He needed the drinks, because now he stood before Kimber like a tongue-tied teenager and she was looking at him as if he were mad. Her stare told him as much.

They were on the veranda after she’d eaten a lavish meal that Nellie had prepared. Once he’d hinted that tonight was going to be a special evening she’d gone all out, preparing a wonderful meal for Kimber who now said she felt as if she were going to burst out of her dress. That wasn’t something he were averse to. In fact, he’d quite like to rip the red silk from her himself, but first he had to get over his nerves and present her with what he had in his inside pocket of his Armani suit. He hoped she liked it as much as he did. It had turned out much better than he’d hoped. For once the designer had listened to him and done as he’d asked. The pieces were outstanding and would look stunning on his Bloodmate . . . if only he could open his damn mouth and speak.

“Are you all right? You look a little . . . nervous?” Kimber played with the stem of her champagne flute. He’d ordered several bottles of a rare vintage to be flown in and she’d giggled as the bubbles had tickled her nose.

“I am, nervous.” He closed the gap between them, removing the glass from her hand and placing it on the table. “I have something for you. In fact, a couple of items, and I’m a little anxious in case you don’t like them. But I’m trying to find the right words to go along with them so forgive me while I collect my thoughts.”

Canting her head, her lips tugged up. “This is a different side to you, Victor. I’m not sure I’ve seen you like this before.”

“I’m certain I’ve never been like this before.” He frowned briefly before he gave her a smile. “And I’m sure I don’t like it. I much prefer when I’m sure of myself and know what the hell I’m doing.”

“Why don’t you just say whatever it is and give me what you have? I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“Them, it’s multiple gifts . . . let’s start with this.” He reached in to pull out the larger box, gazing into her upturned face. “I listened, Kimber, when you were talking about your customs. I heard every word and although this isn’t what you’d get from your brethren, or from a Dragon mate, I know they make something for their mate to be worn around their neck. Well, that’s not happening with me, is it? But I hope you like this and it’s not too much of a disappointment for you.”

And it was at that very second that Flint interrupted them. “Boss, I’m sorry but I need to talk to you.”

Victor spun around, snarling. “It can wait, Flint. I’m in the middle of something here.”

“It can’t, Vic. I really need you now. I won’t keep you, I promise. Sorry, Kimber, I’ll have him back to you in a few moments.” Flint gave her a tight smile but Victor saw that it didn’t reach his eyes.

His friend was upset and that worried him so he turned back to Kimber, cupping the side of her face with his palm. “I’ll be right back.”

“It’s okay, go. I’ll be here waiting, although the anticipation is killing me.” She moved her head, placing a kiss against his hand before he reluctantly removed it.

“Don’t move, baby.” He leaned down, gently pressing his lips to hers briefly then giving Flint his attention. “Okay, let’s go inside.”

He followed his friend and Head of Security who continued walking until they were far enough away that Kimber wouldn’t hear before he stopped. “Jana just found me to let me know that the Witch they had here has had to leave on another mission. She apologized but the Directive issued the order and their hands are tied. With no sign of a threat materializing and no idea of when it will they said they can’t have one of their most valuable assets just sitting around doing nothing, and she’s needed elsewhere on something important. I’m sorry, Victor, Jana said she and Clarence tried but they were overruled. She was angry and upset but I guess I can see their point. I just don’t know what we’re going to do now.”

Victor processed the words, his insides churning while his mind went into overdrive. The lack of magical back-up was a blow to their defenses and one he wasn’t about to leave lacking. Hell! It was something he had to shore up, and fast. “We need to sort this. Fast. Ask Jana if she has any recommendations, if not then we need to source someone elsewhere. Cost, obviously, isn’t a factor, Flint. We need to acquire someone that is powerful and available as soon as possible but we have to be careful. Background on any candidates, deep background, and I want to see the information before a decision is made. I won’t have a sheep in wolf’s clothing being brought into the fold. We have several Witches on the books but I doubt they’re strong enough for what we suspect is headed our way. Fuck! This is the last thing we need right now.”

“I know and I’m sorry to have interrupted you, but I figured you’d want to know immediately.” Flint reached out, grabbing his shoulder. “We’ll keep her safe. I promise you that, my friend.”

“We have to, Flint, I’ll die without her,” he admitted quietly.

“I know,” Flint replied. “I can see it. But don’t get all maudlin on me, old man. We’ve got this.”

“We better,” Victor growled. “Now I’m heading back to her and making a fool out of myself.”

