Illusion (13 page)

We walked in through the glass doors and into the restaurant, taken aback by the beautiful simplicity of the restaurant.  Decorated in pale cream and oyster gray, Stefan led us to the maître de.  He gave his name and we were swiftly led to an intimate booth in the corner.  We were seated and a menu presented to Stefan.  I couldn’t help but smile at the irony of the situation.  The non-eating vampire would be doing the ordering for us tonight.

He looked over the menu and glanced at me over the top of the menu, winking at my apparent amusement at seeing him decide what food to order.

“You may smile now, however you need to keep in mind you must eat what I order,” he said, with a hint of arrogance in his voice.

My amusement fading, I took a sip of water and smiled nervously.  “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

Our waiter appeared at our table and Stefan ordered the Spring tasting menu, along with a bottle of white wine.  He nodded in approval and disappeared, leaving us alone again.

Stefan extended his hands across the table with both of his palms up, asking for my mine silently.  I lightly traced the lines on them with my fingertips before closing my much smaller hands around his, making me think about all of the things those powerful, large hands had touched in the last 975 years.  He squeezed my hands gently, his lips tensing slightly as he read my thoughts.  Noticing his mood change, I gripped them a little tighter.

“Stefan, I’m sorry.  It just boggles my mind sometimes when I think about all you’ve seen and experienced,” I said softly, my eyes dropping to the white linen tablecloth.  When I looked up at him, his face was thoughtful and his blue eyes looked ancient, the normal sparkle gone.

“Life.  Death.  War.  Famine.  Loss,” he said darkly.  “Yet never love until the moment I met you.”

Feeling a blush creep over my face, I looked away shyly.  My sweet, sentimental vampire.  “Sweet talker,” I admonished weakly, meeting the intense stare of his gaze.  “I love you too.”

“You will see the same things I see now.  Centuries of evolution without seeing real change.  It is both frustrating and amazing to watch.”  He cleared his throat and the sparkle came back into his eyes.  “Enough of this conversation.  It is depressing and inevitable.”

My mind drifted to consider what it would be like to outlive everyone I knew.  To never age, look forever 28.  To watch the world change around you while I remained frozen in time.  My thoughts then shifted to my week in New York and all I’d learned in the last week: finding out that I now had a father I detested, a mother that I would never meet and a smooth talking brother that wanted our father dead.

“No running, vackra,” Stefan warned, his voice barely audible over the low din of the restaurant.  He was obviously monitoring my thoughts frequently.  He was still cautious and nervous about my inability to handle stress.

“No running.  I might as well stop fighting what I am and start accepting it.  I have a good teacher.”  I tried to make my voice light and teasing, although there was an undertone of remorse that I couldn’t hide.

Our conversation was interrupted by our waiter and the constant changing of plates, the delicious food arranged artistically.  Wine was poured and refilled without asking and there wasn’t much time for conversation.  Stefan moved the food around on his plate and watched me eat with a soft smile on his lips.

Feeling pleasantly full, the check was paid and we were waiting for the valet to bring our car around for us.  As our car pulled up, the valet seemed much more interested in admiring my legs and ass than giving Stefan the keys.  The man’s lust slammed into me before I managed to slam my shields in place.

Stefan moved a little too quickly to his side, snatching the keys from the surprised valet’s fingers roughly, a wide menacing smile on his handsome face, exposing his even, white teeth.  “See something you like…” His eyes dropped to the man’s name badge.  “Seth?”

Poor Seth.  You could see the sweat bead on his forehead as he shifted from foot to foot anxiously.  “Uh...”

“Keep your eyes to yourself and we will not have problems.  Understand, Seth?” Stefan asked, the smile on his face never fading.  He patted Seth on the shoulder a little too hard and he staggered backwards from the impact.  Seth’s eyes widened and his face went so pale that I was afraid he’d pass out.

“Stefan, sweetheart.  Let’s go.” I moved closer to Stefan and pulled on his arm lightly.  He looked at me and his eyes went from threatening to tender instantly.  He opened my door and helped me into the car and jogged around the car to the slide into the driver's seat.

