tresses. Allowing it time to soak in, he tended the rest of her body. Slowly, he cleansed her from top to bottom, starting with her shoulders and arms before he moved onto her lush breasts. He plucked and tweaked her nipples until they were hard little points and she was breathing heavily. He made his way down over her flat stomach. All their talk of how vampires were created had him dreaming of how heavenly it would be to see her tummy swollen with their child.

  He reached the apex of her thighs and pulled the strings over each hip. The bows came undone and the skimpy piece of material fell away from her, revealing in its wake her beautiful bare mound. He sighed in awe as he lent in and licked up her slit with one long deep stroke of his tongue. He felt pricks of pain as she grabbed fists full of his hair and shuddered against him. He gave her two more slow teasing licks before he moved on to cleaning her legs and feet.

  He rinsed her hair then switched their places. She raised her hands to his chest and began soaping him. He watched with intrigue as emotions flittered across her face. Her fear was rapidly being replaced with other stronger emotions. Arousal, awe, nervousness... If she kept this up, she would overwhelm herself in no time.

  He cupped her face and kissed her to distract her from her thoughts.

  She pulled back from him with a shake of her head.

  "Stop distracting me, I need to get you clean so we can move this party to the bedroom."

  He chuckled at her eagerness, "Well, piccola, hand me the cloth and I will have us ready in but a moment."

  "One day soon, I’m so going to take my time cleaning you."

  He took the cloth and began washing his arms and chest.

  "What does piccola mean?"

  "It’s Italian for 'little one', an endearment."

  Anything else she was going to say apparently evaporated as he took hold of the top of his boxer briefs and peeled the wet material down his thighs. As he stood, he felt the tip of his rock hard penis tap the lower edge of his belly button. He’d seen a few pictures of naked human men, but they were considerably smaller than he and his vampire brethren were. He looked up at her face and saw she was staring at his erection with her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. He made quick work of washing his lower half and turned the water off. As he moved toward her, she backed away from him, still staring at his erection.

  "I will never hurt you, Darcy. You have nothing to fear."

  Her gaze finally rose to meet his and she licked her lips before speaking, "But you—you’re huge! There is no way that will fit in my body without it hurting."

  "You were designed for me. We will fit together perfectly. I will cause you no harm."

  ~ * ~

  Darcy’s thoughts jumbled and her skin tingled with her shock. He was massive! He was thicker than any man she’d ever seen and it curled up to his belly button. She wasn’t sure he’d even fit inside her much smaller body. What she was sure of, was that it would hurt like hell if it did.

  She came out of her daze and realized she was now in the bedroom. While she’d been lost in thought Angelo had dried them both and moved them from the bathroom to the master bedroom by the look of it. He now stood before her, in all his naked glory. He took her hands in his and raised them to his mouth. He gently, reverently, laid kisses on the inside of each of her wrists.

  "Will you allow me to claim you? Will you agree to be my Eternal Bride?"

  She shook her head at him, "I can’t. Not yet. You are asking me for forever, when I know nothing about you. You telling me I’m your Eternal Bride isn’t enough, Angelo." She paused to release a sigh, "This morning I was in a relationship I thought was forever. This afternoon I found him with another woman—in our bed. I need to get to know you. I need to be sure you won’t hurt me like Karl did."

  She closed her eyes against the tears which were welling up. She felt them escape to slide down her cheeks. Before she could raise her hands to swipe them away, Angelo’s cool hands were there, his thumbs caressing her tears away.

  "Darcy, you can put your mind at ease. A vampire only ever takes one woman, his Eternal Bride. You don’t have to fear me ever straying from you. And even if it was not the case, I would never cheat on you. You are all I'll ever need. Five years ago, when I guarded you, I learned a lot about you. I fell in love with you as I watched you go about your nights. I knew then, regardless of you being my Eternal Bride, I could never love another."

  She still hadn’t opened her eyes and more tears ran down her face at his beautiful words. But could she believe him? Karl had promised her the world too and look how that had ended up. The feel of his cool, soft lips kissing her forehead snapped her out of her thoughts. She opened her eyes and looked into his. No doubt about it, they were the exact same color as hers. She guessed that was proof enough really. She’d never before met anyone with eyes as deep a blue as hers, and she knew how unusual they were.

  "I just can’t let you claim me if I don’t love you. I’m sorry."

  He bent down to gently kiss her lips, "Don’t be sorry, piccola. I will wait as long as I can, but with you so near it will be hard to resist your body and your blood. Every cell of my body, heart and soul craves you."

  She shuddered as his words wound around her heart. She didn’t think he’d have to wait long. She could already feel herself falling for him and his charms. She moved her hand
s up and ran them slowly, gently over all the contours of his face. She got to his lips and ran her thumb over his lower lip, then pulled it out a little. His mouth opened enough for her to see his fangs.

  She ran her finger down the length of one fang; it wasn’t much longer than the rest of his teeth. Nothing like the huge fangs the Hollywood vampires had. She ran her fingertip over the sharp point of his fang and saw his body shudder.

  He pulled back and closed his mouth.

  "I may score your skin, Darcy. If I taste your blood, I will not be able to stop myself from claiming you."

  Damn, but she was very tempted to tell him to take her, claim her. She rolled her lips in and clamped her mouth shut to stop herself from blurting out words she wasn’t ready to commit too.

  He lowered his hand to her mouth and gently peeled her lips out.

  "Don’t worry, Darcy, I can wait. I will wait, until I have won your heart. I want you to be sure—and I want you to freely choose to be with me."

  He lowered his hands and took hers in his and gently tugged her over to the large bed where he laid down with her. As soon as her back hit the cool sheets his hands were on her skin. He caressed her from shoulder to hip, heating up her body. Her breathing quickened as she gripped the sheets in her hands as her arousal built. He continued to stroke her skin, tweaking her nipples on each pass. He nuzzled into her neck and kissed his way down to her breasts, and suckled first one nipple then the other. He gently scraped his fang over the tight hard peak and she shuddered beneath him as sparks flew through her body, landing between her thighs.

  She began to rub her legs together, trying to get some relief, when he raised his head from her breasts and looked at her with one eyebrow cocked, in a very sexy way.

  "Tell me what you need, piccola."

  She shook her head back and forth. She’d never been good with pillow talk. She couldn’t bring herself to utter the words. She felt her cheeks heat as she blushed under his gaze. His low masculine chuckle caused her to blush even more. She opened her eyes to glare at him but didn’t get the chance as he devoured her mouth in a hot demanding kiss.