Chapter 25
Ness leads me across the grass toward the catering tent. Of course, I follow along like a desperate puppy.
Mostly because I am.
Desperate.
Desperate to be around this vampire female.
Desperate to soak up an ounce of her sparkling sunshine energy.
And after the way she practically glowed up there on the altar, desperate to see her dressed in white and vowing to love me for the rest of our lives.
I would vow to do the same, of course.
Garnet irises peer back at me, dancing with joy until they nearly light up like fireworks. Without saying a word, Ness tugs me around the side of the tent, where it’s secluded and quiet.
The next second, her hands are in my hair and her lips are on mine. From deep in my chest, a low, rumbling groan rises, and I open to let her tongue into my mouth.
“Mmm… you’re gonna get yourself good and fucked if you keep that up,” I growl against her glossy lips.
Impish eyes meet mine when she ends the kiss. “Promise?” Pink tongue peeking out, it slicks a path across her upper lip.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Pussy stuffed to the brim with cum, leaking down your thighs for the rest of the night.
” Cupping her ass in my palms, I drag her body against mine so she knows just what she does to me.
My hard cock rubs against her lower stomach, and I drop my head to her neck with a moan.
With a playfulness I only possess when she’s around, my teeth nip the side of her throat. As my tongue drags against her flesh to soothe the bite, Vanessa tips her head back on a throaty whimper. “Yes, Luc.”
The soft fabric of her skirt fills my hands. I’m ready to bunch it to her waist and impale her on my aching length when a voice from my past has every muscle in my body turning to ice.
“Jean-Luc? Is that you?”
Never in my wildest dreams—or nightmares—did I ever think I’d hear her say my name again.
My cock shrivels in my pants, and I whip around to find a ghost. “A-Annabelle?” I manage to get her name out, even though my voice shakes.
In my arms, Vanessa stiffens. “Annabelle? What the—” She falls silent, no doubt seeing the anger in my eyes. Miming, she locks her lips and throws away the key.
“What are you doing here?” The question is clipped, my tone harsh. I don’t want her here. “You can’t ambush me after two decades.”
Her big, dark eyes drop to the ground, skin flaming beneath her speckled white and gray fur. At least she has the fortitude to be ashamed. Her next words are quiet. “I-I sent you a letter.”
“I burned your letter, Annabelle,” I spit out with venom. At my side, Vanessa is vibrating with the need to say something. I know my mate, and she has a protective streak, especially when it comes to me, but she stays quiet.
Annabelle’s flush deepens, and her hands twist in her black apron, no doubt sweaty with nerves. “Can’t say I blame you.” A tense laugh bursts from her throat before she sobers. “I’ve done some soul-searching over the years, and I realized I owe you an apology.”
I scoff, not believing a word from her lying mouth. “How did you get my address?”
“I saw your name and address listed as a secondary contact on the catering contract.” She shrugs. “How many Jean-Luc Thoreaus could there possibly be in this area? So I took a chance and sent a letter. When I didn’t get a response, I figured it wasn’t you.”
Silence blankets us, and I let myself look at Annabelle for the first time. And, I mean, really look.
Her long black hair is tied in a bun at the base of her skull, the temples flecked with gray. Purple bruises the skin beneath her eyes, and she’s thinner than she was when we were together.
The spark is absent in her eyes when they finally rise to mine. This isn’t the Annabelle I knew. The girl I was in love with all those years ago.
This woman is broken.
Similar to me, her body shows that she’s lived a hard life. Struggled even. It makes me want to forgive her, even though she ruined me.
I cared for her at one time. So to see her hurting, it has my heart in a vise.
She clears her throat, hooves tentatively moving her closer.
“I know you hate me. Rightfully so. For a while, I hated myself, too. I screwed up everything good in my life for a male who didn’t care about me.
Raul ran off with a human woman once I had our baby.
Everyone back home treated me like a pariah.
I couldn’t find work. Papa blamed me for you leaving, for shattering our small, happy community.
When he offered to send me to New York to live with his estranged sister, I jumped at the chance to start over.
” She tips her head toward the white tent. “She owns the catering business.”
My jaw hardens, and I cross my arms over my chest. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t know. I guess so you know that life wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine after you left.”
A humorless laugh comes from behind me, and my radiant vampire mate steps in front of me.
My chest warms at her possessiveness. Guess she’s done holding her tongue.
“Karma’s a bitch… just like you.” Her lip curls, showing off her fangs.
“But I’m glad you showed Luc your true colors because now I get to spend the rest of my life showing him how deserving he is of love and loyalty. ”
My hand falls to her bare shoulder, the cool flesh sending goosebumps up my arms. “Mon soleil, a bit harsh, yeah?”
Her long, white curls swish over her shoulder when she glances back at me. “No. I think—”
“She’s right, Jean-Luc,” Annabelle cuts in.
“I took you for granted our entire lives. And for that, I’m sorry.
You deserve someone who loves you unconditionally and puts you first. I’m sorry I was too selfish to be that for you, but I’m glad you found someone who isn’t.
