Eternal Love

Nick dropped the suitcase and garment bag he was holding and wrapped his arms tightly around Megan to keep her from sinking to the ground.

“Are you alright?” He asked amused. He was quite used to moving from place to place at the blink of an eye, but he imagined for Megan it was quite unsettling.

Megan quickly regained her strength and pushed away from Nick smacking him across the chest. “Next time warn me before you do something like that.” She shook her head as if trying to clear it putting her fingers to her temple. “Damn that felt weird.”

Nick blinked at her hitting him. He’d barely felt it, but it amused him that she even would try. Not even Valerian was stupid enough to hit him.

Megan looked around the unfamiliar room. It looked like a library. The room was huge, with floor to ceiling bookshelves that were crammed full of books. Megan thought she was in heaven. There was a large oak desk that sat off to one side that looked like it could be an antique, with papers strewn about on top of it. On the other side of the room was a large couch and love seat; a bar was set up against the only bare section of wall in the whole room.

“I thought you were taking me home?” Megan asked as she turned back to Nick. She shivered against the cold in the room.

“I changed my mind.” He answered moving over to the fireplace. “You’ll be safer here in my home.” He waved his hand slightly and a fire flared to life.

“How did you do that?” Megan quickly moved over to where Nick stood. The fire warmed her as she moved closer to it.

“It is one of the many things a vampire can do, Megan.” Nick answered.

“And I suppose this appearing, disappearing, travel thing you got going is just another one of your tricks too, huh?”

Nick looked down at Megan. He liked her feistiness. “Yes, you could say that.”

Megan looked around the room again. “Nice library. Have you read all these books?”

“Actually, I have.” Nick answered wondering why it pleased him so much that she liked the room.

Megan looked at him stunned, “Really? You’ve read all these books? There must be thousands here, Nick. Where did you find the time?”

Nick chuckled softly, “Megan, I’ve been a vampire for 1500 years. One finds time.”

Megan paled. “You’ve been a vampire for 1500 years? My god, the things you’ve seen. You must be a walking history book.”

Nick raised an eyebrow at the term. He’d never been called a walking history book before. Demon? Yes. Monster? Yes. History Book? No.

A thought suddenly occurred to Megan, “Hey, isn’t it day time here?”

“Yes, which is why I must see you safely settled so that I may seek my rest.” Nick answered. There was a light tap at the door and an older gentleman entered the library.

“Sir, the lady’s room is ready as requested.”

“Thank you, Stevens. Megan Taylor, this is Stevens. He will see to any needs that you have while I am resting.” Nicolae turn to Megan. “Anything you want just let him know.”

Megan nodded, and then frowned as a thought occurred to her, “Do you sleep in a coffin?” She asked distastefully.

Nicolae smiled. “No, though some of my kind still do. I prefer a bed.” Nick turned to Stevens, who still waited at the door. “Thank you, Stevens. I will see Miss Taylor to her room.”

“Very good, sir.” Stevens gave a slight bow and exited the room closing the door behind him.

“You should get some rest.” Nicolae replied after Megan gave a big yawn. He picked up her luggage and headed for the door.

Megan nodded and followed Nick out the door and into the big hall. Megan looked in amazement at the entryway. It was huge, spacious and looked like it belonged in houses like Tara in Gone With The Wind. There was a huge staircase that went straight up, then split going in opposite directions leading to the second floor. Megan followed Nicolae up the flight of stairs, and then he went to the right. There were painting’s that lined the walls. Old paintings that were worth lots of money.

“My god, Nick, you have a fortune just in paintings here.” Megan looked everywhere, trying to see everything at once. She bumped into Nick when she didn’t see him stop before a closed door. “Oops.” She smiled up at him. “Sorry.”

Nick looked down at her, his eyes darkening. He lifted his hand and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. He held her gaze a moment, and then dropped his hand to the doorknob. “Here is your room, cara mia.”

Nicolae let Megan precede him into the room. He sat her luggage down and watched as she looked about. A fire was roaring in the fireplace on the other side of the room and several candles were lit throughout. The heavy drapes at the windows were pulled closed and except for the candles and the fire, the room was dark. Megan saw a huge canopy bed against the wall in the middle of the room. The whole room was decorated in Victorian style and fresh flowers filled the room with their aroma.