He shifted the car into gear and peeled away from the curve, the soft purr of the engine filling the car.  I glanced over at Stefan and he was clutching the steering wheel so tightly that I feared it might bend from the force.

“Was that really necessary?  I thought he was going to shit his pants,” I scolded him.

He regarded me for a moment as he glanced away from the road briefly.  An amused smile turned up the right side of his mouth.  “Was it necessary?  No.  Did I want to do it?  Absolutely.  He was disrespectful of you, and in turn to me.”

I was silent as we made the short drive home.  Vampires viewed their mates as their possessions.  Even though that went against everything I believed, I was going to have to learn to accept it or fight Stefan at every turn.

He expertly parked the car in the assigned space and turned to face me.  He took my hand and gently rubbed circles over the top of my hand with his thumbs.  “All of this is new to you and I do consider you to be mine.  However, I am yours.  We are equals.  Do you understand?”

“I get it.  Women look at you all the time and I don’t go all scary psychotic on them.  You’re gorgeous and women are going to ogle you.  But I know I get to take you home.  I get to touch you.  Only me,” I said, as my free hand snaked in his soft, golden hair.  “Only me.”

“Come.  Let us go in before I take advantage of you in the car.”  He winked and exited the vehicle, heading for the elevator.  He punched in the code and waited for the doors to open, his large hand over the small of my back.  The doors smoothly opened and we were rising to our floor, neither of us talking during the ride.

As the elevator opened at our floor, we both noticed a large package sitting by the door.  It was nearly four feet in width and height, wrapped in brown paper.  Stefan and I exchanged a glance and he unlocked the door, letting me in to turn on the lights as he retrieved the package.  He carried it inside, his eyebrows furrowed.

“It is addressed to you.”

“To me?” I asked.  Curiosity had gotten the better of me and I walked quickly to Stefan’s side.  I glanced at the package to see the label.  It was addressed to Josephine Ahearne.

Fucking Kian and his overbearing bullshit!
  I viciously ripped the paper, gasping when I saw the swirls of red and blue.  It was the painting from the art gallery.

“The painting,” I breathed out in disbelief.  There was a card attached to the back of the canvas and I held the heavy card stock with shaky hands, silently reading the exaggerated cursive writing.

My dearest Josephine,

I watched you admire this painting and couldn’t bear to see something so beautiful belong to another.

There will be a day we will see eye to eye, either by choice or by circumstance.  Until then, know that I will be waiting...and watching.

Your loving father,

Kian Ahearne

The meaning behind his carefully crafted words were crystal clear to me.  He abhorred that I was with Stefan, knowing that Stefan considered me his property.  My father only wanted me for what I could do.  He valued people and vampires as collections.  He was also reminding me that he was privy to exactly what I was doing and where I was at all times.

The entire situation made me sick.

“Josephine?”

Stefan’s hand on my arm brought me back out of my thoughts.  “Read this.”  I handed him the card and our eyes met for a moment before they dropped down, quickly scanning over the card.

His blue eyes flashed when he looked up from reading the note.  He turned and grabbed a beautiful glass vase, throwing it at the wall with such force and speed that it damaged the drywall and the vase exploded.  I jumped back as tiny slivers of glass splintered, my eyes widening as I watched the dust and shards settle over the wood floor.  Fixing my gaze on Stefan, I watched him rise to his full height, his wide shoulders rigid and tension making the faint lines around his eyes more defined.

“I have had enough of his insinuations and threats, Josephine.  He is giving you a warning.  Can you see that?”

Not waiting for my answer, Stefan’s phone was in his hand, his fingers flying across the keypad.  He brought the phone to his ear and spoke so fast his voice sounded like a series of hisses and growls, becoming a blur as he disappeared down the hallway.

I stood in the middle of the living room, trying to make sense of what happened.  I went into the kitchen and found a dustpan under the sink, busying myself in cleaning up the glass and drywall dust that was all over the corner of the living room.  As I cleaned, an unsettling silence filled the the apartment.  Dumping the glass in the trash, I headed off in search of him, the sound of my heels echoing in the hallway.

