CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Three in the morning.
That was when Willow woke up to the banging on her door. She knew right away who it was, because no other idiot would have the nerve to bang on her door like that, certainly not in the middle of the night. She wasn't sure why Michael wasn't already up and strangling him in the foyer, but the house was dark and quiet, other than the banging, of course.
She flung open the door, only halfway pissed to see him standing there. "What now?"
He didn't answer, didn't push past her with some angry rant, didn't move at all. His expression was unreadable, but somehow, Willow felt the emotion coming off of him. She'd felt it too. Hell, she wanted to show up at his house three hours earlier, but she had the decency to show some self-control.
Chase clearly had none.
Willow stood aside and waited for Chase to come in so she could close the door. He made it a few feet past the door when he stopped and looked at her. Hunger filled his eyes and she knew right then and there, they weren't about to talk things out.
Which was fine with her.
One step toward her was all it took to get things started. Willow jumped into Chase's arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands came around her, settling on her ass to keep her in place. He glanced at the couch, then toward her bedroom, as if he was trying to decide if he wanted to waste one more second. He opted for the bedroom, but made it there at vampire speed.
He set Willow on her feet and reached behind her head to wrap his hand into her hair. With a strong tug, he tilted her head up to meet his and kissed her mouth hard. There was no worry about hurting her, no mixed feelings. He knew exactly what he wanted and she had no problems giving it to him.
Before their lips parted, Chase nipped at her bottom lip, drawing blood with one sharp fang. He let the scarlet drop drip just enough to hang from her mouth before he licked it off.
As her blood fused with his own, Chase closed his eyes and took in a deep inhale of breath. He was still getting used to bloodsharing, and blood with sex, well that was a whole other thing. It was probably Willow's favorite thing about her vampire side.
When he opened his eyes again, Willow smiled at him. "Enjoying yourself?"
Chase nodded. "Yes, but I'm about to be enjoying much more."
"Is that so?" She propped one hand up on her hip, as if she had any intention of telling him no.
He laughed.
"Yes, that is most definitely so."
Chase tugged her shirt over her head and ripped her underwear off her with one swift pull, leaving her standing there naked. She wasn't about to let him have all the fun and went about relieving him of his clothes. He wasn't about to argue and helped her with their shared vampire speed.
For one quick moment, they stood there, face-to-face, naked and breathing in quick pants. But one moment was all that they could manage. Chase pushed her down on the bed and caged her body with his. She'd been in control the other times they'd been together. Even when she let him think he was, she'd always had the upper hand. Looking into Chase's eyes, Willow knew their roles were reversed.
Still looking in her eyes, Chase pawed her breasts roughly, kneading her nipples between his fingers. She arched her back, pressing herself against him in the tight cage he made around her body. His mouth came down to her neck, kissing, licking, grazing his teeth over her soft skin. She wanted him to bite her, to sink his fangs into her, make them one, but he held back.
This time, it wasn't because of anxiety. She could feel his smile against her throat. He knew what she wanted, he just refused to give in to easily. Willow wasn't the kind of girl to play those games. She took what she needed, or she could manage herself.
This was different.
She wanted, no needed, it to come from Chase.
"Please," she moaned into his hair. It was the first time she'd ever said the word in such a context. It was something she never thought would happen, but everything with Chase was different. She couldn't deny it any longer. She didn't even want to.
"Please what?" He backed off her neck and gave her a moment to form a coherent thought.
"You know what I want."
"I do." He smiled, a cocky, arrogant smile, that Willow wanted to punch off his smug face. She also kind of wanted to bite it, while he thrust inside her. So punching him wasn't the best idea.
"So?"
"So?"
"Give it to me." Willow pouted and Chase laughed.
"Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you." Chase loosened his hold on her and waited for an answer. His previous urgent need was gone, replaced by a more relaxed, I have all the time in the world attitude.
It only made her want to punch him more.
She considered pushing him off and telling him to forget the whole thing. Then she felt him twitch against her belly and she knew she couldn't send him away. She wanted him too badly. Apparently much more than he wanted her, if he was willing to play games.