“The room is beautiful, Nick, thank you.” Megan walked over to a door and opened it. It led into a huge bathroom that was almost as big as the bedroom. There was a large shower stall with glass doors and a huge claw foot tub that sat off to one side. The commode and sink were against the other wall and next to it was a large whirlpool tub. Megan saw that on the sink, someone had provided all the necessities of her visit. Shampoo, conditioner, scented soaps, bath oils, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc., it was all there including several large, thick towels and wash clothes.

Megan turned to Nick. “Boy, you thought of everything.”

“I hope so.” His dark eyes swept over her, drinking in her beauty. He was imagining her in that tub, naked and waiting for his touch. His nostrils flared as the beast in him roared for release.

“So does Valerian also sleep here in this house?” Megan asked curiously. She had moved back into the bedroom and was checking out the large walk in closet, so she missed the deadly, cold look on Nicolae’s face.

“Why do you care where Valerian sleeps?” Nicolae’s voice was so soft that Megan almost didn’t here the question. There was no question about the underlying current of jealously in his tone.

Megan turned back to Nick and her mouth went dry at the deadly look on his face. Her small tongue darted out to wet her dry lips and her heart began to pound in her chest as Nick moved to stand in front of her.

“I ah, I just was curious.” Megan swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving his. “I, I didn’t want to accidentally stumble onto him sleeping.”

Nick finally blinked, fighting to get his jealousy under control. “You will not need to worry about accidentally stumbling on to Valerian or myself. Where we sleep is safely hidden away, where no mortals can find it, accidentally or otherwise.”

Megan nodded. Without thinking, she reached up her hand and brushed back a wisp of black hair that had fallen down around his face. Nicolae caught her hand, and then pressed his lips into her palm. Megan’s knees went weak when she felt the flicker of his tongue against the palm of her hand. She gasped softly, her eyes locked with his. It should frighten her, these feelings she had for a vampire, but strangely she wasn’t. She was drawn to Nicolae like no man she’d ever met. Just the briefest touch of his hand could send her whole body into flames.

“Nicolae.” She whispered softly as his mouth descended on hers.

The moment their lips met, Nick knew it had been a mistake to touch her. He crushed her against him, his tongue sweeping through her mouth roughly almost as if he were punishing her. Nick was very possessive of what he considered his and every time Megan mentioned Valerian, it enraged him. Megan belonged to him, damn it! The sooner she realized that the better. Megan clung helplessly to the front of his shirt. Her knees had given out and only the fact that Nicolae had his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, kept her from sliding to the floor. Nick reached out with his mind and lightly touched Megan’s and immediately saw desire for him swirling there, with a touch of fear.

The jealous anger and rage faded somewhat and Nicolae softened his kiss, gentled his hold until his hands were caressing her back. His mouth left a trail across her jaw line to her throat. He nipped at her soft skin, and then stroked his tongue over the pulse beating in her neck. Megan moaned softly as she leaned her head back to give him better access. Nick stroked his tongue across the pulse in her neck again. He could literally hear the blood running in her veins. It was calling to him as a lover would call to her man. He felt his fangs lengthen, pricking his tongue. He closed his eyes tight, pulling her hips against the hard length of him. Nicolae fought to control the blood lust. It was hard for his kind to separate the physical lust from the blood lust. They went hand in hand. Nicolae was very close to loosing control of the beast within him. With a low growl, he shoved Megan from him and she stumbled back, bumping against the wall.

Megan gasped at the look on Nick’s face. His fangs were bared and his eyes glowed an eerie red. Her body still burned for his touch, she burned for his touch. She had never experienced a kiss like that, a kiss that so totally made her loose touch with reality. Strangely enough she was not afraid of Nicolae even as he glared at her threateningly. She took a step towards him and raised her hand.

Nick could barely contain himself. She was not afraid of him, she was not afraid of the beast within him and it thrilled him on the one hand, but scared him to death on the other. He backed away from her and turned his back on her. “Do not come near me, cara! I am not in control.”

“Nick, I . . .” Megan began, confused.

“Go to bed, cara mia. We will talk this evening.” Nicolae interrupted her. He turned to face her, his eyes once again a deep rich brown, but Megan could still see traces of the red glow. “I must get some rest. The sun is high and it is draining my strength. I will see you tonight.”

