Thirteen
TWO MONTHS LATER
Covered in mud, Burra struggled, but finally succeeded in pulling the rope free.
“Fuck. Done.”
Will and Eras had been lowered beneath a waterfall in Austria to repair damage to a mountain caused by a fallen satellite. The water had been feeding back into a valley and would have destroyed thousands of acres of grasslands where hundreds of species of animals had been re-introduced only twenty years earlier.
All three looked like they were covered in chocolate, tired, hungry, filthy, and hot, they looked at each other, and then, at once, jumped the fifty feet into the water below where the waterfall now flowed again.
Once down in the calmer part of the river, the men peeled their clothing off as they pitched everything up onto a pebbled shore.
Ripped, naked men rinsing off in the water, laughing, shoving each other beneath the surface, drew the attention of a group of four young women on a narrow lane above them. Burra saw them first.
“Oh, look lads, we’ve got admirers.”
“Have at it, Big Bear. I’m taken, of course.” Eras watched Will treading water. “Are you ready for some female companionship? You’ve earned it.”
“Naw. I’m good. Burra, we’re here to monitor the repair for two days, go ahead.”
“Think I will.”
Burra waded from the water, the drips cascading off his hairy powerful chest and thighs. Two of the women looked at their companions, and then headed toward him as he reached down for his pants and slowly slid them on to make sure they saw all his charms.
Eras lowered his head back into the water to rinse his hair. “Still pining.”
“Always will. Have you heard from your sister recently?”
“Bridge? No. Sadly, we often go up to a year before we check in. Time just flies and we’re all so busy now. It just gets away from us. I know she’s still in Vegas.”
“Huh. It seems that she and Olivia must have gotten along well.”
“I think so. She’s living in Olivia’s building.”
“I miss them both, every moment of every day.”
“You should go see them.”
“Someday, yeah. It’s not time yet.”
“I guess you’ll know. Anyway, let’s get cleaned up and get some food. This is hungry work.”
In Serenity Tower
Jasper gurgled and made a sound like a laugh.
Brigitte picked him up and looked into his huge blue eyes. “He’s laughing at me. He knows I’m a newbie at this baby thing.”
Coming into the room, Olivia gently nudged Geraldo aside. The dog was obsessed with her son.
“Then he’s laughing at both of us. I know less than you do.” She tickled him on the cheek. “Yet I think between us, we’re doing an incredible job.”
“I agree. Lucky for us, he’s first blood and we’d have a tough time breaking him.”
“Luckily.” She noticed that Brigitte wore a sexy satin dress and high heels. “Are you on your way to see Russell?”
“I think so. He’s taking me to dinner, and I kind of miss his goofy smile. Plus, for human, he’s not bad in bed.”
“Oh, no details.”
“I know I promised.”
“Have a good night.”
“I think I will. I’ll be in before daylight.”
“Does he have a secure room?”
“Yeah, but I prefer to be at home.”
Olivia nodded. Neither commented on the fact that Brigitte considered this home now. It had been odd how they’d bonded over Will’s son, and now, Olivia couldn’t imagine her life without Brigitte. Between Corri and Brigitte, the boy had the best godmothers in the world.
And while Brigitte had found someone to enjoy, had gotten back to sex, blood, and romance, Olivia hadn’t been interested yet.
Following Jasper’s birth three weeks ago, she’d thought that might change, but it hadn’t. She still missed Will as much as she ever had.
Besides, she’d been extremely tired since the mid-part of the pregnancy, which Park had told her was natural.
“Growing a first blood baby saps your own magical strength and can leave you weak for even a month after delivery. I found that out with baby number two. It will right itself with time. Just enjoy your son.”
Now, tonight, she would feed him, use the FP to make a nice dinner, eat in her room and watch a nice sci-fi show, no romance, and fall asleep. Jasper lay in his lace bassinette, already snoozing.
Quiet nights had become a favorite, post-pregnancy, the old partying Olivia happy to just relax and enjoy herself with Jasper or friends. Tonight, since it was Saturday, everyone had plans. So, a solitary dinner and a fun new vid program…perfect.
Set up in her bed an hour later, relaxed, a nice meal relished and gone, the baby gurgling now, Olivia shut off the vidscreen and checked on Jasper.
Diaper clean, recent feeding, he was ready for sleep and so was she. A wide yawn later, she kissed her son goodnight, his bassinette within reach of her bed, the U.V. panels drawn so that Brigitte didn’t have to think about it when she came in, and Olivia scooted down to sleep.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD IN AUSTRIA
Filling up the entire floor, his arms outstretched, Burra was dead to the world, having been up most of the night with a very pretty blonde local. Eras had succumbed to the daylight sleep of a vampire.
Will, wide awake, restless, his body buzzed, like tiny pins and needles in his arms and legs. Careful to make sure the room was secured, he left their hotel room and headed to the waterfall. This was the final day to check it, and then Eras would go home to Cari, and Burra would check in with his crew in Australia where he managed the continental farms.
Will didn’t know where he would go. For the past few months, he’d had assignments every week, but this week, after completing the mission, there had been no odd cryptic messages telling him where he needed to be but not what he would be needed to do. For the first time since he’d been brought back to life, he didn’t know where he would be next week.
It was a good thing for his companions. Eras missed Cari, and Burra was concerned that without his steady influence, problems may arise that would be difficult to fix. They needed to go home. Will just…
He knew what he needed, he just couldn’t have it.