” She smiles at Vanessa. “Treat him like the king he is.” Her eyes swing back to me.
“I should get back to work, but just know, I’m trying to do better—be better—for my daughter, so I can give her the life she deserves.
I truly am sorry, Jean-Luc, and I wish you only happiness.
” A single tear rolls down her cheek, soaking into the fur.
“I-I’ll, umm, I’m sorry I bothered you.”
She turns to leave, but halts when I say, “Annabelle.”
“Y-Yeah.” I hate the hope in her voice. Hope that we’ll be friends again.
That’s never going to happen.
My throat tightens with a swallow, and I wrap my arm around Vanessa’s waist. I pull her body to mine, taking comfort in her presence. A sharp breath gusts from my mouth before I say, “I forgive you.”
Annabelle gasps, and I hold up my hand. “I forgive you,” I repeat.
“But I never want to see you again. You hurt me, and every time I look at you, I’m reminded of the worst moments of my life.
We were young, so I think you deserve some grace, but we’re not friends.
We’re not acquaintances. If we pass each other on the street, ignore me…
please. I’ve moved on with my life, and I hope you will, too. Do you understand?”
Tears well in her eyes, but she nods, then she disappears into the tent.
Once she’s gone, and it’s only Vanessa and me again, I finally release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My shoulders sag, but my heart is lighter than it’s been in years… decades, even.
Dainty fingers brush through the hair on the sides of my head, pulling my gaze down. “Wow. Talk about a blast from the past. Are you okay, Luc?” Vanessa asks, worry coating her soft voice. Her beautiful eyes search my face. “We can leave if you want. I’m sure Viki and Maggie will underst—”
I crash my mouth to hers, and whatever she was about to say turns into a breathless moan. Before I can get lost in the kiss—the taste of her sweet tongue, and the little whimpers coming from her—I pull back and rest my forehead against hers.
Chests rising and falling in unison, I grip her waist so there isn’t an inch of space between us.
“I’m okay. I think I needed this to finally get closure and turn the page on that chapter of my life…
for good.” My lips meet her forehead, the skin cool to the touch.
“Although in a way, I’m glad Annabelle hurt me. ”
I almost laugh when I look down and find Vanessa’s delicate brow in a deep furrow. “Why?”
A rough chuckle breaks free as I smooth a thumb over the little creases between her eyebrows. “Because, Vanessa Bielski, it brought me to you. Kismet, remember? Je t’aime, mon soleil.”
Galloping a mile a minute, my heart ricochets against my ribs as I wait with bated breath for her response. All these months together, getting to know each other, they’ve been leading us down the inevitable path to forever.
As if to prove my point, a blinding smile spreads across Vanessa’s face, shiny white teeth and fangs on full display. “I love you, Luc. I was waiting to tell you until it was official… but I found a property in town that’s perfect for my new spa.”
Now it’s my turn to be shocked, eyebrows climbing up my forehead. “You did?”
She nods. “Yesterday. When I went into town with Maggie and Lily. It’s the perfect spot. Right in the center of Main Street. I’m putting in an offer on Monday.”
“Yeah?” My smile widens to match hers.
One fang sinks into her gloss-covered bottom lip, and she peers up from beneath a thick fan of dark lashes. Tip-toeing her fingers up my chest, she says, “That’s if a certain grumpy minotaur will let me live with him.”
The air fills with my whoop of excitement and Vanessa’s squeal when I band my arms around her waist and lift, spinning us in a circle.
Blush-pink fabric whirls around us as her skirt catches the breeze.
Finally slowing to a stop, I keep her in my arms, where she belongs.
“Yes, mon soleil. Fuck, yes, you can live with me. How soon do you move in?”
She pats my chest, sliding in a seductive wave down my body when I set her back on her feet. “Slow your roll, big guy. I don’t own the property yet—”
“Peg loves my maple syrup. I’ll hand-deliver some bottles if that’s what it takes to get the property.”
Vanessa holds up a hand. “As much as I appreciate the offer, this is something I need to do on my own. I need to make sure Melody can handle managing the flagship location, and I’ll still probably have to go to the city once a month or so to check in.”
Wrapping one arm around her back, I bring her body to my chest again. The other hand comes up to cradle the nape of her neck. “Whatever it takes, we’ll figure it out.”
“Together,” she says, then presses a sweet kiss to my lips.
“Together,” I whisper in agreement.
She giggles, pecking my lips again. “We should probably check on the caterer.”
Begrudgingly, I follow her to the front of the tent, where we confirm that staff will start circulating the hors d’oeuvres at the social hour in a few minutes. But all I care about is the woman trailing behind me as we approach the reception tent.
The woman I didn’t know I longed for, but I thank my lucky stars every day for the snowstorm that brought her careening into my peaceful, solitary existence.
Even if I was too stubborn to realize it that first night, her chaos and optimism were exactly what I needed.
And now that I have her, I’m never letting go. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.