Megan nodded, “Rest well, Nicolae.”

That evening Megan made her way down the stairs. She’d showered and put on some clean clothes and felt about as ready to face the evening as a singer with stage fright. The last few days had been incredible. She’d gone from writing about vampires to actually discovering they existed to having one wanting her dead to having one wanting to protect her. It was all making her dizzy. And then there was the sexual tension between her and Nicolae that he seemed to be trying to deny. Maybe vampires can’t have sex or maybe having sex with a mortal could be dangerous? Every time he’d kissed her, he’d vamped out. Megan thought about it for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and quietly entered the library. Valerian was on the other side of the room behind the bar. His back was to her and he seemed to be concentrating on something.

“Good evening, Valerian.” Megan greeted quietly.

“Dio mia!” Valerian yelped as he spun around surprised. “Megan!” She’d managed to sneak up on him and he was not very happy about it. “Do not ever sneak up on a vampire, bella. It could have very dangerous repercussions.”

Megan smiled, “Forgive me, Valerian. I did not mean to startle you.” Looking around the library, she noticed that Nick wasn’t there.

“He is not here.” Valerian answered as if reading her thoughts.

“I can see that. Where is he?” Megan approached the bar and sat down on one of the bar stools.

Valerian shrugged his broad shoulders, “Probably out rustling up some dinner.” He gave her a playful wink and grinned at her, his fangs glistening in the light.

Megan wrinkled her nose in a look of disdain. “That is disgusting, Valerian.” But she couldn’t hold the look of disgust and ended up smiling at the handsome vampire. It had never occurred to her that vampires could have such different personalities. Hell, until a few days ago, it had never occurred to her that vampires were real, let alone had different personalities.

Valerian and Nicolae were so different, both very handsome in different ways. Megan preferred the dark, rugged handsome type like Nicolae, but she was not indifferent to Valerians charming good looks either. Valerian was like the boy next door, handsome, charming and very arrogant. And he was such a tease! Megan hoped that she was around when Valerian met his match in a woman. She thought that would be quite fun to watch.

“Have you eaten anything yet, belleza?” Valerian asked her bringing her out of her thoughts.

“No, and I’m starved.” Megan answered. Her stomach picked that moment to growl loudly, causing Valerian to grin.

“I’ll see if I can’t locate Stevens and get you something to eat.” Valerian replied coming out from behind the bar. Just then the library door opened and Steven’s entered carrying a tray. “Well, speak of the devil.”

“I took the liberty of putting together something for you to eat, Miss. Where would you like to eat?” Steven’s stopped before her and waited for her instructions.

“Oh it smells heavenly. Just put it here on the bar, Stevens. Thank you so much.” Megan could hardly wait to see what was under the covering.

Steven’s set the tray down and took the covering off. On the plate was a good size cut of roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn and a small salad. Megan leaned over and inhaled the wonderful aroma, her mouth watered with the anticipation. There was also a bottle of wine on the tray and a wine glass. Steven’s moved to open the wine bottle and pour some wine for Megan, but Valerian beat him to it.

“Thanks, Stevens. I’ll take it from here.” Valerian told him as he pulled the cork from the wine bottle.

“Very well sir. Miss Taylor, if you need anything else, please do not hesitate to call on me.”

“Thank you, Stevens.” Megan answered with a smile. She’d already begun to eat and the food was delicious.

Valerian poured wine into her wine glass, then sat the bottle back down. “How is it?” He asked as he settled himself on a barstool next to Megan.

“It’s wonderful.” Megan answered taking a bite of her salad. “Can vampires not eat? I’m not really sure what you can and cannot do.”

“We can tolerate small amounts of food. Like a rare steak, but that’s about it. It’s a liquid diet for us undead folks.” Valerian teased with a smile.

“What else can vampires do?” Megan asked fascinated. She took a sip of her wine and felt the warmth of it run down her throat into her belly.

“You tell me, you’re the one who wrote the stories.” Valerian replied. His green eyes sparkled with mischief and Megan couldn’t help but wonder how Valerian and Nicolae got along so well.

“I make up stories.” Megan corrected. “I have no clue what the real thing is except for the few things I’ve seen you and Nick do.”

Valerian smiled, “Yes well, your ‘made up stories’ are very close to the truth. I’ve read all of them you know. They are quite good. I’m an avid fan, belleza.”