It was warm today, the sky cerulean, the water cascaded over the falls as it was meant to do. Perhaps he would stay here for a while. It was truly a paradise now that the disaster had been diverted. Walking along the shoreline, the large pebbles finely polished by the water tickling his feet, he stopped to perch on a boulder to watch some white soaring birds sail over the waterfall.
Suddenly a stone sailed past him, waist high, and flew into the calm water, skipping, one, two, three times before it sunk.
“Cool.”
Will turned to see who had thrown the rock. A child? Yes, a little boy with dark hair and pastel blue eyes, maybe five years old, stood just behind him.
“Oh, hey.” Will lifted his eyes to scan the trees, but didn’t see anyone else. “Who are you with, young man?”
“I am with you.”
Smiling, Will slid off the rock and dropped to the boy’s level. What incredibly expressive, pale blue eyes.
“I see that. But who did you come here with?”
“I came alone to see you.”
Well, this was strange. “You must have a parent or adult with you. You’re too young to be by yourself out here.”
“I’m not by myself.”
“I guess you’re right about that. Let’s try this a different way. What is your name?”
“I’m Jasper.”
The name jolted Will at the bizarre coincidence.
“That’s funny. Jasper is my middle name.”
“I know.”
“How is that?”
“Mommy told me.”
The boy was looking for another rock to throw.
Will stood, an eerie feeling traveling along his spine.
“Jasper, what is your last name?”
“I don’t have a last name. What is yours?”
“It’s Collins.”
The boy’s smile widened and he moved around Will to climb up on top of the same boulder Will had just slipped off of.
Spotting the boy to make sure he didn’t fall, Will stayed beside him until he reached the top and stood watching the water pass.
“Then that’s my last name too.” The boy’s gaze dropped to Will’s. “You have to come to me. I’ve waited, and you haven’t come.”
His stomach rolling now, Will lifted the boy from the rock and lowered him back to the ground, kneeling beside him again. “Who is your mother?”
The unexpected giggle echoed off the mountain that fed the waterfall. “You know who she is!”
“Uh, no, I don’t.” Did he? What the hell was happening?
After rolling his eyes, Jasper put one little hand on each of Will’s cheeks. “Daddy, you know who my mother is. We’re waiting for you to come to us so we can be a family. Mommy is happy, but sometimes, she’s sad too.”
Will could feel the magics pouring around them, around this beautiful child. He stood, lifting Jasper with him, holding the boy close as he wrapped his short arms around Will.
“Your mother. Is her name Olivia?”
“Of course, silly.”
“It isn’t possible.” Whispering, Will looked into the eyes of a boy who did remind him of Olivia, the kid did have his eyes, when it suddenly struck him…he was dreaming!
“I’m asleep, I’m dreaming this.”
The child paid no attention to Will’s rambling.
“Mommy talks to me all the time and she tells me about you. She says my daddy would be so sorry he couldn’t meet me. She says my daddy would be proud of me, so why won’t you come home to me?”
Will set the boy down.
“Because you are wishful dreaming. But she’s right. If I had a boy like you, I’d never leave you. If you were my little guy, I would kiss you every night just before you go to bed and kiss you awake every morning. Yes, I would be so proud of you.”
It was remarkable, Will realized, how well he’d envisioned a perfect blend between himself and Olivia. Their son would have been exactly like this imaginary boy.
“Walk with me.”
Will kept his steps short so the child could keep up with him. “Jasper. Wow, I’m getting this right. I think Olivia would have chosen that name. Especially with me gone, as a memorial.”
“It’s my name.”
“I know. If I did have a son, I would want him to be just like you.”
The boy stopped. “I am your son.”
“If you existed, yeah, in about five years.”
“Daddy, come home.”
“Hey, Will, wait up!”
Will turned to Burra’s voice behind him, yelling out, waving. What was Burra doing in his dream?
As he caught up, Burra handed Will a mochapop.
“I figured you didn’t make any coffee this morning, so I brought you one of these. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried them, but they’re great.”
Burra looked around. “Where’d the kid go?”
“What?” Ah, it was a dream, Burra would have seen him too.
“It’s my son. He’s disappeared.”
“Funny. Sure. Yeah, that would have been cool.”
Will still couldn’t figure out why Burra was in his dream.
The magics swelled again.
It had been a dream, right? Had to have.
Why did this suddenly feel like it wasn’t a dream?
“Burra, I’m dreaming right now. This isn’t real.”
Burra watched Will for a moment, his mochapop halfway to his lips. “No, Will, this is the real world.”
“It can’t be. That kid, he doesn’t exist.”
“I saw the kid. Who was he?”
Silent now, lost in thought, the magics confusing him when they usually made things clearer.
“Burra, you saw the child I was talking to? And you say this is real?”
“Will, this is real life. No dream. I woke up, Eras was sleeping, so I came out to find you, figured you’d be near the waterfall, and saw you talking to a kid, who, yeah, kind of disappeared. I don’t know how else to tell you.”
If the boy was here, and if the magics were wrapped around him, as they seemed to be…was it possible?
Fuck, anything was possible!
“Burra, I need to go right now. I have to be back in Vegas as soon as possible. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, with me, for the past two months. We’re not finished, I know that, but the magics are telling me something and if it’s what I think it is, I’m way overdue to meet someone.”
