Falcon

"I've never been here," Nora said, smiling as she walked hand and hand with me down the foggy streets of London. Macbeth was playing and I wanted to have a few words with the star attraction. His bride was in the play as well, so I couldn't speak with her before we met her husband.

I looked to Nora, returning her smile. "I love London, so I'm quite pleased that I'm the one to show you around."

"This is truly a fitting place for vampires to lure you into a dark alley," she murmured. Her hand tugged teasingly as we passed an alley.

"When it's dark, I shall drink from you, my soul," I whispered in her ear.

Her body was squirming with need from my plans for her. “Oh, Falcon, why do I need to buy a new dress? We could go back to the hotel. The ones I already brought with me are wonderful.”

“Yes, and many have grown too tight for my liking.” She gasped at my words and took my meaning incorrectly. “They show too much of your curves for the human male population. Unless you wish for me to feast on the mortals, it is best that we find you something more suitable to my liking.”

“I suppose if you must. Although, I have never tasted a human before.”

“And you won’t. I don’t want your lips on another soul; they belong to me now.”

“How can you have me for all eternity and still be so jealous?” she asked, but I had had a lifetime of waiting; the thought of losing her to anyone would annihilate me. And I didn’t wish to tell her the truth, but she did not have to remain with me if she chose not to. I would perish without her, but she could carry on without me. That was a secret I’d best keep to myself. Only the greatest, deepest loves died without the other. I raised her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing her chilled hand. Despite the first week of autumn in, it was quite cold, according to the temperature on the bank clock across the street, it was 8°C.

“You’re chilled, love. Let us go into this shop.” We entered a small shop with a dress I saw in the window. It was gorgeous and something I would love to see Nora wear. It was more provocative than I cared for, but something told me she wouldn’t come off as sexy but rather elegant and motherly. “Do you know where Charlotte and Draco went?” I asked as I watched her eyeing the pretty gown out the corner of her eye.

“Yes, to eat again before they shop. Charlotte’s appetite apparently has increased lately.” She covered her mouth in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

“It’s okay, love. She’s pregnant and I know you meant that she has been hungry. Draco is a big man, so it’s natural that their baby needs a lot of fuel.”

“I know, but I eat nearly as much as she does.”

“And I think you’re perfect. Come on, I want you to try this dress on.” I picked it up and showed it to her.

“Oh my. This one? I thought you were worried that I’d show too much,” she questioned me.

“Trust me, I think you’ll look lovely but respectful,” I whispered in her ear. I then addressed the shop lady, “Madam, do you have one of these gowns that would fit her new form?”

“Yes, actually, there’s a maternity version right here, and I can adjust it if we need be.”

“Please.” I smiled kindly at the woman which I could tell had been a mistake. Ignoring the woman’s thoughts that started drumming through her brain, I turned back to Nora. “Go ahead, my love. I’ll wait right here.”

She left to go try it on and I looked at the time. We had six hours to enjoy London before the performance. In the back of my mind, I thought about the address I had. I was planning to go the moment Nora fell asleep tonight, but I wasn’t going to lead her into danger. Draco and I wanted to make sure we wore them out so that we could sneak out to the address Gideon gave me.

Draco sent me a text. We’re leaving to go shopping for two hours, then we’ll meet you back at the hotel.

Sounds good to me. I had just hit send when Nora came out of the fitting room for me to see. Wow, she looked beautiful. It was a long, dark blue dress, so dark it was nearly black. The gown was strapless and hugged her breasts and flowed down over her belly. The part that worried her was the long slit that ran up her left thigh.

“You look amazing.”

“It fits so perfectly that we don’t need to alter it. She’s stunning. You are a very lucky man.”

“I’m the lucky one,” Nora said. I closed the distance, slung my arm around her waist, and kissed her possessively.

“No, my love. She’s right, I’m the luckiest soul alive.” I stepped back and added, “Go change, so we can go eat.”

Nora left the room and the woman led me to the register. “That’ll be a thousand twenty-nine pounds.” I handed over my Amex and paid for the transaction. Nora came out a minute later and gave the woman a scowl. I was ignoring her thoughts about me and how she wished she was the lucky one, but I forgot Nora didn’t have an easy time turning it off.

I slid her coat back on and placed a kiss on the nape of her neck. “Come on, my love. I’m in the mood to go back to our hotel and not to rest,” she said, slipping her arm around mine then giving the lady a snide smirk.

As soon as we were out the door, I stopped and turned to face her. “So where do you want to eat?” I asked, knowing she had no intention of going back to the hotel yet.

Her eyes narrowed and she muttered, “Can it be a place where only men work? Or maybe all vampires?”

“Are you jealous, my sweet?” I asked, looking down into her eyes as we stood outside the store.

Her head turned toward the large window, looking for the woman. “I’m annoyed. She was thinking nasty things about you and I wanted to bite her.”

“I know, trust me, I feel the same way,” I replied with a chuckle. “It’s fine, remember we’ve only got eyes for each other. It wasn’t just destiny that brought us together. Everything about you calls to me, and not just for mating. I want to spend every waking minute with you. Hell, sometimes I watch you as you sleep because I can’t get enough.”

“Falcon, you’re really going to make me want to skip the meal and go back to the hotel for some dessert.”

“Yes, but I have to feed you. You’re going to need all the energy you can get.”

“Okay, let’s find something around here. How about this place?” It was a little café on the corner. It would do for now.

“That works for me.” We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess.

“Two?”

“Yes, please,” I said to the woman, who walked us to a large table against a wall covered in all things London. We took our seats at the table, but my lovely mate had to sit a little further away because her belly was in the way.

She blushed with embarrassment, but she had nothing to be uncomfortable about. She was pregnant with my son. It was only natural that she be so large in the abdomen. “Soon, my love. And then it’ll be forever before we have another one.”

“I know and somehow that makes me sad. I was an only child and life was not kind. A sibling would be awesome.”

“Remember, Charlotte’s pregnant, too. And Draco and I are brothers through time.”

“That you are. I suppose your bond is so great he doesn’t ring your neck over Charlotte.”

“Yes, I have spoken to him and apologized, but he has also told me my mother’s gift had annoyed him, too, and it didn’t affect him personally, so he gets it. He doesn’t appreciate it, but he gets it.”

“Fine, let’s order because I’m hungry and so is your baby.”

“Welcome, what can I get for you, today?” the waitress asked. Nora already was giving her a warning glare.

Nora, I warned.

I know. I’m being nice.

Your face says otherwise.

“I’ll have the steak and potatoes, medium rare, please,” she said with a smile.

“I’ll have the same.”

I want to bite her neck.

See this is why you can’t be out of the house.

You think you’re funny.

Only a little.

“Just wait until we get back to the hotel, mister.”

“I can’t wait,” I answered, winking at her, which turned that attitude right back around. Yep, I couldn’t wait to have her on top of me.