Flint chuckled, patting his shoulder hard. “Love makes fools of all men. What makes you different? Go, give her your presents and I’ll take care of business.”

“Thank you.” Victor reached out, grasping his friend’s hand. “I know I’m an ass at times and I don’t say it often, but I appreciate all you do, Flint, especially now.”

Flint’s eyebrow raised then he nodded before he quipped, “Damn, she’s good for you, Vic. I hope I find my own one day.”

“I hope you do too,” Victor agreed before striding away, going back to the woman who had changed everything.

She was waiting for him, staring up at the moonlit sky, turning as he stepped out to join her. “That wasn’t long, is everything all right?”

“Yes, some staffing issues that Flint was worried about but I’ve given him the go ahead to source someone and he’s happy now.” Victor skirted the truth. “Now, where were we?”

Kimber’s eyes lit up, a smile breaking out on her face. “I seem to remember you were about to present me with a gift.”

“Ah yes,” Victor teased. “That’s right. I was, wasn’t I?”

“Yes.” Kimber nodded toward his chest.

“It’s in here,” he said, reaching inside and finally producing the larger of the boxes. “Now, where was I before we were so rudely interrupted? Yes, as I was saying, I listened and I know this isn’t what you would’ve been presented with, but I hope you like it all the same.”

Holding it out, he held his breath as her tiny hands nervously took it from him, her fingers shaking slightly as she opened the satin lined box that showcased the necklace. Kimber gasped, one hand flying to her neck and her eyes immediately filling with tears as she gazed down at the unique piece he’d commissioned for her. It was a simple platinum twisted choker that would sit high on her neck, in the center was a dragon’s eye set with a top-class emerald that matched her eye color exactly. He’d sent pictures of her as well as explained what shade of green her eyes were, with strict instructions to match it. And there were several heated calls when Victor had been told it was impossible to match, to which he’d roared that nothing was impossible. The price he’d eventually had to pay for this stone was, well, astronomical, but it was worth it to see the look on her face right now.

“How? It’s my eye color, Victor, but I’ve never seen an emerald this color before. How did you manage it?” She still stared at the box, transfixed.

“Anything is possible, darling, and you spoke of receiving a gift of a necklace made to match your eye color. I’m sorry I couldn’t make something myself but I did the next best thing and sourced someone to do it for me. Do you like it?”

He was almost certain she did. Her pupils were huge, dilated so much they almost covered her irises, her breathing coming so fast her blood was pounding through her body quickly and calling to the Vampire inside him. His fangs demanding to break free and sink inside her as he drank her ambrosia, but he fought against his desire, instead he waited on her answer. Her head popping up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.

“You’ve no idea what this means to me, my darling Vampire. It means the world to me. I love you, Victor Strong, with my entire heart and soul.”

Her bottom lip trembled as he stepped forward, removing her gift from the green silk it sat upon, taking the box and letting it fall to the floor. “Lift your hair, sweetheart, and I’ll put this on you. Where it belongs.” She turned, her hands moving her long dark locks out of his way as he fastened the piece around her neck before spinning her back around to fix his eyes on it. “It looks beautiful, just like you.”

Her fingers reached up, running along the platinum before landing on the precious gem. “I’ll cherish it forever. Thank you.”

“No tears because I’m not finished.” Victor grinned.

“Victor!” Kimber shook her head. “This is more than enough.”

“No, Kimber, it’s not nearly enough. Not for you. Not for the woman I love with my entire soul.”

Her lips trembled for a moment before she shook her head again, taking a deep breath. “I feel the same but you don’t need to shower me with gifts.”

“I’m aware I don’t need to.” He shrugged. “But for the first time in my life I’m getting joy out of doing so. Please, indulge me, baby.”

“I’ve never had anyone indulge me, or call me baby,” she admitted, her cheeks, pinking slightly. “It’s strange, in a good way, but strange. I keep thinking this is all going to be taken away and I’ll be back on the run with nothing to eat and no money in my pocket.”

Victor thought on her words for a moment, making an admission of his own. “I’ll let you in on a secret . . . I’ve never called anyone baby, or darling, or sweetheart. And I’ve never indulged anyone either. I don’t mean I’ve never given gifts before because I have, but it’s always been to sweeten a deal, or to get something in return. It’s never been because I care about someone, Kimber, or just to see that person smile so it brightens my day and makes me feel better inside. You, darling, have changed me irrevocably and that is miraculous and I can’t thank you enough for that. So, please, my sweet Bloodmate, let me indulge myself and buy you gifts?”

