fingers lacing the curls on his chest. It was soothing, like petting Zukko or Snickers, but they never pet her in return the way he was. The silence of his chest was strange to her. She kept expecting to hear a heartbeat behind his ribs, but she never would. It surprised her to feel the damp spots of his skin where tears had fallen. So much for trying not to cry.
Do not fret over a few tears, especially where they are warranted. His other hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. He was a wall surrounding her, shielding her with his body, and there, she felt safe. Her eyes closed against the tears. Her body stopped fighting and she was soon relaxed enough to fall asleep in his arms. This time, there were no dreams, only the deep sleep that comes after a long day and a longer night.
He knew the instant she fell asleep. Her mind was in a peaceful place now. It brought a smile to his lips that he was there in her dreams. She had cast him the role of bodyguard and protector. She should have picked Xander. He had been unable to save his wife and their new son all those years ago. How could he expect to save anyone? Xander was strong and loyal, and as vicious as a guard dog when he needed to be. Yet, as she slept in his arms, she never doubted him. She was beautiful, and she needed him, and it nearly broke his heart. He hoped that he did not let her down. He brushed the hair from her eyes and kissed her ever so gently, so as not to wake her. Then, he closed his eyes and walked through her dreams with her.
It was the purring that woke her. Being Snickers, she had curled up in her favorite place to sleep, Alyssa's neck. Her fur was nearly suffocating, and would have been problematic had she still needed to breathe. She was most likely seeking warmth, but she had wondered a time or two if the feline was secretly plotting to asphyxiate her. It occurred to her that she had not seen Snickers slip through the secret opening into Nevar's chambers.
She looked beside her where Nevar was still laying. He looked at ease for once. The night must have been long for him, as well. It was odd to wake up next to someone she barely knew. She had never been into one night stands, and this was the closest she'd ever gotten to one, but somehow, she knew he would never have thought of her that way. Maybe it was his older way of thinking that convinced her. Although, he had her fooled more than once last night, and had he actually tried, she feared she would be putty in his magnificent hands.
"My ears are ringing. You must be thinking about me," he smiled.
Damn. He'd been awake and listening. She'd forgotten to shield her thoughts. She quickly remedied the situation, finding that it was easier and faster now. Still, she had to fight a secret smile. His sense of humor was a startling relief to the guilty gloom of the previous night.
He laughed and scratched the top of Snickers' head, instantly winning her heart as she leaned in and purred louder. "How did she get down here?"
"She's always been a little escape artist." Alyssa said, shifting the cat to her lap so she could sit up. "I had to pry her out of my ceiling once. Somehow, she had crawled up into the ventilation system. We never did figure out how she did it."
"Well, we're going to have to find out. If she can get in, so can others, and they may not be as friendly."
"Are you talking about Gabriel?"
"He's at the forefront, yes, but I have other enemies. Imagine how many people you can anger in seven hundred years, and vampires can hold a grudge for eons."
"The stories about covens, are they true?"
"There are a few. Most of us are reclusive, for good reason. Very few covens last for very long, and new vampires almost never linger in a group, too easily angered, except for you. I'm not exactly sure why, but you don't follow any of the typical patterns."
"There must be a reason," she answered. "Is there someone who might know?"
"Matthias would, if anyone does. But, I am
Do not fret over a few tears, especially where they are warranted. His other hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. He was a wall surrounding her, shielding her with his body, and there, she felt safe. Her eyes closed against the tears. Her body stopped fighting and she was soon relaxed enough to fall asleep in his arms. This time, there were no dreams, only the deep sleep that comes after a long day and a longer night.
He knew the instant she fell asleep. Her mind was in a peaceful place now. It brought a smile to his lips that he was there in her dreams. She had cast him the role of bodyguard and protector. She should have picked Xander. He had been unable to save his wife and their new son all those years ago. How could he expect to save anyone? Xander was strong and loyal, and as vicious as a guard dog when he needed to be. Yet, as she slept in his arms, she never doubted him. She was beautiful, and she needed him, and it nearly broke his heart. He hoped that he did not let her down. He brushed the hair from her eyes and kissed her ever so gently, so as not to wake her. Then, he closed his eyes and walked through her dreams with her.
It was the purring that woke her. Being Snickers, she had curled up in her favorite place to sleep, Alyssa's neck. Her fur was nearly suffocating, and would have been problematic had she still needed to breathe. She was most likely seeking warmth, but she had wondered a time or two if the feline was secretly plotting to asphyxiate her. It occurred to her that she had not seen Snickers slip through the secret opening into Nevar's chambers.
She looked beside her where Nevar was still laying. He looked at ease for once. The night must have been long for him, as well. It was odd to wake up next to someone she barely knew. She had never been into one night stands, and this was the closest she'd ever gotten to one, but somehow, she knew he would never have thought of her that way. Maybe it was his older way of thinking that convinced her. Although, he had her fooled more than once last night, and had he actually tried, she feared she would be putty in his magnificent hands.
"My ears are ringing. You must be thinking about me," he smiled.
Damn. He'd been awake and listening. She'd forgotten to shield her thoughts. She quickly remedied the situation, finding that it was easier and faster now. Still, she had to fight a secret smile. His sense of humor was a startling relief to the guilty gloom of the previous night.
He laughed and scratched the top of Snickers' head, instantly winning her heart as she leaned in and purred louder. "How did she get down here?"
"She's always been a little escape artist." Alyssa said, shifting the cat to her lap so she could sit up. "I had to pry her out of my ceiling once. Somehow, she had crawled up into the ventilation system. We never did figure out how she did it."
"Well, we're going to have to find out. If she can get in, so can others, and they may not be as friendly."
"Are you talking about Gabriel?"
"He's at the forefront, yes, but I have other enemies. Imagine how many people you can anger in seven hundred years, and vampires can hold a grudge for eons."
"The stories about covens, are they true?"
"There are a few. Most of us are reclusive, for good reason. Very few covens last for very long, and new vampires almost never linger in a group, too easily angered, except for you. I'm not exactly sure why, but you don't follow any of the typical patterns."
"There must be a reason," she answered. "Is there someone who might know?"
"Matthias would, if anyone does. But, I am
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