Megan smiled, quite pleased with his statement, as she finished her dinner. “So tell me what is truth?”

“Hmmm,” Valerian thought out loud, while tapping his long finger against his chin. “Sunlight and a wooden stake can kill us. Holy water hurts like hell, but isn’t lethal. That is unless one is dumped in a pool of it, then I imagine it could kill us, or at the very least make us wish it would. Crosses have no affect and neither do churches, unless of course the church is built on holy ground and that is rare.” Valerian reached out and picked up the wine bottle to refill Megan’s glass. He also grabbed another glass and poured himself some wine too. “Ummm, let’s see, what else. Oh yeah, we cast no reflection in a mirror, a vampire must be invited in before they can enter your home, unless of course it’s a vampires home, then it’s an open party. The longer the vampire has been alive, the more powerful they are. We can move through time and space in the blink of an eye and we can shape-shift into any animal. Am I forgetting anything?” Valerian flashed her a toothy grin and winked at her playfully.

Megan laughed softly at Valerian’s antics. He truly was a clown. “What about making other vampires?” She asked.

“Oh yes, we can bring a human over by draining their blood then giving them our blood in return. It’s fairly simple really, nothing so dramatic as some of the movies make it.”

Megan took a sip of her wine, trying to get up the nerve to ask her next question. “What about sex?” She asked so softly that Valerian wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.

Valerian choked on the wine he’d just swallowed. His green eyes sparked of merriment. Megan knew she was going to regret asking Valerian that question, but she had to know and she knew Nick would never tell her.

“Um, yeah, we can have sex.” Valerian chuckled softly as Megan turned about three shades of red. He wondered if Nick was giving her the wrong idea to cause her to ask such a question. Valerian knew that Nick had kissed her, but he also knew Nick. Nick would deny any physical feelings for her even as his desire for the woman consumed him. “Why do you ask, belleza?”

Megan dropped her gaze. She was so embarrassed; she could not believe she had asked him about sex. She must really be hard up. “No reason.” She answered hoping Valerian would drop it.

She felt Valerian’s fingers slide under her chin and lift. Her eyes met his. “Has Nick been giving you mixed signals, belleza?” His green eyes were soft and friendly. Megan sensed no desire at all between them, just a growing friendship. He dropped his hand, “Nick is a very complicated vampire, Megan. I know he is attracted to you even though he denies it. Life with a vampire is tough though. Mortals rarely survive it. Vampires tend to be very territorial and extremely possessive. Sex with a vampire tends to be a bit rough on a mortal woman’s frail body.”

“Yeah, I noticed that possessive streak in Nick.” Megan answered thinking back when they were at her hotel in Romania and Nick had nearly taken off Valerian’s head because he’d flirted with her.

Valerian smiled knowingly. “You’re good for Nick. Don’t let him chase you off.”

“How did you two become friends?” Megan asked curiously.

“That is an adventure I will have to save for another time. Nick will be here any second.” And as if on cue, a large black hawk flew in through the open balcony doors and shape-shifted into the man in question.

“Oh my!” Megan whispered as she watched the whole thing play out before her. She watched stunned as dark feathers changed into hard muscle and olive skin. He seemed to unfold right before her eyes. He straightened and shook his thick mane of black hair causing several black feathers to dislodge and fall to the floor. Megan watched in amazement as they floated down until they landed softly on the carpet. She looked back up to see that in the transition of hawk to man, he had somehow clothed himself in black jeans and a dark blue tee shirt that seemed to hug his torso, stretching across his well muscled chest and broad shoulders.

Nicolae scowled as he saw Valerian and Megan sitting next to each other at the bar. His dark eyes shifted from one to the other and finally came to rest on Valerian. “You can go now.” Nick growled.

“Nicolae!” Megan scolded. “Stop chasing Valerian off like that. It’s rude.”

Nick turned his angry gaze on Megan. He began moving towards her, his muscles rippling, his eyes blazing. Valerian scrambled to his feet quickly placing himself between him and Megan.

“Get out of my way, Valerian.” Nick’s deep voice was soft as silk, but very deadly.

“You need to cool off, amico mio.” Valerian answered cautiously. He’d never seen Nick like this. It worried him.

“Oh both of you knock it off! Stop this male beating-your-chest thing you got going on.” Megan stood and came out from behind Valerian to face Nick.

