Rare Vintage by Bianca D'Arc

and take us both to the stars.”
    She felt his desire, mirroring her own as he licked at her
skin, making small love bites that didn’t penetrate but sent her senses reeling
all the same. When he finally bit down, she was moving on him rapidly, her own
climax so near, she could taste it. He was close too, and feeling his emotions
mixed with her own was both distracting and electrifying. She wanted to savor
the sensation, but it was too intense.
    She couldn’t concentrate on anything as Marc’s cock
exploded, sending them both to the stars as he’d wanted. She’d never been
pushed so high by an orgasm, never had it feel so perfect, so special,
so…right.
    He held her as she trembled, tears wetting her eyes and drifting
down into her hair. Soothing her with his soft lips, he nuzzled her face,
licking the tears away and holding her close. Cherishing her.
    “Don’t cry, little one. I’m here. I’ll always be here for
you now. For as long as we live.” His whispered words reassured her, and at the
same time struck terror into her mind.
    “But how long will that be, Marc? Will you want me to become
like you? Will I have to become a vampire?” Her mind was in chaos. She didn’t
know what to think.
    “Sweetheart, I would not force your decision. If you don’t
want to make the transition, I’ll end my days when yours end.” His eyes pled
with her as her tears increased. “But that won’t be for many, many years. We
can worry about it when the time comes. For now, let’s just be glad we’ve found
each other. I won’t ask you to take my blood. It must be your decision.”
    “But you want it.” She could feel that from his mind.
    He shook his head slowly. “I can’t deny the truth of that.
I’d like nothing more than to spend eternity in your arms, sharing the night
with you, seeing the world change and evolve around us, but I want your
happiness first and foremost. If that thought terrifies you—and I know at this
moment it does—then I’ll abide by whatever decision you make. I love you. I
want to share whatever time is left to us in this realm with you.”
    He kissed her so sweetly, she cried even harder. He shushed
her gently, rocking her in his arms as he lay back against the cool burgundy
sheets. He held her long into the night as her mind whirled. She was simply
overcome. Too much, too soon. She didn’t know what to think, or feel, or do.
She only knew that being in his arms felt more right than anything she’d ever
felt before.
    He was her rock, her comfort, her port in the storm of her
emotions, and she loved him for it. Come to think of it, she loved him. Period.
    “I’m glad you realize it.” His soft voice drifted out of the
darkness as he kissed her temple with gentle lips. She jumped. He was reading
her mind again. “I love you too, mon coeur , my heart.”
    She turned into his arms, the storm of emotion flooding her
once more. Her voice was a desperate whisper against his hard-muscled chest
when she could finally manage the few words she knew in her heart and soul that
he needed so desperately to hear.
    “I love you, Marc.”
     
    Early the next evening, just after sunset, Atticus and Lissa
drank a toast to Marc and Kelly. It was impossible to hide their relationship
now. Marc was proud to have Kelly at his side and if she was still a little
uncomfortable, it was to be expected. He’d pulled back mentally, giving her
space to grow used to their connection.
    He liked her shyness in front of their friends as much as he
liked her boldness when they made love. They’d spent the rest of the night and
the following day together. Marc had slept in the burgundy room, protected from
the sun by the heavy shades and Kelly’s love. She had left him for a while, but
even in his sleep he sensed her in the house, eating, answering email and
generally puttering around, doing her job.
    She returned to him just before he woke fully for the
evening and he greeted her with a kiss he would have liked to