“Sure, Will, sure. Just let us know and we’ll be there. It’s been rough at times, but in the end, I feel good about what we’ve accomplished.”
“I hoped you would. Tell Eras the same thing I said to you. I consider you brothers.”
“We feel the same way, Will. Good luck and I hope what you think is true, really is.”
“Thank you, big guy.”
Will left, using speed not unlike that of a vampire, and when he entered the hotel room and grabbed the small pack that held everything he owned in the world, he laid a hand on Eras, wished him well, and headed to the airport.
Thank the universe for giving him magic of the air so that he was no longer strictly bound to the earth. The pull was there, but it never overrode him, so, finally, he could safely fly.
Three hours later, Eras woke, groggy, thirsty.
Burra was pressed against his leg, the result of throwing a couple of thick comforters on the floor and just camping out. He looked around, but didn’t see Will. No worry, he wasn’t bound by night like Eras. Pushing off the sheet, he bumped Burra’s foot.
Groaning, Burra shoved against Eras. “We really need more space.”
“I agree. Hey, do you know where Will is?”
“In a plane, bound for Vegas.”
“Vegas? Why? And why so suddenly?”
“Thinks he has a kid there. A little boy. The crazy part is that I think I actually saw the kid. Fucking magics’ll really mess with your head.”
Lying still, Eras smiled. “About time.”
The next night at the bottom of Serenity Tower
Will had no idea where to start. To begin with, Olivia, Brigitte, everyone, thought he was dead. It wouldn’t be the kindest thing to just walk right into their apartment and announce, “Guess that death thing didn’t stick, eh?”
But he had to see if he was right, and if he was, if Olivia had borne a son with him, there wasn’t anything on this earth or above it that would stop him from being with her and the child. Just, how does a man suddenly show up, alive, after a woman has accepted his death and moved on? Fuck, she might even have another man in her life.
Fuck this, he thought. It has to be simple, I’ll go to her, she’ll be shocked, I’ll explain, and it will be all right.
No, it won’t.
As he waited, trying to figure out the best way to let Olivia know that her son’s father was alive, he watched a small party leaving the building under the huge covered pavilion at the main entrance.
It was Corri, accompanied by the three vampires he’d seen at Villioth’s office before he was eliminated. And Olivia, even more exquisite than he remembered. Wearing a dark purple strap dress, skin tight to show off her excellent body, and high heeled pumps, it didn’t look like she’d given birth recently. As soon as he thought that, it struck him that a first blood likely wouldn’t have any trouble getting those amazing bodies back following the rare pregnancy.
“You’d be perfect either way,” he whispered. Then his eyes landed on the enormous vampire who’d killed Villioth. His blood heated as he watched the man turn to Olivia with a warm smile and lift his hand to cup her chin.
Who the hell was this man? Was he her lover? Had Olivia taken a lover? She should have, it had been over half a year since he’d died.
Will had never been a jealous man, but here he was, rage surging, fighting the desire to race forward and confront the vampire, to shove that offensive hand away from his woman. To show the asshole what earth magics could do!
His woman? He hadn’t claimed her. He’d let her send him away to make his decision, even though at that point he already knew…it would always be Olivia.
All he could do now was shadow this group. Carefully surveil them to see if this man was Olivia’s lover, and if he determined that he was, Will decided he would stay away until he could control himself, could accept that she’d moved past him, and that what they had had died with his first death.
From there, he’d find out if she really had borne a son to him, and if so, he would have no choice. Whatever her future with another man, Will would be father to that boy who’d come to him across the globe to tell him that he needed him. No power would change that.
Sliding into his city car rental, the small cars available in any large city to use while within the limits of the city, he kept his distance as he followed the big van.
At Flights restaurant
First night out in a long time, and Olivia was nervous. She’d left her son with Brigitte while she went out to celebrate their victory a few months ago over the man who’d threatened the first blood race. Koen had insisted.
“Get on a pretty dress, lass, and let’s have a fine dinner. I’ve heard that Dez’s sky-high dining is the best in the city.”
“I’m going to have to take a small exception with that. My restaurants are excellent. I will, however, agree, that Flights offers an incredible variety of unique food. It’s the perfect place.”
“Then get all prettied-up and let’s go. I’m starving.”
Now, seated at a corner table with a view of the other diners on one side, and a view outside a glass wall of the city 83 stories below them, Olivia had to force herself to stop worrying about Jasper.
“He’s fine, Liv.” Corri placed a tray of appetizers in front of Olivia. “Dig in. Koen is such a character. I just adore him.”
Vaz shot her a look and Corri leaned in to bump his shoulder. “Not as much as you, of course. He’s just kind of…bigger than life.”
Nodding, Vaz let her off the hook. “He kind of is. I’m not jealous, he really is mythic.”
Olivia’s eyes went to Koen. Her great-grandmother was very close to him; she had lived with him and his family for over a century now. He was family, there whenever anyone needed him. “Yes, he is mythic.”
“Let’s get this party on. Waiter!”
Koen had never been shy about demanding what he wanted. As soon as the waiter hurried to their table, he ordered a second round of appetizer trays and four bottles of Flights finest champagne.
“When ya bring it back, we’ll order the entrees, thank ya, lad.”
“So, all quiet on the vampire front these days?” Olivia asked.
