She had to hug me, too, and of course, she started to cry. For real this time. Even Shelly had tears running down her cheeks, I was surprised to see. It wouldn't even occur to me that the undead could weep, but there they were, tears of crimson joy that she quickly caught with a tissue. Thank God my mother hadn't noticed."Why wouldn't you want to tell me, Robert?" Mom wondered, leaving me completely at a loss. Thankfully, Shelly was right there with a ready answer."Because he hasn't given me a ring yet," she explained, holding up her left hand and wiggling her empty finger. "Bobby's a little self-conscious about it.""A ring?" Mom looked surprised suddenly. I mean, even more than she had when she found out I was getting married. Or maybe it wasn't surprise, but the sort of look people get when a good idea strikes."Are you alright?" I wondered."I'll be right back," she said, leaving Shelly and me sitting on the sofa."Are you crazy?" I hissed. "I didn't ask you to marry me!""You d

Celesta's face was pale and tears streamed from her eyes. Mascara ran right along with it and fear was rampant, making her pant. She gulped unsteadily, but then regained her composure. "So what ... you're going to fuck her instead of me? What do you think she'll say when she finds out what you are?""I think that compared to what your boyfriend was doing to her, she'll probably figure she traded up, where, if you run to him, you're definitely diving into the shallower end of the gene pool." He smirked, a sly twist of his lush lower lip. "Thirty minutes, Celesta. Anything you forget, I'll give to a home for abused women. Now get out!"Celesta sagged against the man who once held the leash. "Who are you to threaten her?" His bellow echoed against the massive stone walls.Celesta gasped. "No, Donnie, don't provoke him."Donnie hugged her. "Shush little one. You have no right to speak to her in such a manner." He poked his index finger into Chal's chest to emphasize his words. "She is a l

Not afraid." Her words were whispered. When he picked her up, she snuggled into his chest and let her head rest against his neck. He smelled good, sweet and spicy though he wasn't all that warm. "You won't hurt me.""No, I won't.""Mm, hmm." She snuggled against him and her arms came up to wrap around his neck. She mumbled something else that was pretty unintelligible. He pushed open the door to the hallway and saw the door into his bedroom was open and Rodney was just coming out of the one that had been Celesta's. It had connecting doors into his room."Giselle is changing the sheets, sir. I told her earlier but she didn't want her highness to throw a fit about something that was an order of yours. We have it pretty well cleaned out. I didn't think the little one would care to wear any of her clothing.""Rodney, how did I ever survive without you?""I've been asking you that for years, sir."Chal chuckled. "True, you have. Miss Bliss has been through a pretty rough experience.""Yes,

She struggled for a moment and her mind battled his as he worked to erase her memory of him. She was strong but he'd exhausted her, both physically and mentally and was no match for him. He'd been doing this for a millennium. He stole into women's bedrooms and fucked them until they were unconscious. He'd fed upon them and would probably do this for millennium to come, unless he decided to take his own life.It had crossed his mind before, right after Selena's death. He thought of the peace of that final step that was the natural ending to things. But he'd pushed the thought aside, knowing that the depression he was feeling wouldn't last forever, or at least he'd hoped it wouldn't.Selena had been his soul-mate, his reason for being. From the first moment that he'd looked into her sparkling green eyes, he'd become hers to do with as she pleased. He was just lucky that what she pleased, pleased him as well. They'd fulfilled each other, her with her quirky attitude and her easy smile tha

You're chasing away my boogeyman; the least I could do was let you be comfortable while you do it. She reached over, tossing two of the unused pillows toward him.Chal kicked off his boots and sank back. He piled the pillows up behind his back. She rolled toward him and her hand reached out to touch the bottom hem of his shirt. "Thank you. You've put yourself out more for me than anyone else has ever thought to. My da ... he thought I was a waste, that I had my head in the clouds. I think he couldn't handle anything more from me when I refused to marry the biggest wastrel in town.""Da's." He mimicked her quiet burr. "Are supposed to protect and cherish, not sell off their children like cattle.""He'd have probably been happier if he could have sold me off to slaughter." Her eyes dropped and she stared at the fabric of his shirt. "I don't know how I'm going to repay you for all of this.""Then stay here with me, keep me from going crazy on my own. Redo this room and get rid of all of