Be Ours Forever

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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RC.Murphy5150@gmail.com

Be Ours Forever

R.C. Murphy

Copyright 2012 by R.C. Murphy

Smashwords edition

ISBN- 9781476118895

Edited by N.L. Gervasio

Cover image by N.L. Gervasio. © 2006 All rights reserved.

Cover and interior design by N.L. Gervasio

First electronic edition: August 2012

Printed in the U.S.A.

Dedication

To Quamaine

This is all your fault.

Acknowledgements

It takes a village to keep a writer sane. First, thank you to my Twitter Cheerleaders. Any time I thought, I can't do this, you guys were there to keep me going. Hugh and LK, you were the loudest and most patient. You rock! Second, I have to give love to the Misfit Musketeers – Sandi, Christina, and Q. Your books will be the next to publish. I promise to have ample amounts of chocolate and hugs ready. Jinxie, no words can convey how helpful you’ve been in cobbling this book together. I'd be in a corner crying without your guidance. Lastly, I must thank my mother and nephew for understanding that, when the show tunes are on full blast, it isn't a good time to ask about dinner.

Chapter One

A soggy tissue sailed through the air and landed on top of its brethren in the trash. Balls of white fluff lay on the floor around the bin when a sneeze or cough screwed up her aim. The carpet looked like a snowstorm hit one corner of the bedroom.

I hate this, Brenda groaned and reached for yet another tissue. I look like a train wreck and a terrorist plot got together and had a baby.

Choked laughter came from the bathroom. Nico stepped into the doorway, a hand swiping at the dark stain on the front of his blue dress shirt. Shaggy blonde hair hid his eyes. His mouth held its usual soft smile. She knew he'd been laughing at her expense.

You look fine, darling. His subtly accented voice wavered.

No, I don't. My nose is so red, Rudolph got a hard-on. On cue, snot dribbled down her top lip.

Nico turned and ducked into the closet.

Brenda glared at his wide shoulders and blew her nose. His upper body trembled with restrained laughter. Nico stripped off the wet shirt and laid it on the pile of dry cleaning that needed to be taken in. If she ever felt well enough to run errands.

I'm going to die, Brenda announced.

Don't be ridiculous. It's simply a cold. You'll be fine in a few days. Nico pulled on a fresh shirt—a pale lavender that made his permanently tanned skin glow. She loved that shirt. Her husband looked damn near edible in it.

Brenda gave a sigh as she watched him button up the shirt. All that wonderfully toned muscle disappeared from view. Clothes were so annoying when your husband looked that damn good. And he'd always look that good—a perk of being a vampire.

Shaking her head, Brenda snapped her attention off her flickering, nearly deceased libido. You said that last week. I feel worse, and now I'm missing not only our date night, but the chance to finally hang out with Rich.

Regret flashed across Nico's face before he could smooth it out to his normal neutral expression. Throughout their relationship, she'd learned the expression was a mask, a false front to show the world. One he used when discussing something he found difficult. Seeing it made her worry.

Rich will understand your absence, my love. Though he was looking forward to learning more about the woman who managed to tame me.

I'm sorry, Nico. She stopped to cough. Her abused lungs protested. Usually I'd be better by now. But I just can't kick this thing.

Would you allow me to do something?

Frowning, Brenda forced herself to sit up against the pillows mounded against the headboard. Her eyes swept over Nico's face, finding only that frustratingly calm mask. She looked for his other tell-signs, instead. His fingers worried at the cuff of his shirt—smoothing a wrinkle that wasn't there and straightening the silver cufflink.

What do you want to do?

Let me taste you.

A thought dawned on her. You haven't fed since I got sick.

The bagged blood has been sufficient.

But it's not warm and not from me, she added.

Nico's mask slipped, giving her a glimpse of an almost sheepish look. That's not why I am asking, though the thought of being at your vein has haunted me for days now.

Nico perched on the foot of the bed, giving her some space to think. Or time to tell him to feed elsewhere. She noticed the way his eyes lingered on the veins running up the inside of her arms. He'd never hurt her, no matter how hungry he was. There were times, though, when his vampire nature took control, and she thought that'd be the moment he forgot his vow.

So long as I walk this earth, I will ne'er harm a hair on your head, Brenda.

Remembering the words chased away some of the worry echoing through her mind. A quick shake sent the fluffy-headed side effects from the cold medicine tumbling away long enough for her to think.

Explain it to me, honey. There's still a lot about vampires I don't understand yet. Brenda scooted over, making a space for him to sit closer.

Nico looked relieved and repositioned himself at her side. Their relationship was plagued by her not understanding vampire culture or the limits of his power. She knew he could do some rather impressive things; see a parking spot from across the lot, hear her sneeze down in the basement, smell when his teasing growls made her body wet with desire. Even then, he still managed to surprise her with his vampiric powers from time to time.

Vampires can detect disease in mortal blood. It is a safety measure to prevent us from taking too much from those that need their blood more than we do. He took her hand.

Her fingers entwined with his, holding tight. What kind of diseases can you detect?

Almost all of them. Vampires were the first to discover and understand the damage cancer wreaks on a mortal's body. Unfortunately, we couldn't directly interfere with human lives, so through the years we've helped from the shadows, teaching them how to find it on their own. It took longer than anticipated.

You don't think—

No, he said quickly. No, I do not think it is cancer, but your illness should've left you by now. I feel helpless, love. Let me have a small taste to see what's wrong.

Brenda offered her left wrist to him. Normally, he fed from her throat, but she felt so awful. The idea of him latching on to that sensitive skin made her want to cry. Feeding was a sensual feast for both of them. Tasting to check for diseases would be cold, procedural. About as thrilling as a pap smear from a man old enough to be her grandfather.

She held her breath and waited. Vampire bites were painful. Without endorphins racing through her bloodstream from foreplay, it'd hurt even more. Brenda looked at a painting—a field of wildflowers—wishing Nico would hurry up and get it over with. She wanted to burrow under the blankets and go to sleep.

Fingertips swept up her arm. Brenda jumped.

You need to relax. Nico's voice dropped to a sensual purr.

Her body lit up like a neglected Christmas tree. His light touch and deep command sent her hormones reeling, despite the creeping crud keeping her bedridden. Brenda nodded. She focused on his fingers, the delicious licks of pleasure that stole her breath as he brushed the inside of her elbow.

Okay, she whispered, afraid to ruin the moment.

That's a good girl.

Nico's lips peeled back from his elongated canine teeth. They pierced the tender flesh at her wrist. The muscles in her arm tensed. The natural instinct to rip her arm free forced her to lean away despite the painful tug where his fangs held her.

Nico's thumb traced small circles on her forearm, a silent plea to calm down again. She fell into the rhythmic movement. He pulled his fangs from her vein. Brenda hardly noticed the pain. Her blood flowed freely into his mouth.

A trail of blood dribbled down her arm. Nico's mouth followed. He swiped his tongue up the red trail and groaned. Color returned to his face, even though he only took a little. The bagged blood wasn't cutting it. They both knew it. Until the vampires came up with a better way to keep viable donated blood, they'd be forced to supplement, feeding as they always had—fresh from the source.

Nico cleaned the two neat puncture wounds with another pass of his tongue. The antiseptic in his saliva would keep them from becoming infected as they healed. He snatched a tissue from the box and held it over the bite marks to stop the bleeding.

Silence hung in the air. Brenda worried, waiting for him to tell her if he knew what was wrong.

Well?

Nico leaned back against the pillows. Dark blonde brows drew down over his eyes, which were still locked on her wrist. His thumb continued to stroke her skin around the bite mark. Brenda wasn't sure which of them he wanted to soothe.