Koen nodded. “Mostly. Some incidences here in the U.S., but nothing unusual. Vampires do have accidents sometimes. A concern here or there, but we don’t manage issues in North America.”
“Good. I’ve been kind of cloistered during the pregnancy.”
“I’m glad you came out. You needed this.”
“I did, Cor. It’s been an odd six months, with Will’s loss, carrying his child, and now the joy of holding Jasper in my arms. I am ready to get my life back on track.”
“We’re all here to help.”
“It took Park a while after each child to get back to normal. Enjoy this, Livie. You won’t get a chance to feel exactly like this again.” Bas lifted a glass. “To family.”
“To family,” everyone said, and saluted the one stable force in first blood lives, the fact that they were all in this together and that they would always be there for each other. Olivia felt once again the blessing that Zach had found her, and that through him, she’d found her family.
As she sipped, her eyes lifted to Koen across the table, but movement beyond him caught her gaze instead. In the shadows, several rows in from the aisle, a table in the corner held a single diner, a man. She couldn’t see him clearly, but there was something about the way he moved that drew her attention. What was it? Try as she would, she couldn’t make out his face; the distance and darkened corner obscured him too much.
Shaking her head, Olivia turned her attention back to the remarkable people at her table who had gone the extra mile to protect her, her loved ones, and give her peace at a time when she needed it most. Any threat would have been unacceptable now with her son here.
She raised her glass again. “To the special people around this table, all of you family, and to a happy safe world for all of us. Namasté.”
Koen rose and went to Olivia, leaning in to kiss each cheek. “To our new little mother, the first vampire to have a baby in many years. Park tries to keep track and no one has had a first blood child since my great-granddaughter. As close as I am to Tam, I consider young Jasper to be my grandson too. Know that I will always come when you or he calls.”
Tears welled up fast, and Olivia moved in close for a tight hug. Her face buried against his warmth, the hard muscles under her fingers, the memory of Will’s body very like this after the healing pool, gave her shivers.
“Thank you, Koen. It means the world to me.”
“Aye. And the boy is the only fifth-gen I know of. It will be interesting to see how powerful he might be.”
“Right now, he’s just a little boy.”
“Aye. It’s a gift that our children get to have a real childhood.”
“I agree. Ah, here comes Tito with the appetizer trays. Ohhh, those will take a while to polish off.”
“Nay, there are five hungry vampires here. I give it ten minutes.”
They did take longer, since they enjoyed the company, lively conversations, and copious amounts of champagne.
Her gaze continued to wander back to the corner, where, oddly, the man still kept his face out of view. Was it on purpose? The way he held his head, the wild dark hair, his demeanor, were all familiar, but that couldn’t be unusual since she’d met a lot of people over the many years she’d been in Vegas.
Trying hard to ignore him, Olivia failed. He remained a distraction, and she had to solve the mystery. When he suddenly rose and disappeared through a balcony door, she decided to follow him.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
Across the room, Will curled his fingers around the edge of the table. The huge vampire had his hands on Olivia again, and when she stood to hug him and didn’t let him go for long moments, he couldn’t take it anymore.
The intention had been to quietly, covertly watch them until he was satisfied either way, and then disappear from the building before she ever saw him. The waiter set a bottle of vodka on the table and Will poured himself a glass of the powerful clear liquid, but he couldn’t drink it. He couldn’t watch this or he’d explode, the magics surging around him. Afraid of losing control, he grabbed the glass and busted across the floor away from Olivia’s table and out onto the glass balcony. Distance and fresh air would help, and at least give him a place to release some of the pent-up magic.
Once he was out there, alone, thank God, he could breathe. Below him, over eighty stories above the city, the lights created an incredible eye-catching landscape. Good, anything to distract him. Anything…
“Excuse me, sir.”
Her voice…
Olivia? Behind him?
Fuck! What foul twist of fate had created this moment? She couldn’t find him like this! For a second, he thought about jumping over the edge of the balcony, hoping to land on the one below. Not likely. Could he deflect her?
“I hope I’m not disturbing you, but you look familiar, like someone I used to know. Sir, I need to see your face.”
No, she didn’t.
He didn’t have a choice. Olivia was here, close behind, alone on this balcony with him, and all he had to do was turn around and face her. It would shock her to her core.
Careful, he thought. Protect her however you can.
“Please don’t come any closer.”
Will kept his face averted by looking straight over the balcony. After he’d spoken, he didn’t hear or see her, but she hadn’t moved. When she spoke again, he knew she’d recognized his voice.
“Who are you?” Olivia’s voice was hard, suspicious, shocked.
“Just stay where you are and let me tell you. It’s going to be a bit jarring.”
Instantly, he felt her behind him.
“Turn and face me.”
“Olivia…”
Her voice cracked. “Who are you?” she insisted.
Just do it.
Slowly, hoping to give her a moment to adjust, Will turned to face Olivia, leaning against the railing for support.
“I need to explain.”
Shocked was the right word, she moved back a few steps, her eyes wide, mouth open. “Will?”
Nodding, he lowered his head. “It’s me, Olivia. Really.”
“What? Um, how?”
Her eyes moved over him, devoured him, and as he prepared to answer her, she was in front of him, her hands on his chest, her eyes searching over him. Then she closed hers, drew in his scent, and opened them again, visibly shaken; now quivering.
“It is,” she whispered. “How?” she repeated, so quietly, it was only her nearness that let him hear her.
