Chapter 22

After the fight with the hunters, the adrenaline was still flooding Jacqueline and Dane’s systems and making love was a great way to use that adrenaline up. He lifted her off the couch and they reappeared in the bedroom, and he left her on the bed. He removed her boots before she barely was aware that he was doing it. He’d used his vampiric speed to remove them. Now she had never done that to dress or undress. That was nifty.

So she tried it too and quickly jerked his shirt off him with her vampiric ability and she heard it rip. She stared at the two pieces in her hands in shock.

He laughed, kissed her, and started to remove her pants, at a normal pace. Removing clothes with vampiric speed might take some practice. She started to unfasten his belt and then unzipped his pants and began to pull them off. Once they had their pants off, he pulled off her shirt—at least hers was intact! She owed him a new shirt.

Her panties and bra were ditched, and she tugged his boxer briefs off. She realized he had used his speed to remove his boots and socks and she hadn’t even seen him do it.

But now they were naked together and were kissing and moving against each other in a lovers’ embrace. Then they were kissing deeply and teasing each other’s canines, which was such a turn on. Not only because of the sexual nature of being a vampire and the eroticism she felt from their pheromones kicking into high gear, just stroking each other’s canines made her wet with anticipation.

She was so ready to have his erection deep inside her. He changed things up by pulling her with her back against his chest and pulled her left leg over his. Then he pressed his arousal deep inside her, but he reached over her hip and started to stroke her between her legs. Then he brushed his warm lips over her shoulder, sending shivers of pleasure through her. She turned her head to meet his lips and he pressed his mouth against hers, still stroking her, still thrusting into her.

So hot! Their blood was pumping, and she realized she wanted to do the vampire bite with him again. But she wasn’t stopping what they were doing right now for anything. He was pushing her closer to the top and she was soaking in the sheer pleasure of his touch.

She couldn’t believe how far they had come in such a short time, yet he uplifted her and fulfilled her in life-changing ways. The physical attraction, though important, wasn’t all that made her feel such a strong, unbreakable bond with him. He was there for her through all life’s ordeals, as she was for him. This was just the cherry on top.

“Oh, yeah,” she moaned as he continued to stroke her, dipping a finger into her, and swirling it around and then poking in and out, sending her racing to the heavens above.

He was still thrusting into her as he nibbled on her ear, then licked it. She wanted to roll around in his arms to kiss him, but she didn’t want to lose the connection between them while he thrust into her. Nor did she want him to stop stroking her. This was just too perfect. His hot, muscular body coveting hers and giving her the utmost enjoyment. Then she felt the climax coming and she came in a burst of pleasure and cried out with exaltation. She felt him groan and fill her at the same time, making her even wetter.

He continued to pump into her while she turned her head to meet his mouth with hers and he deeply kissed her, their tongues toying with each other’s until they stroked their elongated canines.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” she rasped out.

“I feel the same way about you. You are the only one for me. Love you, honey.”

* * *

Dane pulled out of Jacqueline,and she rolled over into his arms. They just held each other tight for several minutes, just loving the closeness and the satisfaction he had felt when they had climaxed. The adrenaline was still running through their veins, their hearts still beating fast. Before they fell asleep in each other’s arms, he asked, “Do you want to take a shower?”

“Yeah, I sure do.”

Then he carried her into the bathroom vampirically. She turned on the water, and then they began kissing and washing up. But the next thing he knew, she was scraping her teeth on his neck. And he quickly realized she needed to bond in the vampire way, and he was all for it.

“Bite me,” he said.

And she did. Then she sucked a little and he felt the intense pleasure racing through his whole body. He had to admit that ability was something he had never thought he would experience in his lifetime. She sealed the bite marks with a stimulating lick and then she offered her neck to him. He was so ready to make love to her again! He licked her neck before he sank his teeth in and then he drew about the same amount of blood from her. She moaned with delight. He sealed her wounds, then he lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around his hips, and he penetrated her with his full arousal.

“You light my fire,” she mouthed against his lips.

“With you, once is never enough.” Then he was thrusting inside of her, enjoying the close connection they had when they were making love under the hot water. Princess purred outside the shower as if she finally realized where they had gone to.

He rocked into her until he finally climaxed again and for a moment, he just held her tight. He loved how when they were through, they still kept the connection, proving it was more than just sex.

He set her on the floor of the shower, and they soaped up, kissing other. Being with her was like being in heaven. Once they left the shower, they dried each other off, which added to the intimacy between them. Princess hurried off.

He was glad Jacqueline had said yes to marrying him. They kissed and he could have let her walk on her own, but he loved lifting her in his arms and carrying her to bed. Especially after all they had been through.

“You are the most romantic man I’ve ever known,” Jacqueline said, cuddling with him in bed.

“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever known and the love of my life.”

