Everlasting Kiss (27 page)

Gradually, one of them took on shape and substance until it resembled her grandfather. Smiling, he held out his hand. “Come along, Daisy, it’s time.”

“Grandpa O’Donnell,” she murmured, “is that you?”

“Yes, poppet.”

She reached for his hand and as she did so, the pain disappeared.

“Daisy!” Erik’s arm tightened around her. “Don’t leave me! Dammit, don’t leave me here in the dark without you.”

His words, so filled with love and sorrow, pulled her back. How could she leave him when he needed her so? Was this what Grandmother O’Donnell had meant when she said Daisy’s compass might guide her in paths she had never thought to follow? Erik’s arms tightened around Daisy. He could feel her slipping away. “Daisy, hang on.” Perhaps a doctor could help her, yet even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew she was beyond medical help. “Daisy.” He hadn’t wept in centuries, but now, at the thought of losing her, tears scalded his eyes.

Daisy blinked as his tears dripped like red rain onto her cheeks. “Erik…” With a sigh of resignation, she closed her eyes. Hadn’t she always known, deep down, that it would come to this?

“Do it,” she murmured, and went limp in his arms.

Erik choked back a sob. Had he waited too long?

Praying it wasn’t too late, he bent his head to her neck and drank.

She was drifting, floating. The beautiful bright light had enveloped her grandfather, then faded and disappeared, leaving her frightened and alone in a world of darkness and pain. Had she lost her chance at heaven? Was she in hell? Was that why her blood seemed to be on fire, why everything seemed bathed in crimson? She tried to fight her way out of the darkness but her body felt heavy, lethargic. She willed her toes and fingers to move, felt a sharp stab of fear when nothing happened.

Was this death, this horrible sense of loss?

Of nothingness…

Erik sat at Daisy’s side all through that long, seemingly endless night. Earlier, he had removed her bloody clothing, washed the blood from her neck, then slipped a nightgown over her head. When that was done, he had brought her to his place and put her in his bed. Since then, his mind had been filled with doubts. Had she known what she was asking for? Would she regret her decision when she regained consciousness and realized the full extent of what he had done?

He groaned low in his throat. Had he done the right thing? She would be alienated from her family and friends now. Damn. He could only imagine what Alex would say. Nothing good, that was for sure.

With a sigh, he caressed Daisy’s cheek. Her skin was cool, her face pale, her breathing so shallow, he could scarcely hear it even with his vampiric senses.

Bending down, he kissed her brow. “Fight, Daisy,” he murmured. “I’ve done all I can. Now, it’s up to you.”

With the coming of dawn, he carried her down to his lair. Tucking her close to his side, he stared into the darkness. Tomorrow night would tell the tale. If she awoke at the setting of the sun, she would be his forever.

A voice penetrated the thick darkness, a voice speaking her name. “Erik?”

Daisy fought her way through the smothering darkness and when she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Erik sitting beside her on the bed, his brow creased with worry.

She stared at him. He looked the same, yet different somehow. “Is something wrong?”

He shook his head. “No. How do you feel?” Because he hadn’t wanted her to be frightened by waking in his lair, he had brought her upstairs to the bedroom before she regained consciousness.

“I don’t know. I feel…I don’t know. Why does everything look so bright?” she asked, squinting, and then she covered her ears with her hands. “What’s that noise?”

“Just a truck going by.”

“It sounds like a tank.”

Erik nodded. “Just take it easy. What do you remember from last night?”

“Last night? There was a young man…”

“Damon.”

“He was a vampire!” She lifted a hand to her neck. “He bit me! It hurt more than anything…not like when you bite me…” She frowned. “And then you were there, and…” Her eyes widened as her memory returned. “What have you done? Oh, Lord, what have you done!”

“Daisy…it’s all right.”

“No! How could you?”

“You asked me to, don’t you remember?”

She shook her head. “No…no, I wouldn’t. I never wanted…” She paused, her gaze sliding away from his as another memory surfaced. Erik’s voice, pleading with her.
Don’t leave me! Dammit, don’t leave me here in the dark without you.
The anguish in his voice had pierced her heart and she had asked him to bring her across, to make her what he was.