“Earth magic. Celestial intervention.”
Her hands moved from his chest to his face; her fingers tracing each feature, across his cheeks, along the edge of his nose, and then up to his eyes as her own sought his again.
“I’ve missed you, more than I can tell you with words.”
Still touching him, lingering, she moved in and up to kiss his lips lightly, testing, but that ended fast when Will yanked her against him.
The kiss went beyond passion, beyond desperate, tongues intertwining that never expected to ever do this again.
In his arms, Olivia, finally…
Need was the only word that met the insistence, the need, the depth at which their emotions shot through them as they touched and connected after all connections had been torn away.
Olivia jumped on Will, she couldn’t get close enough, buried her face into his neck, hands burrowed into his hair.
He wasn’t the same, she could feel it, saw it right away, but this was Will, and she was wrapped around him.
A horrible thought suddenly stabbed her in the belly and she looked up. “You can stay? Will, you can stay, can’t you?”
“I’m staying. God, Olivia, it hurt not to come to you, to make love to you, to tell you that I choose you, would always choose you.”
He felt her body stiffen, and she slid off him. Pulling the tight dress back into place, she looked up.
“Will, how long have you been back?”
Confusion filled her eyes. Will needed time to help her understand. “Um, can we go somewhere private and talk?”
Olivia’s head jerked as she looked around the balcony where only she and Will were present.
“This is private. How long, Will?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Not really. Just give me a number and a unit. Two. Days. Three weeks. Four months. Like that. How long?”
“I can’t say exactly. I was buried in the healing cave, I’m sure you know that, and I came awake there. I’m not sure how long after I was buried.”
Flinching, she moved closer again. “Oh, Will, you came awake beneath the ground?”
“Cradled in the earth. It was okay. I easily dug out, and when I remembered how I got there, I remembered that I had died. That I should still be dead. But the magics inside me, and without, needed me alive. They repaired me, and here I am.”
Olivia went into his arms again, holding tight in case this was an illusion and he might dissipate like smoke.
“I’m just…you’re back.” Another whisper as she continued to adjust and accept. In that moment, Will knew that this was all he needed. Olivia. Nothing else in this world beyond her. Unless…
It wasn’t time to ask about Jasper yet.
“Would you like to go back to your apartment to talk? Just to talk, I know you need a chance to process this after thinking I was dead for six months.”
For moments, she didn’t answer, and when she did, she was smiling. “I’ve only been able to touch you in my dreams, and I have needed you for so long. I haven’t been with anyone else since...”
“Not even the big vampire I saw you hug earlier?”
“Koen? I’m like a granddaughter to him. He’s family.”
“So you haven’t…it isn’t my business.”
“I can’t think of anything else now other than that you are here, standing here, alive, warm, and I can touch you. Will, come with me, meet my friends.”
“I’m not ready for that yet. Can I come to you tonight?”
“Yes, of course. Will, Brigitte is staying with me.”
“It’s fine. Eras told me.”
“Eras?”
“I’ll explain, I promise. This is my number. Call me when it’s clear and I’ll come to you.”
Will lifted her fone from her hand and keyed something in. Afterward, he handed it back to her, kissed her, a far too chaste kiss, and went through the balcony doors.
As soon as he was gone, the moments on the balcony with him felt like a fantasy. Suddenly, without tangible evidence, Will was already a ghost again.
Lifting her fingers to her lips, Olivia tried to remember every second with him just now, every word he spoke.
“Liv? Are you okay? You’ve been gone awhile, I was worried.”
Olivia turned to Corri, trying to decide whether to tell her about the bizarre event. Without a conscious decision to do so, she realized she didn’t want to tell anyone about Will yet. If he was an illusion, a magical creation in her mind, she wanted to hold on to it a little longer.
“Sorry, just needed some fresh air and ended up ruminating. You know what that’s like. Have the entrees been served?”
“And how. Koen really knows how to bring it.”
“He always has. Let’s go feast.”
Outside Serenity Tower, after a wonderful evening of drinks, food, and wickedly funny conversation, Koen and Bas said goodbye to Vaz, Corri, and Olivia under the pavilion cover before they got into their car.
It was always sad saying goodbye to friends and family.
“I’ll get back to France soon.”
“Tam will be happy to hear that. Even though she was here for the baby’s birth, she already says it’s been too long.”
“I’ll text her and tell her to come back and stay a while. I have a newly decorated apartment suite at the end of the hall that will be just right for her and Marc.”
“She might come at once. Take care of my little guy and make sure he isn’t riding that godawful bike too soon.”
“I think we have a little while before we have to worry about that, Koen. À bientôt.”
“À bientôt.”
At the top of the tower, grateful to be home, Olivia slipped out of her high heels as Corri followed her into the apartment.
“You’re sure you’re okay.”
“Cor, I’m fine. Bridge and I’ll probably have some ice cream, watch an old vid, and close up for daylight.”
“I can stay. You seem…troubled.”
“My friend, I’m good. I’m going to get into my comfies and hug my son. Go home to your mate.”
“Hey guys! Good party?” Brigitte came from Olivia’s bedroom wearing a slinky dress and boots.
“Good eats. I brought you three of Flights best entrees.”
“Yummy. But can you stash them for me until tomorrow? Russell called and I’m heading to his place now that you’re home and I’ll probably stay the rest of the night and day there. I just feel very horny tonight. Must have been that sexy vid I put on after Jasper fell asleep.”
