Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (58 page)

I needed to ask him, Edwina or Stephanie about this. I didn’t know if I missed this when I missed my studies. Perhaps concubines didn’t socialize with a vampire’s family and his was just weird or weirdly nosy. I did know, whatever was happening, Lucien didn’t like it.

He let me go and Magdalene drew me away. I followed as did Isobel. Neither woman talked even after we moved outside. And they continued their silence as they moved me to the trail that led to the pier.

I knew what this meant. They didn’t want their family’s vampire hearing to catch our conversation.

I wasn’t certain this was good.

I was so uncertain, we walked in silence to the pier and when we arrived I was a bundle of nerves.

“You can relax, Leah, we’re all friends here,” Magdalene assured me softly as we moved onto the wooden slats, the serenity of the lake all around us. A serenity that did nothing to calm me. She could hear my heart, I knew, and read me.

“We just wanted to apologize personally for showing up out-of-the blue and bringing Etienne and Cressida,” Isobel added when we stopped. “I hope you see they both need to be handled with care.”

Oh, I saw that all right.

“Of course,” I murmured.

“When we return to the house, we’ll do our best to conclude the visit swiftly,” Magdalene told me.

“No, that’s unnecessary,” I semi-lied seeing as I liked them. I just didn’t like Etienne and Cressida. “Stay as long as you like. Lucien is enjoying his time with you.” That last was also a semi-lie.

They’d both known Lucien for a long time (and that long for them was
long
) therefore they both burst into laughter.

Slightly sobering, Magdalene’s hand came up and squeezed my bicep before she dropped it and said, “I appreciate the sacrifice you’d make for my son but as gracious as that is, we’ll do our best to conclude the visit.”

“Okay,” I whispered then rallied, “But, just so
you
know,” I emphasized the “you” so they’d understand exactly which “yous” I was talking about, “you’re welcome anytime. Edwina likes company, so do I and Lucien has shared with me his fondness for the both of you.”

“That’s very kind, Leah,” Isobel replied softly.

“And to return the kindness,” Magdalene pulled a business card shaped piece of paper out of the pocket of her awesome, tailored, loose-legged slacks and offered it to me, “this is our contact information. Bel’s and mine. If you should need anything,” her eyes held mine, hers communicating something I didn’t get but something I wasn’t sure I liked, “
anything,
Leah, call on us.”

What was
this
all about?

Taking the card from her, cautiously I asked, “Are you talking about the trouble Lucien is in?”

Magdalene’s head tilted slightly to the side but her face gave away nothing. “Trouble?”

Uh-oh. Maybe she didn’t know Lucien was hauled away in the middle of the night by The Council. She might look like his sister but she was his Mom and that probably wouldn’t be stellar news.

“Uh…” I mumbled to cover. It was lame but I didn’t know where else to go.

“Do you know of Father’s troubles with The Council?” Isobel asked, clearly knowing herself and not afraid to mention it in front of Magdalene which meant she knew too so I relaxed.

“Not, um… exactly. I know he had an, uh… visit from them but he hasn’t shared more,” I answered.

“Actually,” Magdalene cut in, “that card is for you to use whenever you feel you need it, my dear. Whatever concerns you have. Whatever you wish to discuss. My son endures an interest amongst our people that can be trying. Not only for him but for those with whom he shares his time. We just wished you to know, regardless of how Cressida and Etienne behaved at lunch, that you have his family’s support, a listening ear, whatever you need.”

Wow. That was super nice.

“Thank you,” I replied quietly.

“Whatever you need,” Magdalene repeated, getting slightly closer to me in a way I found contradictorily both reassuring and a little scary.

Great, now Lucien’s mother was causing me to have bizarre, conflicting emotions.

“Okay,” I was still talking quietly, “thank you.”

Her hand came up and she again gave my arm another squeeze.

I smiled then looked to the path and then back to the women.

“I really should get back to Lucien,” I told them. “As you know, he’s not a big fan of his father, Cressida worked his nerves at lunch and he can sometimes have a temper. I don’t know you all very well but I’m thinking Julian working on his own can’t keep the beast at bay. And anyway, Lucien would much rather spend time with you so maybe we should return.”

“I see you have grown to know my son well,” Magdalene noted in her soft voice.

“He’s an immensely knowable guy,” I replied and heard Isobel chuckle. “I mean, he’s a guy you’d want to know, uh… immensely,” I clarified stupidly.

“A guy,” Isobel murmured, amusement vibrating in her voice.

“It’s refreshing, my dear,” Magdalene started and my attention went to her, “to see my son with someone, anyone, who enjoys his company,
his
company, without veneration.”

Well, I worshipped her son but not in a way I’d share with her.

“I’m pleased you find that refreshing,” I told her and she moved into me again, this time to slide an arm around my waist and turn me back to the path.

“Let’s get to know each other better, you and I,” she stated as she started us on our way, Isobel following. “Use that card to call on me just to chat.”

“Me too,” Isobel called from behind us.

Wow, totally nice. They completely made up for Cressida being a bitch and Etienne being super-creepy.

“Okay,” I agreed.

“And perhaps we’ll return. Take you to lunch, just girls. Maybe shopping,” Magdalene went on.

I would love that.

I didn’t share that. I just said, “That’d be great. Maybe we can invite Stephanie.”

“Excellent idea,” Magdalene stated on a waist squeeze.

We were on the path, woods surrounding us when it hit me and I found my feet suddenly stopping. Thus I stopped Magdalene with me and Isobel was forced to halt behind us.

I turned to them, moving out of the curve of Magdalene’s arm and that was when I found my mouth moving.