"Fine, you want to play it that way. I want you to fuck me. I want to feel your hands all over me, your tongue licking me, your teeth biting me. And, I want it now, as in immediately, and I don't want to play anymore silly games."
Chase bit back a laugh and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Forget it." Willow flipped Chase off her and tried to get off the bed when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.
"Oh, no you don't." Chase nestled his face into the side of her neck and planted a series of kisses along the soft skin. She squirmed just enough to get his attention focused onto her mouth.
When he pulled back from her mouth, his eyes grew serious. He smoothed down her hair and took a few breaths.
"You're so beautiful."
Willow's first instinct was to laugh at him, to say some snarky remark that would make him feel stupid for saying that. But something about the way he looked at her, stopped her from opening her mouth.
"I want you to know how much I appreciate you being there with me while my sister had the babies."
"It was no big deal. I just stood there."
"No." Chase took her face into his hands. "It was a big deal."
He didn't say anything else, but she understood. Neither of them were good at the whole emotions thing, but in that moment, they understood each other completely.
So she nodded.
Like an idiot.
Chase smiled. "See, beautiful."
Before she could shoot back a remark, he covered her mouth with his, washing all thoughts from her mind. His hand slipped down between them, caressing her body along its path. Her skin tingled under his fingertips, growing hot from his touch. Long before he slid past her belly, she was ready for him.
Willow parted her legs wider to allow his hand room to explore her. With his other hand, he ran a thumb along her bottom lip where he'd bitten her earlier. Willow's own fangs ached to taste him, to mix her lifeforce with his. But even more, she wanted him to bite her.
It wasn't something she talked about, but Willow didn't let men bite her. Not until Chase that was. Julian had ruined that for her. He twisted everything around and tainted it until she wasn't sure what was right and what was an artifact of her tortured days with that sick bastard.
When Chase bit her, it was all pleasure and gratification. The way it should be. Julian didn't even enter her mind. She knew that first time that Chase was special, but she fought her feelings. When Chase leaned in and grazed his fangs along her throat, she knew she couldn't fight any longer.
"Bite me, Chase." It wasn't begging, exactly, but it didn't matter. She pulled his head back against her and he obliged.
His fangs sunk into her at the same time he thrust inside her. The two actions, the two parts of him inside her, cemented the inevitable. The world exploded around her in all the usual ways, but everything was different. She could never go back, never be the same. Chase Summers changed her.
She was in love.
***
"So what are we naming these beautiful little things?" Alexander walked back and forth gently bouncing one baby in each arm. Ari sat half-upright on the bed nibbling on a banana.
"I'm not in the mood to argue, Alexander." She sighed. "We have to agree and I'm not going to name my babies Zeus or Aphrodite, or any of the other insane ideas you came up with over the last few months."
Alexander cooed at the babies and continued the gentle bounce, but sat down on the edge of the bed next to Ari.
"Of course we have to agree, but we do have to name them something, love."
"Well, I'm sure they can wait for us to pick the right names. It's not like they're in a hurry. They don't even know who we are yet."
"Of course they do. They're brilliant. They know exactly who their mommy and daddy are. Just look at our beautiful little girl." Alexander held the baby out to her so she could see the baby's face. "She has your eyes."
The little blue eyes glowed back at Ari and she smiled. So there was one mystery solved. The baby was at least part nephilim. Whatever else she was, and what the baby boy was, was still unknown, but that much was clear. Ari couldn't wait for Lily to get there to tell her what to do with the babies. Lily's baby was like Ari, like her baby, and she would know more what she needed.
Ari tucked one baby under each arm and started feeding the twins, while Alexander looked on with pride and love. Everything was as it should be. Everything was perfect.
Doctor Song slipped in the room and waited for Ari to notice her before interrupting.
"How are we doing this morning?" She smiled at Ari and ignored Alexander.
"Good. A little sore, but otherwise fine. The babies are eating well, but very often. Is it normal for them to be so hungry? I feel like I'm feeding them every hour and a half."
