Always

Always

Immortal Love Series Book 2

By

Amy Richie

World Castle Publishing

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

World Castle Publishing

Pensacola, Florida

Copyright © by Amy Richie 2012

ISBN: 9781938243141

First Edition World Castle Publishing March 20, 2012

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com

License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover: Karen Fuller

Photo: Shutterstock

Editor: Beth Price

Dedication:

For my sister; Molly Gibbs. I don’t even need to say that this book would not even be finished yet if it wasn’t for my sister. We set a goal and she
made
me stick to it. Thank you for that; and for the ten hour writing days; and for listening to me whine but not caring. Where would we be without sisters? Probably still on chapter ten!

Chapter
One

The night wind swirled through my hair as the horse thundered towards the clearing. I closed my eyes to savor the feel of it. “Eva,” I heard his deep voice calling to me. I inhaled deeply, relishing in the crisp night air. “We’re home,” Dominick whispered the words I loved to hear. Even after six months had gone by, the cabin and the man I shared it with still seemed like a dream.

“
I’m kind of sad,” I admitted with a sigh. I dismounted gracefully and waited while Dominick came around to meet me. My heart thrilled at his touch on my shoulder.

“
Why is that, my love?” He tilted his head slightly, further wreaking havoc on my heart.

“
Why is what?”

He raised one eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you were sad?”

“
No, why would I be sad?” I murmured only half coherently. I tilted my face into his kiss. Our lips met only briefly but as always, my senses went into hyper- mode, leaving me dizzy. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that,” I breathed.

Dominick glowered playfully. “No.” He bent low to kiss me again. I smiled when he caught my lower lip between his teeth. Slowly, he brought my hand to his lips so he could kiss each of my fingertips. A chill raced down my spine. “Go on in, I’ll put the horses away and join you soon.”

“
Okay.” He started to turn away, but I waited, knowing he would return to me one last time before leaving. As always, he turned back with laughter on his lips.

“
Have I told you today that I love you?” he asked as he twirled his strong arms around my waist.

“
Mmm,” I pretended to think about it. My arms went up automatically to encircle his neck. “I can’t remember.”

He chuckled once. “You lie.” His face was already close to mine so it was easy to pull him down to me.

“
Maybe I just like to hear it,” I whispered before I lost all sense of thought in his kiss. He deepened the embrace and I responded naturally. Whenever I was with Dominick, it felt so natural…just like breathing.

All too soon, he drew away. “I love you.” His voice was hoarse, but gentle. “Go inside before you freeze.”

“
I love you too. Hurry up out here.” We were both reluctant to turn away, as if we wouldn’t see each other in a few minutes. Since I couldn’t, Dominick had to be the first to turn away.

“
I’ll hurry,” he called over his shoulder.

It took me a few moments to regain thought, and then I ran the short distance to the front door. “Ooph.” The inside of the cabin was colder than outside. I set to work quickly to restart the fire. Dominick hadn’t put it all the way out before we left, so that I could easily restart it. I rubbed my hands briskly over the warmth.

I sighed as I remembered that Claudia and Marcus would soon be leaving Blakesly House. She had told me earlier that evening. It saddened me to think of her leaving.

“
I wondered why you were sad,” Dominick’s voice shattered the quiet of the cabin. I jumped in surprise.

“
I didn’t hear you come in,” I laughed.

“
Normally, you are watching for me but tonight you are preoccupied.” He joined me by the fire.

“
I am,” I admitted readily.

“
I know you are fond of Claudia, but she has been ready to leave for some time.”

“
I know.” I nodded, my smile slightly sad.

“
Don’t look at me like that or I will be forced to make her stay.”

“
You can’t make her stay.”

“
I could try.” He pulled me close to his chest and folded his arms around me.

“
It will seem empty here without them.”

“
We could go to Lexon,” he offered. “Visit David and Nadia.”

“
Are Rueben and Anya still there?”

“
I think so.”

“
Maybe we could.” I brought my face up to look at him. “When do you think Elizabeth will be back?”