Nick looked ready to tear one of them limb from limb and Megan was afraid it would be Valerian. Something inside her told her he would never harm her, but she couldn’t say the same thing about Valerian. Valerian’s jaw nearly dropped when Megan placed herself between them and looked up at him. She obviously hadn’t seen the deadly look in Nick’s eyes or she would never have done it, Valerian thought frantically.

“Valerian, I think you should leave for now. I need to talk to Nick.” Valerian shook his head, not daring to believe he’d heard what he thought he’d just heard.

“Megan, I don’t think that is wise right now. Nick is very angry.” Valerian kept shifting his eyes from Megan to Nick and back to Megan.

Megan smiled confidently, “It’s alright, Valerian. Nick won’t hurt me.”

Valerian saw Nick raise an eyebrow high at that last statement. “Well . . .” Valerian swallowed hard. Damn, Valerian didn’t want to leave her alone with Nick when he was angry, but he didn’t know if he could stop his old friend, even if he did stay.

“Trust me.” Megan smiled. She turned her back on Valerian to face Nick. Nick glowered at her.

Nick was angry that Rovenski was back, he was angry that he couldn’t seem to control these feelings he had for Megan, he was angry at Valerian for flirting with Megan and well, hell, he was just damn angry. But nothing prepared him for what Megan did next. She turned to face him, she smiled at him causing his breath to catch in his throat, then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, laying her cheek against his chest. For a moment, Nick did nothing but stand there. His eyes, wide with shock looked straight into Valerians own shocked gaze. Then all the anger that had been building up in him over the last day or two came flooding out of him and he let his breath out in a slow hiss. Wrapping his arms around Megan, he closed his eyes and savored the feel of her pressed against his body.

That’s quite a lady you got there, Nick. Don’t blow it! Nick heard Valerian’s soft chuckle in his head.

Nick didn’t bother with a reply. When he opened his eyes, Valerian was nowhere to be seen. Nick pulled Megan away from him slightly so that he could look down in her face. “Don’t you value your life at all?” He asked her incredulously.

She blinked confused, “Of course I do.”

Nick shook his head, “No you don’t. You act without thinking. You just walked blindly into the arms of a very pissed off vampire. That’s what I call stupidity.”

Megan pulled away from him and walked over to the fireplace, “What you call stupidity, I call trust.” She answered softly. She tried to hide the hurt in her voice. He thought her stupid and that hurt more than anything physical he could ever do to her. The warmth of the fire wrapped around her as she sought to get control of her feelings. She had changed over the last several days. She was no longer just Megan Taylor, the vampire/romance novelist. The events over the last few days had turned her in a new direction and she found herself falling in love with a very difficult, pain-in-the-ass vampire! She sensed him come up behind her.

“Megan, I . . .” Nick didn’t know what to say. She trusted him and he insults her. He was such an idiot. He wasn’t even sure anymore why he was fighting these feelings he had for Megan. He was confused about many things. Nick didn’t like confusion; he liked things plain and simple. The only thing that he was positive about at this point was that he had to protect Megan from Rovenski at all costs.

If he were to loose Megan now . . .

You won’t, amico mio! Came the soft reply of his friend.

Valerian . . . There was no jealousy, no anger in Nicolae’s voice now, only sorrow.

You will stop Rovenski! Do not fear for Megan’s life. You know I will help you protect her. You know that I will give my life for her as I would for you. For once there was no teasing, no jokes coming from Valerian.

Nick felt shame for how he’d treated his friend lately. Jealousy had never been a factor in Nick’s life before and he was struggling to control it. He knew that Valerian was a tease and a flirt. That was what made him Valerian. But he trusted Valerian as he trusted no other. Nick knew that he himself was damaging that trust, not Valerian.

Nick heard Valerian’s chuckling through their mental path. You brood too much, Nick! Megan is not Marianne, so stop thinking so much and live! Really live! Take that beautiful lady you have there and make love to her. Make her yours! She cares for you, Nick. I don’t have a clue as to why, but she does. She’s just waiting for you to make the move, amico mio!

Get the hell out of my head, you scruffy dog! But Nick was smiling now and that smile drifted through their mental path.

Call me if you need any pointers, old man! Valerian laughed and then the mental path was gone.