"That's completely normal. They'll eat around every two hours for quite some time. So make sure you get sleep when you can. He," she nodded in Alexander's direction. "Should be doing everything he can in between, so you can rest. Your body went through a lot and it needs time to heal."
Ari knew Alexander would do everything he could to help her and the babies. She didn't even have to ask. The doctor clearly didn't like him though, so she would just nod and leave it at that.
"Well, if you don't need anything else, I'm going to head out."
"You're leaving?" Alexander stood with his eyes wide. "Shouldn't you stay a little longer, just to make sure they're all right? The baby girl is so small."
"Mr. Morgan, your babies are fine. Yes, the girl is very small, but she seems healthy otherwise. I don't need to be here. I'll be back tomorrow. If there are any issues, you can certainly call me and I'll come right over. Until then, you still have the midwife for the week."
Alexander took a breath at the mention of the midwife. Rebecca would stay for a week or two, depending on how long they needed her, just like she did for Lily. She was skilled at taking care of babies, and after delivering Jonah, Alexander's baby brother, she knew a little something about taking care of babies who might be like their twins.
Alexander stood staring at the doctor for a solid minute, before he released his breath and nodded. She slipped out without another word, probably before he could change his mind and insist she stay.
By the time the babies were finished nursing, Rebecca was there with a steaming mug of tea for them both and to take the babies to be cleaned up. Alexander insisted that he could handle it, but she shushed him and went off with the babies. Ari had to admit, she was grateful for the moment of quiet with Alexander to herself. As soon as she snuggled up with Alexander, and finished her tea, she was ready to drift off to sleep.
***
"The kids are just back?" Chase looked around the huddled mass of vamplings. "Out of nowhere?"
"They were found wandering the city, confused and hungry," Jayce said, and propped his feet up on the desk where Chase settled into.
"Who took them?"
"They don't know. They were drugged and never saw the person who abducted them, or was keeping them. They can't even tell us if it was more than one person."
"Shit. That's so bizarre." Chase was glad they were back, and safe, but it didn't make any sense. "Does Lex know?"
"I'm not sure. Samuel seems to be taking over completely. He's taking advantage of Lex being busy with the babies." Jayce glanced around the room." "I'm really starting to hate that asshole."
"Better watch saying that. You never know how far it will be heard."
"That's why I made sure he wasn't in here. Which is surprising honestly, the guy hasn't left in days."
"I guess the rules don't apply to him."
"So how's your sister and the babies?"
"She's good." Chase beamed. "The babies are the cutest things ever."
Jayce threw an empty cup at Chase. "What the hell happened to you? You were only gone a day and you're already a girl."
"Fuck off."
"Photos?"
Chase immediately pulled out his phone and started flicking through pictures with the goofiest smile on his face.
"See? Girl." Jayce laughed and Chase tossed the cup back at him.
"Whatever."
"They are cute though." Jayce snatched the phone and got a better look at the babies. He could tease Chase all he wanted, but he couldn't deny how adorable those kids were.
Thanks to their mother, of course.
"So what's going on with the kid vamplings? Did Dictator Samuel say what we're supposed to do next?"
"He's not saying much, other than when he wants something from us, he will say so. Direct quote." Jayce rolled his eyes. "On a more interesting topic, I did hear that a certain sexy blood witch was there for the birth of the babies… holding your hand."
"Who the hell told you that?"
Jayce shrugged. "I hear things."
"Well mind your own business."
"So, it's true." Jayce smirked and Chase fought the urge to punch him in the face.
"What it is, is none of your business." Chase wasn't sure how he felt about needing her to be there. He certainly wasn't about to talk it through with Jayce. Knowing the little gossip, he would spread it all over the city. That was the last thing Chase needed.
"Speak of the devil." Jayce nodded his head in the direction of the door behind Chase.
Chase turned to find Willow standing there, very still, with a grave look on her face. Something was wrong. No, something was very wrong. He jumped up and went to her, no longer caring what anyone thought of the two of them together.
"What is it?" He grabbed her shoulders in both hands and stared into her.