“I… Lucien… he’s shared with me a variety of things and I… well, being me, being mortal, I mean, it’s very hard to wrap my mind around them. But at lunch, I was worried… um, I mean to say…” Damn! I was screwing this up! I took in a deep breath and forged on, “What I mean is, he’s very strong but still, I sense he’s suffered. That will happen to everyone at times in their lives, I know. It would just suck if it happened to you and you didn’t have good people, family, friends, at your back. At lunch I worried that he didn’t.” My eyes took them both in and I finished quietly, “I’m glad to know that he does.”

Magdalene’s normally soft, friendly face got softer and friendlier. Isobel, who played her cards closer to her vest, smiled a genuine, heartfelt smile.

I kept talking.

“Lucien would never thank you and it isn’t my place to do it but I’m going to do it anyway. So, uh… thank you.”

Magdalene looked at Isobel, Isobel looked at Magdalene then Magdalene again moved into me and wrapped her hand around my elbow.

She turned us and moved us forward but she did this walking close and saying softly, “And thank you, my dear. It’s lovely to know my son spends his time with a woman who cares.”

“I do,” I said softly back and, actually (shocker) I did.

Her fingers gave my elbow a squeeze.

“Good,” she murmured and I looked to the side to see her facing forward, her expression thoughtful but content.

Then I threw a look behind me and caught Lucien’s beautiful daughter’s smile.

Totally weird. Either one of them could be his sister.

Still, I smiled back.

Then I concentrated on walking close to Lucien’s mother as we made our way back to her son.

* * * * *

Wearing a raspberry satin nightie with a deep edge of black lace at the bottom, I wandered out of the dressing room, through the bathroom and into the bedroom.

Although Magdalene and Isobel had been true to their promise to conclude the visit from Lucien’s family shortly after we returned, five minutes after they left, my family descended.

This did not make Lucien happy and his frustration was apparent. He only put a clamp on it when Aunt Kate explained their plane left early the next morning and that evening was the last opportunity they had to visit with me. Therefore, they stayed for dinner and beyond, leaving only fifteen minutes ago.

However, during their visit they were all watchful of Lucien and me. I didn’t get the opportunity to ask them to explain though it felt weirdly like they were taking our pulse after the visit from Lucien’s family.

The second we walked back from me giving them hugs and kisses at their rental car and Lucien closed the front door of the house, he turned, looked down at me and growled, “Bed.”

I felt his growl in secret, happy places and this feeling was so strong, I totally forgot I wanted to ask him about his family and my family seemingly worried about my visit with them. So I called my goodnight to Edwina and skedaddled up the stairs to peruse my lingerie drawer for Lucien’s next treat.

As I changed, I heard him in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Then I heard him leave the bathroom.

Now I was walking through the bedroom to see he was as he was last night. Reclined against the headboard, chest bared, book in hand but eyes on me.

He immediately flipped his book shut and set it on his nightstand.

I immediately walked to him, put a knee in the bed, threw my other leg around and settled astride his hips.

“You don’t use a bookmark,” I noted, moving my hands to rest them lightly on his upper gut.

“No,” he answered shortly as I felt his stomach muscles tighten even with my light touch.

Power.

My power over the Mighty Vampire Lucien.

I liked that.

“What?” I tipped my head to the side. “Do you memorize the page number or something?”

“Do you really care?” he shot back.

I smiled at him. “No.”

His hands came to my hips. I felt the pads of his fingers press in and just with that, my body heated.

“I like your kids,” I whispered, sliding my hands up slightly, my torso moving down a smidgeon as I did.

“Good,” he muttered, sliding his hands up too, pulling me down a smidgeon more.

“And your Mom is lovely,” I told him, my hands sliding up more as I bent just a touch closer.

“She is,” he agreed, his hands doing the same, pulling me closer.

That was when I moved down. Folding one of my arms between us, the other hand slid up to curve around his strong jaw as my thumb slid out to glide along his beautiful lips.

“I like that for you,” I whispered and he blinked.

“Pardon?”

“You’re Mighty Vampire Lucien,” I told him and felt his lips twitch. “But even superheroes need good folks at their backs. Batman has Robin and that butler guy. Iron Man has that dude in the military and Pepper Potts. Spiderman has Aunt May. The Fantastic Four are, well…
four.
And –”

“You don’t have to recite your knowledge of all things superhero, sweetling,” Lucien said against my thumb, his voice vibrating with humor. “I think I’ve got it.”

My thumb swept his cheekbone and I repeated softly, “I like that for you.”

“There’s a problem with this scenario,” Lucien noted and my head tilted.

“What problem?”

Suddenly I found myself on my back with Lucien’s weight on top of me and his lips brushing mine.

“Superheroes don’t often get the girl,” he murmured against my lips and that made my body heat more.

“Okay, then you’re a new, better,
real
kind of superhero who gets laid regularly,” I murmured back, my hands traveling light on his skin.

“Better?” he whispered, his hands traveling light on the satin of my nightie.

“Oh yeah,” I whispered back.

His mouth grinned against mine and I watched up close as his eyes got smug.

That used to annoy me. Now I thought it was hot.

I wrapped my legs around his hips as his lips trailed down my cheek to my ear. One of his hands pushed between me and the bed so his arm could wrap around me tight.

His tongue touched the skin under my ear then his lips moved against it. “I’m going to feed from you, my pet.”

My whole body trembled.

Lucien wasn’t done.

“And I’m going to do it everywhere.”

Oh yes. That sounded nice.

He kept going.

“There will be places you’ll be numb.”

Hmm. That didn’t sound nice.

He went on.

“But there’ll be other,
better
places where you absolutely will not.”