She could feel Erik watching her, his gaze wary as he waited for her reaction.

Sitting up, she ran her hands over her arms, her face. She was a vampire now, and there was no going back. She should be furious with him, with herself, yet she couldn’t seem to work up any anger, couldn’t even decide how she felt about what had happened. She wasn’t happy to be a vampire, but she was glad to be alive. Or Undead. She wasn’t crazy about the idea of existing on blood, either, she thought, and then she looked at Erik and grinned in spite of herself. At least she wouldn’t have to drink alone.

Erik frowned at her. “Is something funny?”

“Not really.”

“What are you grinning at?”

“I was thinking how happy I am that I don’t have to drink alone.”

He stared at her, bemused, and then he laughed.

Daisy laughed with him. She laughed until her sides ached.

And then she wept for all she had lost.

At a loss as to what to do, Erik could only sit there. He had never turned anyone before; he had no idea what to expect or how she would react. The main thing he remembered from his first night as a vampire was a horrible thirst, but Daisy didn’t seem to be plagued by that, perhaps because, in desperation, he had given her as much of his blood as she could hold.

He swore softly. He yearned to take her in his arms, but wondered if his touch would be welcome. Listening to her cry was the worst pain he had ever known—worse than the touch of the sun, worse than the agony he had suffered in Costain’s dungeon. Worse, because he had caused it. Had he done what he’d known to be right, he never would have let things go this far. Instead, he had selfishly sought her out, thinking more of easing his own loneliness than worrying about where their relationship would lead.

With a last sniff, Daisy wiped her eyes and face with a corner of the sheet. “I’m sorry, I…”

“Don’t apologize. What the hell do you have to be sorry for?”

She blinked at him. “Are you mad at me?”

“What?” He stared at her, completely baffled. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Daisy, I…” He raked his hand through his hair. “I’m the one who should be asking your forgiveness.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. I…I asked you to bring me across.”

“Yeah.” He blew out a breath, remembering how he had begged her not to leave him.

“I knew what I was doing.”

“Did you?”

“Of course.” She tilted her head to the side. “Are you sorry you brought me over?”

“No.” His gaze moved over her face. She had always been beautiful; she was even more so now. Though subtle, changes in her appearance assured that when she called, no man would be able to resist her. “Are
you
sorry?”

“No,” she said quickly. How could she be sorry when it meant spending an eternity with the man she loved? “Unless you don’t want me anymore.”

“Not want you? Are you out of your mind?” He had never been less than confident around women before, but this new Daisy put him off his stride. He had expected her to be angry, to berate him for what he had done; instead, she seemed to be waiting for something, though he had no idea what it might be.

“Erik?”

“Yes, love?”

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?”

Was that what she had been waiting for? He blinked at her, and then he smiled. “As you wish,” he said. “But I don’t think I’ll be able to stop at just a kiss.”

Eyes twinkling with merriment, she smiled a seductive smile. “Who asked you to?”

Murmuring her name, he wrapped her in his arms. She was his now, he thought as he claimed her lips with his, always and forever his.

Daisy shook her head as they neared her parents’ home. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Of course you can,” Erik said patiently. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Hah! That’s easy for you to say.” Daisy glared at him. Becoming a vampire hadn’t been nearly as awful as she had expected. With Erik to guide her, she had learned to use her preternatural powers until they were almost second nature. Sometimes, she wondered how she had ever existed without them.

Erik had taught her to dissolve into mist, to scurry up the side of a building as easily as a spider, to leap tall buildings, move faster than the human eye could follow. Most importantly, he had taught her the intricacies of hunting, how to attract her prey and call it to her, how to take what she needed without taking too much or doing any lasting harm to her victim. She had resisted the urge to feed as long as she could, certain that she would never be able to do it. Convinced that existing on human blood would be revolting, she had been shocked to find it immensely pleasant and not the least bit repulsive.

But nothing in the last five months had scared her as much as going to Boston to visit her family.

Daisy stared at the front door of her parents’ home. Even with the door closed, she could smell their blood, hear the beating of their hearts. “Will they be able to tell that I’ve changed?”