“
I don’t know. It seems to me like you should just be content with me.”

I laughed and buried my face back into his chest. Of course I was content with only Dominick. After all we had gone through, all that he had done for me–he was certainly enough for me. I shuddered to think that Neleh had almost made me miss out on his love. Claudia had reminded me that without Neleh, maybe I would have never even met him.

“
We should go to bed,” I suggested with a grin.

“
I am kind of tired.” He was still chuckling when our lips met.

The next morning was clear and crisp. I awoke to the familiar sounds of the forest waking up. Dominick was still asleep, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long. I slipped my bare feet onto the cold floor with a gasp.

“
Where are you going?” Two hands shot out and pulled me back into the warmth of the bed.

“
I was going to start the fire.” Dominick positioned himself above me.

“
It’s cold.”

“
I know,” I smiled at his look of concern. “Which is why I was starting a fire.”

“
I can think of better ways to keep you warm.” He grinned wickedly.

“
Oh yeah?” I snuggled deeper into the bed, prepared to spend the rest of the morning there.

His lips bypassed mine and went directly to my throat, to the spot that throbbed for his kisses. My breathing sped up. He moaned softly, sending my heart down to my stomach.

Suddenly he stopped and brought his face to mine. “We have company,” he growled darkly.

“
We do?” My breathing still made my words sound funny.

Dominick sighed loudly and pushed himself off of me. “You’d best get your robe on my love; Claudia will be here soon.” The skin on his broad back glistened in the morning light that was streaming through the window. My mouth fell open slightly. What was it that I was thinking of doing? “Here,” he tossed my large blue robe on the bed.

“
Claudia’s coming now?” I was confused.

“
Yes.” He glared my way.

While Dominick started the fire, I struggled to make myself presentable. I had almost managed it when a knock sounded on the door.

“
Come in Claudia,” Dominick called.

“
I hope I’m not interrupting,” came her musical voice.

When Claudia walked in, her presence filled the room. She didn’t even stand five and a half feet, but her smile lit up her beautiful face. Her wild auburn hair was even crazier than usual after the run to reach the cabin.

“
Did you run here Claudia?” I asked disbelievingly.

“
How can you tell?” she laughed and brought her hands up to cover her flushed cheeks. “It was a nice run; nice to breathe some fresh air.” With a flurry of graceful movement, she settled herself on the chair by the fire. “What are you doing in bed so late anyway?”

Dominick gave her a look that made my face flame red. “Late?” I croaked. “Is the sun even up yet?”

She smiled broadly. “Yes.”

Dominick came to stand beside me, suddenly fully dressed. “Claudia isn’t going to leave us alone,” he grumbled, “so I’m heading up to the house. I’ll see you in a minute.” He kissed me gently, glared at Claudia, then disappeared through the closed door.

“
He should just change me. I’ll never get used to how fast he moves,” I commented absently.

“
Unlike a certain human I know,” Claudia winked.

“
Are you in that big of a hurry to leave Claudia?” My voice came out soft and slow.

“
I’m not leaving today. We’ll wait until after tomorrow.”

“
Why the change?” She shoved a pile of clothes in my direction, and discreetly turned away while I slipped out of my robe.

“
Tomorrow is August 23
^rd
.”

“
And?”

“
Everyone will be here.” August 23
^rd
? I searched my memory for why that date should mean something. “The day the warriors were made?”

“
Oh.” I paused in pulling my shirt over my head. “I didn’t realize…”

Claudia stood up with a sigh and finished pulling my shirt on for me. “That’s what you get for staying holed up in this cabin for six months. The world could have collapsed and you wouldn’t know.”

I gave her my best sheepish grin. “Everyone will be here?”

“
Probably before today is done. You’ve met everyone already though.”

“
Not Rueben.”

“
Hmm.” Her tiny features puckered in thought. “It is true, Rueben has stayed away longer than usual.”

“
I thought you just came back once a year?” I rummaged for a hair tie and plopped in front of Claudia so she could put my hair up.