Chapter 12

Charlotte

Samuel paused as we were about to go inside and he slowly looked around the estate. I frowned and looked around, but all I could see were trees and rain. I tugged on his arm, and he seemed to snap out of it.

"What's going on with you? You've been distracted for the last few days," I said.

"It's nothing. I thought I heard something," he said, shaking his head and leading me inside.

Given his keen sense of sight and hearing, it could have been anything or anyone. It was likely a fox or a badger at this time of night. After work, we came home and changed our clothes to go out for dinner. It had been a lovely change, and it had felt like a proper date until he had begun to get handsy under the table, not to mention the strange looks since Samuel hadn't eaten anything.

He locked the door as I walked through the hall, but I had barely got my coat off when he flung me over his shoulder like a caveman and ran upstairs. I let out a grunt each time I bounced on his shoulder.

"If I puke down your back, it's on you," I groaned, but we were already in our bedroom by the time I finished my sentence.

He slowly pulled me down and sat me on the edge of the bed. His dark eyes had an intense look in them as he searched my eyes. I stopped breathing when he knelt down on the floor on one knee, and I saw the burgundy velvet ring box in his hand.

"Charlotte, we were made for one another. I don't know how many times I've missed you in your previous lives, but in this lifetime, would you do the honour of becoming my wife?"

My eyes welled up at his words. These last two months had been full of laughter, love and happiness. I paused and cleared my throat before I could speak.

"I would love for you to be my husband," I finally whispered.

He lifted my left hand and kissed it before he slid a stunning gold and diamond ring on my finger. I couldn't take my eyes off the solitaire diamond in the middle. The rest of the band had smaller diamonds running down the side of it.

"It's beautiful," I said when I could wrench my eyes away from it.

"Glenda told me I had a week to propose or she would be doing it for me," he said with a smile.

I couldn't help but laugh because, knowing my granny, she would have done it. He looked hesitant before a worried look flashed across his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Your lifespan will extend like a vampire's. All of your family will eventually pass on," he murmured while stroking his thumb up and down my fingers in a comforting manner.

"I know. I've been talking with Holly. It's something I've made peace with," I said as I placed my free hand over his cheek.

He looked surprised for a moment.

"I thought you might have asked to turn some of them to keep them around," he said with a sheepish smile.

I burst out laughing and held my stomach when I couldn't control the images that ran through my head.

"C-can you imagine ma granny running around Elgin as a vampire?" I said, trying to control my mirth.

He grinned and shook his head.

"She would take over the coven within 48 hours."

"My granny and my parents have had a good life, Samuel. If we weren't blood mates, perhaps things would have turned out differently."

"No," he said adamantly as a scowl appeared on his face. "We were always meant to be together."

"Yes, dear," I said, patting his head like a dog before he growled and leapt onto me, pushing me back onto the bed.

He took his time and made me feel loved with every kiss and every touch. When he fed from me, it was more sensual than his usual feeding frenzy.

It was perfect.