Suddenly, Princess hopped on the bed at Dane’s back and they both chuckled.

“It appears she was waiting for everything to get quiet so she could join us in bed,” Jacqueline said.

“At least I have you in my arms for the night.”

“For sure.”

* * *

The next morning,Dane and Jacqueline just laid in bed, snuggling, loving being together. Princess left the mattress when she got too hot. “Okay, we need to learn if you were set up when that vampire turned you. Whoever it was, he needs to face the consequences. Maybe it’s someone else you haven’t considered. Or even informant Green was just loyal to Lucilla, or she might have even ordered him to do it. Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

“Yeah, it does.”

She ran her hand over Dane’s bare chest. “What if this has to do with a completely different situation than you’re thinking of? I mean, what would anyone hope to gain if they set you up for the ambush? You ended up being turned into a vampire. What was the worst thing you lost?”

“Being a full hunter.”

“And? Your brothers stuck by you, but my family hadn’t. But we both lost the people we were engaged to.”

He snapped his fingers. “Moose had always wanted to date my fiancée. He was so angry when I asked her to marry me, she said yes, and her family was all behind our marriage. Until I was turned. Hell. He wouldn’t have dared do that. If they learn he was behind that, he would be putting his own life in danger.”

“Yeah, but maybe he didn’t realize Lucilla was going to turn you and keep her for her own. Maybe he thought she would just kill you with her vampire minions and then no one would ever know that was the deal.”

“Hell.”

“But that’s just conjecture. How can we prove something like that? I mean, other than the fact he is dating your ex. Talk to him? Or, wait, what about talking to informant Green?”

“That’s it!” Dane said. “We can make him tell us what was really going on. I always forget we can make humans do what we want.”

“I know. It seems like it’s something illegal that we’re doing. But really, we’re not. It’s like giving them a truth serum and then they just tell us the truth about the situation.”

“Yeah. I agree, though it’s hard to remember that we can do that sometimes.”

“Too bad we can’t control a hunter’s mind to learn the truth from the proverbial horse’s mouth,” Jacqueline said.

“True. But if Green will tell us the truth, that’s all we need.”

“Do you know how to get in touch with him?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got his cell number, though usually he calls me to tell me what’s going on. I’ll give him a call.” Dane pulled out his cell phone and called Green, but he didn’t answer the call. He left a message.

“What if Moose is afraid that Green might tell on him, especially now that you’re a vampire and can get Green to tell you the truth?” Jacqueline asked. “If he had anything to do with this.”

“Moose probably doesn’t believe I would ever think that he was the one who set me up if he was.”

“Hmm, that’s probably so. And Green probably wouldn’t just come clean with you, afraid of what Moose or you might do to him. Unless maybe you point-blank ask him, but in any event, your vampiric persuasion should get to the truth,” Jacqueline said. “We just need to get to him.”

“I hope nothing bad has happened to him.” Then Dane got a call from Green, and he put it on speakerphone, “Yeah, Green?”

Green said, “Hey, I just saw your message. If you want to see me, I’ll be at the vampire club, the Blue Moon at three.”

Dane glanced at Jacqueline to see if she wanted to do it.

“I’m game,” she said.

“My girlfriend and I will be there,” Dane said, then ended the call. “We slept so late that we can have lunch and then go shopping for your engagement ring.”

“Oh, yes!”

They made tuna fish salads, and then they headed over to a nearby jewelry store. Jacqueline was so excited. When they reached the store, they began looking at all the engagement rings. She loved a gold ring that had a half-carat diamond.

“How about this one?” Dane asked, showing her a one-carat diamond.

“Are you sure?” She loved it but she didn’t want him to pay so much for it.

“I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

She smiled. “I love it. That’s the one I want. Thank you so much, Dane. I love you.”

“I love you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life.” Dane paid for the ring.

Then the jeweler resized it for her, but Dane took the ring, got on one knee, and asked her, “Will you marry me?”

She had never expected him to do it at the jewelry store. She loved him for his spontaneity. “Of course I will. I love you.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. I love you too.” Then Dane slipped the beautiful ring on her finger and kissed her.

The jeweler and store clerks all cheered and clapped. She figured nobody had probably ever proposed in the store. She was so happy. Then they left the store, the beautiful ring sparkling on her finger. She couldn’t believe she would be engaged to another hunter ever.

Then he drove her to her place. “We’ll need to dress up a bit. Are you sure you want to do this? We could go together, but you could stay out in the truck, and I’ll go in and speak to Green, or ask him to come outside to speak to both of us.”

“Nope. We’re in this together.”

* * *

Dane was soglad Jacqueline was marrying him. She was the perfect mate for him. “Okay. I’ll drop you off at your place and be back in a few minutes to pick you up.” Then they kissed and hugged, and she vanished. He really wanted to know if they would be accepted in the vampire club, but no matter what, he wanted to speak with Green and learn the truth. Had a hunter set him up or not? And if so, who had done it?