Erik shook his head. “Not unless you tell them.”

She had kept in touch with Alex and her parents. Her mom and dad were still mourning Brandon, of course. To Daisy’s surprise, her mother had informed her that Alex was spending a lot of time with Paula O’Reilly.

“I think he’s in love with her,” Irene had remarked during one conversation. “Perhaps it was inevitable. They started out comforting each other and, well, it looks like Paula might eventually be a part of the family after all.”

Daisy was summoning the nerve to knock on the door when she heard footsteps behind her. She didn’t have to turn around to know that Alex was coming up the walk, and that he wasn’t alone. Paula was with him.

“Hey, sis!”

Slowly, she turned to face him. “Hi, Alex. Paula.”

Alex nodded at Erik, then threw his arms around Daisy and gave her a quick hug. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“It was kind of spur of the moment,” Daisy said. “Paula, I don’t think you’ve met Erik.”

Erik extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Paula.”

“Likewise.”

Annoyed with the amenities, Alex opened the door and ushered everyone inside.

The next few minutes were spent on introductions as Erik met Daisy’s parents. Even though Daisy knew her mother and father were uncomfortable with having a vampire in the house, they handled his presence better than she had expected. Her mother invited Erik to sit down and soon they were all seated in the living room, with Erik and Daisy on the love seat, Alex, Paula, and Irene on the sofa, and Noah in his favorite chair.

“So, daughter, how was your trip?” Noah asked. “Did you fly or drive?”

Daisy slid a glance at Erik. “We flew.”
In a manner of speaking,
she thought, smiling inwardly.

“How’d you get here from the airport?” Alex asked. “I didn’t see a rental out front.”

“We took a taxi,” Daisy said. She didn’t like lying to her family, but the truth was out of the question.

“Of course, no need for a car,” Noah said, “since you’ll be staying here.”

“Thanks, Dad, but we’re staying at a hotel.”

“Now, you know I won’t hear of that,” Irene said, her hands fluttering. “You can stay in your old room and Erik can…can…”

“Erik can stay in Brandon’s room,” Noah finished.

“Thanks, Dad, but we’ve already made reservations.”

“Oh, well, if that’s what you want,” Irene murmured.

Daisy didn’t miss the look of relief in her mother’s eyes when she realized Erik wouldn’t be staying the night.

“Well,” Irene said briskly, “where are my manners? Can I get you all anything? I made a devil’s food cake this afternoon.”

“Sounds good, Mom,” Alex said with a wink.

“None for me, thank you,” Erik said.

“Me, either,” Daisy said. “We ate just before we got here.”

“But, Daisy,” Irene said, “it’s your favorite.”

“I know,” Daisy said, smiling. “Maybe later.”

“I’ll have some of that cake,” Noah said, “with a little ice cream on the side. And a cup of coffee.”

“Let me help you, Mrs. O’Donnell,” Paula said. Rising, she followed Irene into the kitchen.

“You seem a little uptight, daughter,” Noah remarked after Irene and Paula left the room. “Is anything wrong?”

“Why should anything be wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowed. “You tell me.”

“I’m fine, Dad, just a little, ah, jet-lagged.”

“Uh-huh.”

Daisy looked at Erik for reassurance.
Should I just tell them the truth?

It’s up to you, love.

“All right, Daisy, spit it out,” Alex said. “You’re hiding something.” He sent a suspicious glance at Erik, and then swore softly. “You didn’t. Dammit, you bloodsucker, tell me you didn’t!”

Noah looked at Alex, then at Daisy, and then at Erik. “Didn’t what?” he asked, and then comprehension dawned in his eyes. “Daisy, no.”

She couldn’t face the disappointment in her father’s eyes, the disgust in Alex’s. Sobbing, “I knew this was a bad idea,” she fled the house.

When Erik started to follow, Alex stood and blocked his path. “You filthy bloodsucker! How could you?”

“It was her decision.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Alex said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

“Remember Mariah? Well, she had a boyfriend. Damon wasn’t very happy about what happened to his lady love. He attacked Daisy. My guess is that you would have been next. Of course, that’s neither here nor there. Daisy was dying when I found her. I gave her a choice.”