“Thank you for staying with him. It was nice to get out, but it’s still tough to leave him.”
“He’s fine. Sleeping like a little trooper. Good night, ladies.” Brigitte lifted a lightweight overnighter and headed out.
“You too, Corri. Tell Vaz goodnight for me. It’s because of his brilliant insight that we finally got to celebrate tonight.”
“I’m so glad we did. Get some rest. I’ll see you tonight.”
After the usual end-of-day hug, Olivia headed to her bedroom to make sure her sleeping baby was still sleeping comfortably.
Curled up, his soft dark hair sticking out in all directions, she gently smoothed it back down, well aware that in no time, it would be all wild again. From birth, he’d had too much hair, and now it had some length, and had already thickened. Long, soft strands so like his father’s sifted through her fingers.
Sighing, she looked at her fone. If she searched her contacts, would there be a new listing for Will? Or were those moments with him on the balcony at Flights really only the fantastic imagination of a lonely mind? Had he really been there? Had he left a number?
Finger hovering over the button, she gave herself one last second to believe, just in case…and then touched the contacts button.
There, in black letters on a blue field, the name Will and 8 digits beside it. He’d told her to let him know when she wanted him to come.
“He’s real,” she whispered to her sleeping son.
Moving back to her living space and beyond it to the balcony, she sought the sky and stars, cool air, in her place of peace. Will was alive!
No hesitation this time, she pressed the button, and it seemed like it took a million years to connect through, but then…
His voice came through the tiny box, sparking tears.
“Olivia.” Strong, alive, beautiful. “May I come to you?”
“Right away. Just come through the door, everything is unlocked for you. You know where I am?”
“I know. I’m close and I’ll be with you very soon.”
“Okay.”
After staring at her fone for long seconds, she placed it on a table and wandered back inside.
Nine minutes later, her door slid open and there he was. Will was in her apartment, near her, near their son that he did not know existed. A night of revelation and explanation…love, maybe, hope? An interesting night, at least.
Olivia moved toward him. This time she had a moment to search the man who came back from the other side. He was bigger than Will had been before, his hair even longer, even fuller and wilder. He wore a black short-sleeved tee shirt and black denim pants, both too tight, like Will would have before. This newly resurrected man was Will, but ramped up, vampire big, muscles harder, more heavily defined, certainly more powerful.
All that mattered to her was that he was back. She went into his arms instantly, he gathered her close, lifting her from the floor, their heads buried into each other. How long they stayed that way, they had no idea, but just that closeness was all they needed.
Finally, Olivia slipped to the floor, took his hand, and led him to a curved seat on the balcony where the only light was what traveled out from the living space.
“Will you tell me what happened, where you’ve been, what you’re doing? Will, I asked this question before, and I realize I sounded hostile, but when it seemed like you’ve been back some time, I don’t understand why you never let me know. Why you didn’t come to me? Unless you didn’t want to be with me anymore.”
“I always want to be with you. Forever, make no mistake about that, but there is a very real reason I didn’t, couldn’t, come to you. Okay, here is the tale. Yes, I’ve been back for a while. Months. Part of the time I stayed in the healing cave, where this transformation happened. Part of the time I was training to become a soldier of the earth. More than what I was with the other warriors. My magics are obscenely powerful now. I’ve been all around the world with Eras and Burra, protecting the earth, the land, the people, all life endangered by events we stopped.”
“But you couldn’t let me know?”
“I wouldn’t let you know. Olivia, you are my heart. When I knew you had been through my death, my funeral, and had gone home, when I knew that you were beginning to heal from my loss, I couldn’t come to you because I didn’t know if I could stay, or what the universe wanted from me. Olivia, I would come to you through fire if I had to, but not if it hurt you.”
“So you’ve been here almost from the beginning?”
“I think so, yes.”
“Okay. Wow.”
Shoving off her seat, Olivia moved to the wall to look out over the city. He’d been here so long and she hadn’t known. All those months, she’d carried his child and he had been out there, oblivious.
The universe, destiny, the living planet, all played a part in their lives and she did understand. “You were trying to protect me.”
“You had a life to live, and for all purposes, I didn’t know if I could ever be part of it again. Why contact you to say that I could never come to you?”
Turning, Olivia, arms crossed, leaned against the wall.
“So why did you? Why come now?”
“I had a messenger.”
“Messenger? Who?”
“That’s a tale. I was walking along a river in Austria when a little boy followed me. He was about five, bright, friendly, a beautiful child. He asked me why I hadn’t come to him.”
Olivia’s heart beat faster. What did he mean? A five year old child? A boy?
“He told me his name was Jasper.”
The air blew out of her, and she panted. “Jasper?”
Will was beside her, his hands gentle on her upper arms, holding her still. “Do I have a son?”
Tears streaming now, she nodded, over and over, because the words wouldn’t come. All she could think of was the bizarre manifestation of Jasper five years older, across the world, asking his father to come home.
Now, both dumbstruck, dealing with what they’d each learned, Will led her back to the lounger and set her on the cushion. He dropped to his knees in front of her.
“It’s true, then?” Tears had filled Will’s eyes, streaming down his cheeks too. Olivia pushed into his arms.
“He’s so perfect, Will. I guess he already knew you were alive.”