She leaned into him, up on her tip-toes to brush her plump lips softly across his briefly. “Well, if you put it that way how can I say no?”

“You could, but it wouldn’t stop me,” he quipped back, releasing her. “I have something else.”

“You did mention that.” She fingered her neck again. “Although this is more than enough.”

“This here,” he reached in to his pants pocket pulling out a small box, “is important to me. I love you with every cell of my being, Kimber. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it. You’re my Bloodmate and mean everything to me and in our world that is all that’s required, but we also live in the human world and I want to announce far and wide how I feel. That I love you, adore you, and that you are mine forever.”

He dropped down onto one knee while he popped open the box to reveal a set of rings. Once again they were platinum, but there were three rings encased within the box. One plain band, one engagement ring set with the same emerald stone that was around her neck and surrounded by diamonds, and a third eternity ring set with both emeralds and diamonds. Victor held up the box, his voice thick with emotion as his eyes locked with hers. “Will you be mine, Kimber? Will you marry me?”

Her eyes almost popped from her head, flickering between his and the rings and back again. Her chest heaving beneath the silk of her dress as she took great gulps of air as he knelt before her. Long seconds passed as he waited, his stomach clenching at her silence. Shit. Was she going to refuse him?

Finally she dropped down before him, her hands reaching forward and a finger running across the rings in the open box. “They’re the same . . . as the one in the necklace. How did you do that?”

Chuckling he couldn’t stop himself asking. “Is that a yes, baby? I’m dying here.”

Her eyes flew to his. “Oh, I didn’t say it out loud? I thought I had. Sorry! Yes! Of course, the answer’s yes!”

And she threw herself into his arms, her lips covering his in a searing kiss full of love, tears dripping from her eyes to dampen his face. Her soft sobs caught within his mouth as he held her tightly for a few moments before pulling back. “May I have the honor of putting the engagement ring on you?”

She held her shaking hand out and he had to hold it so he could slip the ring on. It was a perfect fit, as it should be. He’d measured it while she’d slept and she’d been none the wiser. “I’m going to organize the wedding for as soon as possible and it’s up to you how big you want it. You can have all the pomp and ceremony you want, or a small affair. Just let Suzette know and she’ll get it done.”

“Small,” Kimber replied immediately. “I don’t have anyone to invite. As long as you’re there that’s all that matters to me.”

“That works for me.” He grinned. “Although she’ll be disappointed. She’ll want to organize something huge and invite thousands.”

“Not happening.” Kimber shook her head vehemently. “She can go and organize someone else’s if that’s what she wants to do.”

“I’ll let you break the news.” He shook his head. “She’ll try and talk you out of it so be firm with her.”

“I will.” Kimber smiled. “I’ll allow a dress and photos, that’s it.”

“Good to know.”

“And cake. I’ve always wanted a big wedding cake!”

“You can have the biggest cake you want.”

“You might regret saying that.”

“No, I mean it. If you want a big cake then you can have it. Remember, I don’t eat so it’s not me that’s going to have to eat the dang thing.”

“Oh shoot,” Kimber moaned. “I forgot that. Well, you have Wolves working for you, they’ll help me.”

“That they will.” He chuckled, loving to see her so damn happy.

“I’m going to call her right now. I’m sure she’ll want to leak it to the press.” Kimber raised an eyebrow. “That’ll help your PR, won’t it?”

Victor stood, helping her to her feet and giving her an appraising stare. “That she would, but I didn’t think you’d be onboard with that.”

“I listen too, Victor, and I’m aware of the shit storm I caused to your life. If this helps then I’m okay with it.” She looked up at him with a sassy smirk. “I’ll go call her and give her the news and the unofficial go ahead to leak the story.”

He watched as she disappeared, realizing that she was far more clued in than he’d thought, and wondered if she’d like to come and work with him. Hmm, that might work . . . or not. He’d probably want to fuck her in the office, over his desk or on the leather sofa, or . . . shoot he’d have to rethink that thought. Or have strict rules of no sex. Shit, no, that wasn’t on the table . . . hell, yeah, the conference table would be perfect. Damn it! He was the boss, he could do whatever he pleased. He’d have new signs put up on all the doors . . . no, new locks. Yes, that would solve the problem. Simple. They could just lock the dang doors.

There was always a solution when you put your mind to it. Having Kimber coming to work with him would be . . . perfect.