I found him in the bedroom, his eyes distant as he focused on a spot on the floor.  He didn’t look up when I entered and I silently watched him for a moment from the doorway.

He was slouched over, his long arms resting on his thighs as he sat on the edge of the bed, gripping his cell phone in his hands.  His mind was moving at warp speed, searching the future and becoming annoyed at the black spots and holes he would encounter, causing his thoughts to become ominous with uneasiness and irritation.  He was furious at my father, angry enough to start making phone calls and plans that would lead to Kian’s death.  Even though I wouldn’t mourn my father’s demise, Stefan didn’t need to be impulsive.  I refused to risk losing him over a silly painting and thinly veiled threats.

Walking to stand in front of him, I took the phone away and placed it on the dresser, putting his empty hands on my waist.  Cupping his face, I raised it so I could caress the angular lines that made his face one of the most beautiful I’d ever seen.  He closed his eyes when I kissed the tops of his cheeks, brushing his mouth with my thumb.  He sighed wearily as he parted them for me, letting me caress the soft skin of his lips.

Crouching down, I knelt between his legs.  “Kian isn’t worth it, Stefan.  What did you say to my brother about revenge?”

“Someone that seeks vengeance craves retribution more than he wants to live,” he muttered under his breath, almost repeating his earlier words verbatim.  “I hate it when you are right.  I only spoke with Lukas.  I promise that I will not act rashly.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly to me.  It only took a moment until I felt his strong arms wrap around me, a shudder shaking his chest.  He was still worried and upset.

“I’m sending the painting back,” I whispered assurances against his neck.  “He can’t touch me.”

“You are mine, vackra.  He cannot have you.  I just found you and I refuse to let him take you away from me.”

“I know.  I’m yours.”  I pulled back to smooth his golden blond, silky hair away from his face.  “We had such a beautiful time tonight.  Let’s not let Kian or Seth the valet spoil our last night in New York.  I just wanted to come back here and have you make love to me, not turn this into a moment to map out revenge.”

His eyes instantly turned dark at my words, his anger temporarily forgotten.

“You had something planned?” Stefan asked, leaning forward slightly.  “I hate to spoil what you had in mind for the evening, vackra.  However, I have my own itinerary for you.”

“Oh really?”  I questioned, raising a finely arched eyebrow.  I continued to brush my fingers through his hair, the blond strands shining like gold.

“Ah, Josephine.  I do enjoy your defiant side,” he chuckled.  “I plan on making you scream my name until your voice is hoarse and your legs are weak.  Does that fit into your plans?”

Chapter 6 – Give and Take

“I plan on making you scream my name until your voice is hoarse and your legs are weak.  Does that fit into your plans?”
His earlier question hung heavily in the space between us, his darkened eyes holding my gaze.  He was waiting for my answer and we both sat unmoving, Stefan on the edge of the bed and me on my knees in front of him.  My fingers were still threaded in his golden hair and my eyes drifted over his handsome face, desire flooding over me in a rush, my heart beat increasing to a rapid strum in my chest.  His carefully worded question ignited a fire between my thighs, my intense need for him inexplicable.

Offering him a smile as my only response, my hands drifted from his hair, over the sides of his face and ran across his broad shoulders.  I pushed his charcoal gray suit jacket over his shoulders and loosened his black silk tie, wrapping it around my hand and yanking it from the collar of his shirt.

“No.”  He stood, his massive body looming over me.  He raised a single blond eyebrow as he reached for the bottom of his shirt, simply ripping it up the middle, causing the buttons to scatter across the room.  He shrugged out of the shirt, letting it fall over his shoulders and the length of his long arms.  He made a production of unbuttoning and unzipping his pants, sliding them over his narrow hips and legs.  He stood naked before me, six-foot-four inches of perfection.  A gasp escaped from my mouth as my eyes traveled over the wide expanse of his pale, muscular chest and down his stomach.  His hard cock was begging for my attention and I leaned forward, anxiously licking my lips.