“How could…could he have done that? I thought I had dreamed him up.”
“He’s fifth generation first blood, he is capable of that. Projecting his future self to you, the emotional tie so strong, he found you no matter where you were in the world. Will, come with me.”
Standing, she took his hand and led him through the big living space, down the brief corridor, and into the biggest bedroom he’d ever seen. Everything was soft colors and light except for a corner of the room, dark now, but he could see bright colors on the walls and a huge fabric bin on the opposite wall filled with stuffed animals and toys.
“He’s right here, and yes, his name is Jasper.”
Stepping up to a white crib, Will peered over the lowered railing at a tiny baby, asleep, breathing softly, little hands over a head covered with lots of dark hair. Instantly, his hand went to him, his fingers exploring through the thick hair and over the perfect tiny skull.
“Jasper?”
“Yes. A reminder of you. I wouldn’t let your memory die.”
“Thank you. We made him. You and I.”
“He’s happy. Healthy, of course. When he wakes, he’s going to be so happy to find you here. Will, you’re going to be an incredible father. If you want to. If you stay.”
If he stayed.
Scooping Olivia into his arms, he swung her around.
“If I stay? I’m staying, fuck the universe. My family is my heart, my life, my mate and my son, nothing will take me from you two. I am here and yours until the world ends, Liv. If you want me?”
Olivia’s tongue invaded his mouth, her hands tugging hard on his hair, the pain exquisite, as she kissed away any doubts. “If I want you?”
Wiggling free, she dropped to the floor and pulled him to her bed. “I want you, this very second, Will, don’t even think about refusing me on any technicality. If you say you want to give me time, that you can wait until I’m ready, or any other shit like that, I’ll hurt you.”
He was underneath her and naked before he could respond to the demand.
His eyes moved to the dark corner where the white color of the crib glowed.
Will shoved Olivia off him and picked her up, carried her to the balcony, and lay her on another lounge out there built for two. “Fuck, no, I won’t refuse you, but, that kid is just too self-aware for a baby. Not in your bed, not now.”
“Fine.”
Pushing him back against the lounge, she slid down to the bottom, his cock in her hand, perched over him. Her tongue dived to run a course around the tip before Olivia lifted her head, her eyes boring into his.
“Humans have weak scents, did you know that? The pheromone levels are low, so that sexual identifier usually doesn’t affect a vampire much, but you…yours, is intense, and, uh, unique. When you rose from that pool the night we met, your scent struck me almost as much as the erotic image of this body dripping with water.”
Olivia nipped up and down the edges of his cock, and it jumped in her hand. She moaned. “I have never purged your scent or image from my mind, it’s embedded on my soul. I still smelled your scent even after you were gone.”
Will couldn’t control the loud groan that tore from him when she pulled him into her mouth, all the way, closing around him, her tongue sliding along the back, teeth nipping as she moved around from tip to base, up and down, down and up, while he fingered her hair and lay back to centuries of skill. Pressure built fast as she drove him to explode, tickling the sensitive skin, the head soaked, until his orgasm hit hard. As she drew away, she nipped him again with sharp teeth, the pleasure/pain striking once again.
“Liv…” he barked out.
Moving up to stretch out alongside Will, Olivia nuzzled beneath his hair and bit his ear too. “I’m overdue for my blood meal. I would love to taste you.”
“I think you just did.”
“Ummm, I did, but now…”
“Bite me, Liv. I am yours.”
“Oh, you’re mine, Biker, that’s been settled.”
Swinging a leg over Will, bare skin to bare skin, the feel of Olivia’s body moving against his, her heat pressed to his spent cock, she lowered to nuzzle beneath his neck. Just as his lips went around a nipple, her fangs sunk into his neck, another pain/pleasure sensation hit him in the groin, his cock filling again. The sound of her pulling his blood into her body, Olivia pressed to his cock, her opening right there, he started to thrust to get inside her, but she resisted, using her superior strength to capture his legs as she finished feeding.
Had he ever been more aroused? The feeding had shot him into overdrive and he could feel her need too, wet and breathing hard, and yet she slipped off the lounger and walked into the apartment.
“Follow me.”
Will lay still for a moment, his hand on the now hard organ between his legs, not sure if he could get off the lounger. Desire pushed him, sliding to the edge, lifting on shaking legs to enter the living space where he saw his naked woman disappear down another hallway. She’d said follow and he had no choice. Three doors led off the hallway, all closed except the last one.
As he moved through the hall, he palmed the head of his penis, still in his hand as he came around the doorway and saw the most amazing sight.
Olivia, stretched out on his Harley, her legs open, waiting for him. He’d been wrong when he wondered after the feeding if he’d ever been more aroused…this, Olivia, waiting, ready for him to enter her, on his bike, this was it.
“Fuck me, Biker.”
Moving toward the bike, legs still shaky, harder than he’d ever been, he swung his left leg over the seat of the bike, facing the back, and facing Olivia, her full breasts in his face, his cock perched on the leather just an inch from her.
“I never forgot one detail of you, but, gods, woman, you’re even more incredible than I remember.”
“That’s because nothing beats having someone you can touch and taste. Like this.”