“No.” Noah O’Donnell gained his feet and took a menacing step toward Erik. “She would never agree to that.”

Erik swore under his breath. Daisy had been right. Coming here had been a bad idea. Judging by the looks on the faces of Daisy’s father and brother, things were about to get really ugly really fast. Unable to think of a safe way to defuse the situation, he was about to dissolve into mist when Daisy materialized beside him.

“Erik’s telling the truth,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “It was my idea.”

The sound of breaking dishes rang out from the kitchen. Before anyone could go see what had happened, Irene appeared in the doorway. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she murmured, “Oh, Daisy, no.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” Daisy tugged on Erik’s hand. “Let’s go.”

“No!” Hurrying across the room, Irene O’Donnell threw her arms around her daughter. “I don’t care what you are. All that matters is that you’re still here, with us.”

“Irene—”

She turned on her husband like a mother grizzly defending her young. “Hush up, Noah Patrick O’Donnell. Would you rather she was gone forever, like Brandon?”

Shoulders sagging, Noah shook his head. “No.” Head bowed, he took several deep breaths and then, heaving a sigh, he straightened his shoulders and offered Erik his hand. “Welcome to the family. Son.”

With tears in her eyes, Daisy threw her arms around her father. “Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered.

Alex snorted softly, and then he, too, offered Erik his hand. “Welcome to the family. Vampire.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed in their hotel room, Erik pulled Daisy onto his lap. “I told you everything would be all right.”

“All right? Is that what you call all right?”

“Well, at least your old man didn’t drive a stake through my heart,” he said with a wry grin. “Or yours.”

“Very funny.”

“They’ll get used to the idea. Just give them a little time.”

“Strange advice coming from you,” Daisy retorted. “You said you left your home and your family after you were turned, and never went back.”

“It’s not the same thing. I didn’t have anybody to show me the ropes when I was turned. No one to tell me I didn’t have to kill to survive. I didn’t know anything about vampires, and there was no one with me when I woke up that first night, no one to tell me what to expect. All I had was a raging thirst.”

Daisy nodded. He was right, of course. She didn’t know what she would have done if Erik hadn’t been there. He had made her transformation from mortal to vampire almost painless. He had even made a joke the first night he had taken her hunting, asking her what she was in the mood for, Italian, French, or Chinese. She hadn’t been amused at the time, but she saw the humor in it now. What couldn’t be changed must be accepted. And if you could do it with a smile, so much the better. And looking at Erik always made her smile.

He was watching her, his dark eyes filled with concern, and she loved him the more for it.

“Stop worrying about me. I’m okay.”

“You’re better than okay, darlin’. You’re perfect. And you know what else? I don’t think we should let Alex and Paula beat us to the altar.”

“What?”

“Marriage, Daisy Mae. I’m asking you to marry me.”

She blinked at him. “You want to marry me?”

“Well, I thought I did. But if you don’t want to…”

“Of course I want to. Now, hush up and kiss me.”

Stifling a laugh, he said, “You sound just like your mother. Maybe we can have a double wedding. Rhys can be the best man.”

The very thought made Daisy burst out laughing.

“I love you, Daisy darlin’, more than you’ll ever know.”

Warmth and affection flooded Daisy’s heart and soul as she wrapped her arms around him. “And I love you. Only you. All of you.”

He knew what she wanted even before she did. Falling back on the bed, he finessed her clothes away, then drew her down on top of him, his hands sliding up and down her bare back.

There were a lot of perks to being a vampire, Daisy mused when he kissed her. All of her physical senses were enhanced, which served to heighten her pleasure when they made love, so that every kiss, every touch, was experienced on a deeper, more sensual level. She slid her hands under Erik’s shirt, loving the way his muscles bunched and quivered beneath her fingertips, the latent sense of power that radiated from him. But best of all, he never got tired, and neither did she.

With a heartfelt sigh, she surrendered to the sensual magic of Erik’s touch, reveling in each tender kiss, each languid caress.

There was no need to hurry.

Dawn’s first light was hours away.