Stone Lover (29 page)

    “Well,” Jennifer murmured, wiping a tear from her eye. Stepping forward she wrapped her arms around Vaughn and pulled him into a motherly hug. Unable to help himself, he returned the hug as affection for this group bubbled up inside of him. She looped her arm through his as she led him into the dining room, since Jenna was back with the wine and it was time to eat. Helplessly, he looked over his shoulder as Jenna and Melanie looped their arms together and followed, their heads bent together as the quietly talked.

    His heart skipped a beat in his chest when Melanie looked up and caught him looking at her. Her lips curved into a beautiful smile before she returned to her conversation with Jenna. In that moment he knew that she was going to be all right, no matter what happened in the future. And he was grateful for it.

* * * * *

    “You didn’t tell me he was so gorgeous,” Jenna whispered as they went off to the guest rooms after dinner. Because there was a snow advisory, Melanie and Vaughn decided it would be a good idea to spend the night. And so after dinner, the two girls volunteered to make up the guest room. Not that Melanie was going to make Vaughn sleep in it; she had plans that involved christening her childhood bed. “You also failed to mention that he’s rich, making his money through investments and dealing in antiquities and art.”

    “I know,” Melanie shrugged, taking the sheets from the linen closet as they passed it and continuing on into the guest room. Actually, she hadn’t known he was so wealthy; it had never come up before her dad had asked what he did for a living. She knew he came from money – one does not live in the apartment he does without some wealth – but she hadn’t thought about it. In truth, she just assumed Armand was the wealthy one and his brothers just lived on his generosity. Now, knowing that they were gargoyles, and apparently older than she first believed, it only made sense that they were affluent.

    “And he’s so polite,” Jenna continued. “Mom and dad were both charmed. And it’s safe to say Ferris adores him.”

    Melanie laughed at that, having just left the little girl on his lap as he read her a bedtime story. The sight of him with the little girl sent a pang of awareness through her and she fell even more in love with him. Sure, he was gorgeous, but there was something that was intrinsically Vaughn that spoke to her and drove her wild.

    Jenna eyed her critically for a moment before blurting, “You’re planning on having him sleep with you in your bed tonight, aren’t you?”

    “Did you see him, Jenna?” Melanie teased, putting a fresh pillow case on a pillow. “Of course I’m going to have him sleep with me.”

    Jenna tossed the pillow she was holding at Melanie, catching her off guard and making her laugh. “I supposed it is only fair since Jeremy slept in my bed many, many times.”

    Melanie smiled, happy to see her sister talk about Jeremy with a smile and not be reduced to tears. Tossing the pillow back, Melanie grinned wickedly, “Oh, I don’t think he slept at all.”

    “He didn’t,” Jenna replied with a saucy smile. After a moment of silence, she sat down on the bed and sighed, “I loved Jeremy with all of my heart but sometimes… sometimes I miss the intimacies of being with another person.”

    Melanie sat down next to her, putting her arms around her and hugging her. “I know you loved him, Jenna, but he wouldn’t want you to be forever alone.”

    “I know,” Jenna agreed. “But for the past seven years, my entire life has been about Ferris, first being pregnant and then raising her and I don’t have the first idea how to get back into the dating game. Hell, I’ve never actually played the game; I mean, Jeremy is all I have ever known.”

    “Well,” Melanie said slowly, weighing her next words carefully in her head. “Vaughn does have two brothers….”

    Jenna snorted, “You’re not trying to set me up with either of them again, are you?”

    “It’s just something to consider,” Melanie replied dejectedly. “They’re nearly as gorgeous as Vaughn….”

    “Then what would either one of them want with the mother of a small child?” Jenna snorted again, irrationally unable to believe that any guy would want her. Not only was she gorgeous, she was the sweetest, move loving person Melanie knew.

    “They would be lucky to have you,” Melanie told her with absolute faith. “I think that the six of us should make plans to go to the Winter Carnival at the end of this month; that way you can get to know them and they can see what an angel you are.”

    “Melanie,” Jenna warned, laughing in spite of herself.

    “You’re right,” Melanie sighed, before her lips curled into a wicked smile. “They’re not the types who want an angel; they want a little bit of the devil, at least when it comes to sex.”

    Licking her lips, swiping a strand of hair behind her ear, Jenna looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Is… does he… is he good?”

    Melanie fell backwards and smiled up at the ceiling, “Better than good; the best I’ve ever had.”

    Jenna fell back and joined her sister on the bed. “That’s not saying much; you had never been all that impressed with Peter.”

    Turning her head, Melanie met her sister’s gaze, “I can’t even remember what it was like with Peter because Vaughn has filled all of my senses; somehow he is a part of me and I’m a part of him.”

    “Melanie, don’t say such things,” Jenna whispered desperately, clutching Melanie’s hand in her own and looking at her with wide, frightened eyes. “You’ve said yourself that you barely know him; what are you thinking by falling in love with him?”

    “Wasn’t it like that for you and Jeremy?” Melanie asked quietly.

    “And look how that ended,” Jenna replied in a hushed voice. “In the end, he’ll break your heart.”

    “But don’t you see? The fear of getting hurt is what kept me with Peter for so long.” Melanie frowned in thought, “Even if this thing with Vaughn crashes and burns tomorrow I will have no regrets. I mean, do you have any regrets?”