He returned home and Princess purred and greeted him. “Sorry, Princess. Your momma and I have more business to take care of.” Then he vanished and ended up in his bedroom, thinking about moving Jacqueline into his place now and not waiting5, if she was agreeable, and selling hers. There wasn’t any reason for them to live apart any further. He just hoped she wanted to do it.

He quickly dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and black dress shoes, and glanced at his tie rack. But he thought he didn’t really need to wear a tie.

He hoped going to the vampire club wasn’t a big mistake. No matter what, he didn’t want Jacqueline to be in harm’s way for anything.

* * *

Maybe Jacqueline was crazy,but she really had wanted to go to the vampire club to see what it was like. To see if they could fit in, or would the vampires know they were both hunters and not just vampires. Though it would be hard not to just go and enjoy themselves without looking for rogue vampires while they were at it. Or being self-conscious about not belonging and listening to the conversations all around them about the hunters who shouldn’t be there.

She dressed in a black cocktail dress with a flouncy skirt and spaghetti straps, her red hair the perfect contrast. She wore high heeled black shoes too, even though fighting in them could be more difficult. But she had to think that she wouldn’t be in a fight. If she and Dane stirred up trouble, they would just need to leave. She eyed her sparkling diamond ring and was thrilled that she could say she was engaged to Dane, whom she loved with all her heart.

Then she heard Dane’s truck pull up and she headed outside. He was already out of his truck wearing black trousers and a white shirt, dress shoes, no tie, so he looked dressy but not overly so. He smiled appreciatively at her, kissed her, and opened her door for her. “Man, am I glad you’re with me.”

She loved that about him. One minute, they were in a vampire or a hunter fight, trying to take down a rogue, watching each other’s backs, the next, dressed and glamorous, ready to enjoy the nightlife. Well, at least they looked like it. She wasn’t sure they would be doing much more than speaking with Green, not dancing until the place closed down. But she was glad Dane was so free with his compliments where she was concerned. Van had always been stingy with them, as if he thought telling her she looked nice might go to her head.

Dane fastened his seat belt, and they were on their way.

“Well, I’m so glad you’re with me. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Not only as a fighter companion, but also as my lover, loyal friend, and fiancé. And you dress up nice.”

He chuckled. “You are the same for me. Not that I would have wished this on either of us, but it really was a wakeup call as far as who we were engaged to be married to.”

“Yes! Even little things like dancing. Van and I loved to dance, but he would dance with other women friends, like being with me wasn’t enough. And of course the hunting business. Oftentimes, hunter mates hunt together. They’re always there for each other. They can have different hobbies or interests or friends, but their mate comes first.”

“Precisely. Why bother mating each other otherwise?”

“That’s just what I was thinking.” She realized she had a lot more negative things to say about Van than Dane had about Wendy. Maybe they were more compatible than she had been with Van. Maybe the only thing that was wrong between them was the business with him being turned and her parents being unhappy about it. Then again, Dane did say that he didn’t like hunting with her.

“Okay, contingency plans?” Dane asked Jacqueline as they neared the vampire club.

She appreciated that he wanted to hear what she wanted to do first. “We look for Green and try to convince him to go outside with us. If he’s afraid of us and feels more comfortable in the club, he can stay in there with us. Though I keep forgetting that you can tell him that he wants to go outside and then we’ll discuss the situation. If other vampires try to interfere, then we play it by ear. If they’re just trying to give us grief but not really threatening us, we can go about our business. If the vampires begin to get hostile, we’ll leave, get into your truck, and depart the area.”

“And make a later date with Green?” he asked.

“No way. We take him with us when we leave.”

Dane smiled. “I like the way you think.”

“We have a mission, and if we can accomplish it without getting ourselves killed, I’m all for doing it in any way that we can go about it.”

“I agree.”

When they finally arrived at the club, it was in full swing, cars filling the parking lot, a man and a woman talking to each other outside near the door. He was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt and sneakers, not the look of a vampire at a fancy club. The woman was likewise dressed in jeans and sneakers, her T-shirt featuring a green luna moth. They didn’t even give Dane or Jacqueline a second glance.

“They look a little underdressed,”Dane said telepathically to Jacqueline.

“Which may be the reason they’re standing outside the club instead of inside of it. Maybe they aren’t vampires.”

“Blood bonds,”Dane guessed.

“Right. And without the appropriate attire, they’re just on the sidelines, looking for a vampire to pay them for their blood, I suspect,”Jacqueline said. This was all so new to her. She hunted down vampires. She didn’t really get into their social customs that much as far as blood bonds went unless she needed to learn more to follow and eliminate a rogue.

“Yeah. So far so good.”