At the same second she scooted toward him, Olivia pulled him forward, then Will took over. He scooped her buttocks into his hands and lifted her to meet him as he thrust his cock into her, all the way until he couldn’t bury himself any deeper. Her hands on the seat supporting herself, Olivia lifted to him as her head dropped back, lost in the ecstasy, then raised it up to watch the thick wet organ moving in and out of her. She rode him until she was almost there, then stopped, holding him inside as deep as she could.
After feeding from Will and now capturing him inside her, the blood bond, the sexual connection, and his sudden thrust brought her home and she came so hard, she held tight to the side of Will’s bike to keep from falling off. Olivia’s orgasm brought Will with her and he did the same, struggling to make sure that neither he or she, or the bike, went over onto the floor.
Olivia collapsed back onto the seat, her eyes moving back to Will’s face, no more than 12 inches from her, a face that she was sure she’d never see again, which hit her with a force that shook her.
Will saw her emotions crash, tears in her eyes, knew they were joy that he was there, knew that they held fear too.
“Liv, Liv, it’s all right. I’m really here and I’m not leaving you or Jasper. We have earned this, the chance to be a family. I love you, Olivia, more than anything I’ve ever expected in my life, and I already feel the same way about our son. Baby, it’s all okay now.”
Her arms so tight around him, they hurt, Olivia held on, and even though she believed what Will said, that the universe had kindly given him back to her, the loss still felt too raw. And somewhere in her mind she didn’t trust the universe to allow him to stay.
“Will, please don’t let them take you back.”
“They won’t. I won’t. I’m your mate, Olivia, I plan to be here with you for a great many centuries.”
With a nod, she pushed him back, using her hand to wipe her eyes, and punched him in the gut. “See to it that you don’t break that promise.”
“I’ll do that. Liv, you have to be exhausted.”
“So do you. Please stay here.”
“Wasn’t planning to leave.”
“Good. Come.”
Sliding off the bike, Olivia, resplendent in nothing at all, walked to the doorway and turned back to Will when she saw he lingered. “Coming?”
“That’s a leading question and perhaps an invitation? Yeah, I am, but Liv, thank you for saving my bike. It really has been my one companion through nearly my entire life.”
“It meant so much to you, Biker, so it became important to me too. I had her cleaned and serviced before I brought her up here. I was going to give her to Jasper someday.”
“I couldn’t think of a better memorial for my son. So, I’m still following.”
Olivia turned again and headed down the hall, this time, Will right behind her. As they entered the living area, she stopped to look back.
“Can you live here? This high above the earth?”
“I think I can. I’ll have to return to the ground, and sometimes to the caves, but I’ll always come home to you.”
“Nothing you could say right now would make me happier.”
Following Olivia into her bedroom suite once again, Will crawled into the biggest bed he’d ever seen on the softest sheets he’d ever felt, and pulled his woman up next to him. Before he dropped off to sleep, he lay there, perched up on his arms, and watched as she slept, grateful that finally, after all the troubles, they were together. His eyes wandered to the baby sleeping peacefully in his crib. Tonight, he would hold his son for the first time.
Just before dawn
“Liv?”
Brigitte whispered, praying she didn’t wake the baby.
“Liv?” Easing herself into Olivia’s darkened room, she leaned close to her ear to quietly let her know that she was home.
She couldn’t believe what she saw. Olivia was in bed with a man. Moving around to the other side, too curious not to, stunned when she realized who it was. Shock struck her and reality twisted. “Will?”
He woke and saw her, distressed. When their eyes met, she bolted from the room.
Out in the living space, her shoes still clutched tight in her hands, Brigitte stood, statue still, and watched a man who looked like Will walk from Olivia’s room wearing jeans zipped, but not snapped.
“Will?” she repeated, barely breathing.
“Bridge, don’t freak out, I’m really here. Earth magics brought me back. I’ve been with your brother for six months working for the living planet. It’s okay. Breathe.”
Slowly, she moved closer, and planted a hand gingerly on his chest, then pushed, then plunged at him to feel him against her.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. After a long hug, she pushed back, swiping at her eyes. “Um, obviously Liv knows.”
“Just tonight. She’s just as shocked. Brigitte, before I, um, died, you knew I was falling in love with Olivia, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we’ve reconciled, and yeah, I knew it. I’m okay with you two, really. Of course, I didn’t expect there to be any, you know, conflict. You being dead and all.” Staring, she looked at this ghost from her past, breathing, warm, in front of her after accepting his loss.
“I can’t believe it, but I’m so happy to see you. I kind of still love you, ya dope.”
“I kind of still love you too.”
“Aw, look at us. A threesome. I’m kidding! Although…”
“If I ever would, it would be with you.”
“Yeah, you’re not the type. You are an old-fashioned one-woman man. It’s one of the things I loved about you. So, welcome back, handsome. Where have you been all this time?”
“I know it’s your bedtime, why don’t we talk tonight? If you’re really curious, call Eras.”
“That bully. Yeah, I might.”
One last hug, Will kissed her lightly on the cheek, then walked back into Olivia’s room where he wandered over to the crib.
Jasper, awake, stared up at his father, and smiled.
Will slid a fingertip over his cheek and felt overwhelming love. Yeah, this was the boy he met in Austria. “Hey, Jasper. I did what you asked, I came home to you. Thank you for letting me know you were waiting. I’ll see you tonight.”
The sheet still turned down, as if it, too, had been waiting, Will crawled back into the bed and rolled in next to his mate. His last thought before he fell into a deep sleep was that he’d finally found his destiny.
The End