"I… I'm not sure."
"What does that mean?"
"I think something is wrong, but I'm not sure what."
"You're going to have to be a little more specific." Chase normally would have been losing patience by this point, but the look on her face kept him calm. Worry bubbled up in the pit of his stomach. Her anxiety was contagious.
"I think it has to do with your sister, or the babies, I'm not sure. It's hard to explain, but trust me, something isn't right. Maybe we could go check on her?"
Willow didn't seem like the worrying type. For her to be this concerned, it had to be something. Chase wasn't sure why she thought there was a problem, but he wanted to believe her.
"Of course we can." He took her hand in his, unconcerned with what anyone thought, and headed back toward the mansion.
***
"Where's Ari?" Chase shook Lex awake as the asshole was sleeping like a baby while his sister was probably off taking care of two babies on her own.
"She's… uh…" Lex sat up and looked around. "She was just right here."
One job he has. Take care of Ari. And he fucks it up.
"Can't you do some mind meld thing and find her? Willow has some concerns."
Willow stood in the corner, not saying anything, with the same worried expression on her face. She scrunched up her nose a few times and shook her head.
"Something's not right."
"Right. That's why we're here."
"What does that mean?" Lex got off the bed and stuck his head into the hall as if he thought he'd find Ari out there. Because all women who just gave birth hang out in the hallway with two newborns.
"I don't know. She'll have to explain. She got some bad juju about Ari or something."
Lex stepped back in the room and looked over Willow. "Did you sense something?"
She nodded, but didn't say anything.
"So, where is my sister?" Chase was growing impatient.
He pushed past Lex and went to go look for himself. He wandered around the first floor of the massive house. Kitchen, nope. Dining room, nope. Library, office, bathroom, pantry, formal living room, nope. He hated to think she'd gone up all those stairs with how weak she looked the last time he saw her, but it was better than thinking she took those tiny babies outside for a walk.
Chase headed up the stairs to search the rest of the house, calling her name as he went. Lex followed behind him, periodically calling for Rebecca as well. Sometime between the stairs and the first bedroom, Jameson joined the hunt, looking like he'd just woken up from a nap.
Each room Chase found empty, made his stomach drop further. Something was wrong. Ari wouldn't just go off on her own with two new babies without telling anyone.
"Can't you get a read on her?" Chase turned to Lex, ready to shake some answers out of him.
"No." It was all he said. His face drained of color and Chase knew the guy was about to panic. He understood the feeling, because he was just holding on himself.
"Maybe she went for a walk. It's a beautiful day," Jameson said from behind the two vampires.
None of them believed that, but then rushed down the stairs to check outside nonetheless. Rebecca was with them, so that had to be good. At least Ari wasn't alone, wherever she was.
Lex pulled out his phone and called Dex, ordering him to gather some people and search the city. The males were all still at the training facility with the vamplings, but they could spare a few men to look for Ari. Between them all, they had to find her quickly. How far could she go after just delivering two babies?
Willow tugged at Chase's arm. "She isn't here."
"What do you mean? She has to be somewhere."
"Yes, but she isn't in the city. I'm a seeker, Chase. It's what I do. If she was here, I would have some shred of something to tell me that. She is definitely out of range."
Lex grabbed Willow by the shoulders and shook her. "What do you mean out of range? Where is she?"
Chase growled and pried Lex from Willow. "This isn't her fault."
The two males stood face-to-face in a stare down for several moments, then Lex nodded and took a step back.
"We need to find them."
Chase nodded and turned back to Willow. "You can do a spell, right? You'll be able to find them?"
Willow looked from Chase to Lex and back again. "I can try, but if she's still blocked, I don't know how much I'll be able to do."
"What do you mean blocked?" Lex narrowed his eyes.
"I tried to do a spell on her during the labor, to relax her, and to sooth some of her pain, but it was blocked. I assumed you had something done intentionally to keep any magic from being used on her."
"I did no such thing." Lex growled.
Willow closed her eyes for a long moment and shook her head. "The midwife."
"What about her?" Chase asked.
"She's involved."