    Tears glistened in Jenna’s eyes but she had to admit that she had none. “I just wished he had lived longer.”

    “I know, sweetie,” Melanie murmured, hugging her sister and kissing the top of her head. “We all wish that.”

     Melanie opened the door of her room and stuck her head out into the hall, glancing both ways before quietly making her way to Vaughn’s room. Not bothering to knock, she opened the door and peeked her head inside, not entirely surprised to see him still awake and standing at the window, staring out. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, making her bones melt and her heart skip a beat or two. “Hey, you.”

     “Hey,” she whispered, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind her. She made her way over to the window and stood next to him, sliding her hand into his as they watched the snow drift gracefully down. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she asked, “So, what do you think?”

     “I think you love your family a great deal and that they love you just as much,” he murmured. Looking down at her, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, letting his warm fingers rest on her jaw. “And I think they are all wonderful.”

    She smiled up at him, pleasure at his words vibrant in her face. “I’m glad you like them; it means a lot to me.”

    “I know,” he said softly, a hint of melancholy once more in his voice. But when she looked at him, he was silently staring out into the night and watching the snow fall.

    Oddly nervous, Melanie fidgeted, letting her fingers play with the shirt that Vaughn still wore. It must be difficult for him, to be born a creature of the night and to live his entire life that way, and then suddenly be given the gift of daylight. No wonder why he was so quiet and contemplative; it was a lot to deal with. Not to mention giving up his life as a gargoyle! And here she was, trying to figure out a way to lure him back to her bedroom so that she could have her wicked way with him!

    “I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I went to sleep,” she mumbled.

    His arms came around her and he held her to his chest, hugging her as if the world was ending and he didn’t want to see her go. “I just need you.”

    Letting out the breath she had been holding, she wrapped her arms around his waist, returning the hug with all that she was worth. Finding her confidence, she whispered, “Actually, I wanted to know if you would, um, maybe want to sleep with me in my bed?”

    “Wouldn’t that be dangerous with your parents so close?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal. Further proof was the erection pressing against her stomach.

    “Yeah, but that kind of adds to the excitement factor,” she admitted, shivering at the thought of making love with him in her childhood bed. Her panties were already damp and if he stalled any longer, she was going to be pushing him down onto his bed to have her way with him.

    “Lead the way,” he growled, holding his arm out towards the door and smiling down at her.

    Tentatively, she took the first step, unsure her legs were going to support her. When she didn’t collapse into a heap of boneless goo, she quickened her pace, taking his hand in hers and making sure the hall was clear once again. As they quietly raced towards her room, she had the insane urge to laugh out loud; the joy sparkling up in her was almost uncontainable.

    Sensing her imminent loss of control, Vaughn skimmed his arms around her waist and hauled her back into his body, covering her mouth with his large, warm palm. His breath was hot as he whispered in her ear, “You’ve got to be quiet; I don’t want to give your father a reason to castrate me.”

    “I’d never let that happen,” she vowed, wetting the curve of his palm with her tongue and squirming at the low groan Vaughn made behind her. As soon as they were in her room, he turned her around in his arms, forced her up against her bedroom door and covered her lips with his, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. Her hands went to his head, her fingers tangling in his golden hair, holding him to her. She had purposefully left the dim nightstand light on so she could enjoy the visual feast that was Vaughn. Indeed, it was enough to cast a warm light over his skin, but not too much to be noticed from the hallway.

    “I can’t get enough of you,” he panted, sliding his hand underneath her shirt and pushing it up and over her breasts. He bent his head and captured a nipple with his teeth, tugging almost painfully before smoothing it with his tongue. Her fingers convulsed in his hair and she could feel him smile against her breast moments before he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth. Sensation raced from her breast to her womb and she knew she wasn’t going to last much longer.

    Tearing her shirt from her body, Vaughn returned to suckling her breasts, almost determined to make her come from stimulating her nipples. “Tell me what you want, Melanie.”

    She was incapable of speech as every inch of her vibrated with sensation, as Vaughn’s scent filled her head, as his hands glided over her skin, as her breathing became ragged and harsh. Electricity was humming under her skin, pulsating low in her gut and throughout her womb; she wanted him naked and buried balls deep in her body. With trembling hands, she reached between their bodies and jerkily began to unfasten his pants. “Naked.”

    With a soft was chuckle, he stepped away from her and shed his clothes, holding her gaze as he removed each item. Movement was impossible and so she remained plastered to the door, the only thing that held her up as she watched him strip. She was torn between watching the masculine flesh as it was exposed and staring into his beautiful, golden eyes. By the time he was naked, she was breathless, more than ready to be fucked.

    “Do you want to go fast or slow?” he asked huskily as he stepped against her body. Heat came off of him in waves, pouring into and liquefying her innards.

    “Fast,” she managed, her thoughts sluggish and her tongue thick. Her whole body was pulsating and she was desperate to feel him in her. No sooner had the word past her lips then he was spinning her around, tugging her pajama bottoms and panties halfway down her legs. He slid one hand over her mound, pulling her ass flush against his body, arching her back to give him easier access.  Her upper body and cheek were pressed against the door as the tip of his cock nudged the outer lips of her sex; she was shaking with almost painful desire and need.