His Dark Embrace

“All the time for what?” Sam asked, breezing into the living room.

“We’re getting married!” Sky replied. Scrambling to her feet, she smoothed her hair and straightened her sweater.

Thorne sat up, his back braced against the sofa, his arms resting on his bent knees.

“Really?” Sam glanced at Thorne, then back at Skylynn. “That’s ah ... that’s great.”

“You don’t approve?” Skylynn stared at her brother, her hands fisted on her hips.

He shrugged. “Whatever makes you happy works for me. I guess you’ll want me to move out.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ll move in with Kaiden and you can stay here. The house is half yours, after all.”

“So, when’s the big day?” Sam asked.

“We haven’t set a date yet. Probably not for a couple of weeks. I need to find a dress and invite a few friends from back East.” She worried her lower lip between her teeth. “It might be longer than that. Tara has to be here, and the last time I talked to her, she was in Vermont with her mom.”

Sky smacked her forehead with her palm. “Some friend I am! I should have called to see how her dad is doing. I think I’ll do that now, before I forget.”

“She’s something, isn’t she?” Sam murmured as he watched his sister leave the room.

“Yeah.” Thorne’s gaze followed Sam’s. Skylynn was something, all right. Part innocent, part temptress and all woman.

Sam dropped into the chair across from the sofa, his long legs stretched out in front of him. “I was driving around tonight, not going anywhere in particular, but things looked familiar, you know? I mean, I don’t really remember these places and yet I knew I’d seen them before.”

“Sounds like your memory might be coming back,” Thorne remarked.

“I hope so. Do you want a beer?”

“No, thanks.”

“I don’t think she keeps anything stronger in the house.”

“It’s all right,” Thorne said. “I’ll get something later.”

“You don’t drink?”

“Not alcohol.”

“Really? Well,” Sam remarked, slapping his hands on the arms of the chair, “I think I’m gonna call it a night.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“No doubt,” Sam said, grinning.

Thorne watched Sam go up the stairs and then, unable to resist, he honed in on Skylynn and opened his vampiric senses.

“... so glad to hear that,” she was saying.

“He’s coming home tomorrow,” Tara said. “He has to take it easy for a while, of course, but the doctors are optimistic that he’ll recover without any ill effects.”

“That’s wonderful news. So, have you reset the date for your wedding?”

There was a long pause, and then Tara said, “We called it off.”

“What? Oh, Tara, I’m so sorry, but ... what happened?”

“I found out he ... he ... he’s not to be trusted!”

Sky heard the heartache in Tara’s voice, knew her friend was trying not to cry.

“While I’ve been here, taking care of my mom and trying to keep my dad’s spirits up, Lance has been out on the town with another woman.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“No. My friend Nancy saw him in a bar with some blonde. When I confronted Lance, he denied it at first, and then he admitted it was true.” Tara sniffed loudly. “It’s probably just as well. His mother hates me.”

“I don’t know what to say. Is there anything I can do?”

“No. Men are scum.” Tara sighed dramatically. “So, what’s new with you? Are you still seeing that guy across the street?”

Sky hesitated, wondering if she should tell Tara about her upcoming wedding now, when her friend’s plans were in the toilet.

“Sky? Don’t tell me he proposed.”

“Not exactly. I asked him to marry me.”

“What? Are you kidding?”

“Nope. If you feel up to it, and you can get away, I’d love for you to be my maid of honor.”

“I wouldn’t miss it, you know that. Now, tell me all about him. What does he do?”

“He doesn’t do anything. I guess he must be rich.”

“You guess?”

Funny, Sky thought, she had never really wondered about that. Where did Kaiden get his money?

“Must be nice,” Tara remarked. “That means you won’t have to work unless you want to.”

“What? Oh, right. Listen, I’ve got to go.”

“Okay. Let me know when you set the date.”

“I will. Bye for now.” Sky disconnected the call, then sat there, her fingers tapping the side of the phone.

Where did Kaiden get his money? Did he rob his victims of their cash as well as their blood? Of course, he probably didn’t need a lot of money. He had lived in that big old house for so long, it was surely paid for by now. Still, there was upkeep on the house and grounds, taxes on the property. Utility bills. He always drove a new car. His clothes were well-made and looked expensive.

It occurred to her that she really didn’t know much about the man she wanted to marry, except that he was a vampire, and she loved him.

In the living room, Kaiden frowned as Skylynn hung up the phone. Love really was blind, he thought with a wry grin. He couldn’t help wondering if she would change her mind about marrying him now that she realized how little she knew about him. It would be for the best if she did. Oddly enough, now that he had accepted her proposal, he hoped she would never come to her senses.

He looked up as she entered the room. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” She smiled at him, her eyes alight with mischief. “Now that we’re engaged, shouldn’t you kiss me or something?”

“Or something.” Rising to his feet, Thorne drew her slowly into his arms. “What did you have in mind?”

She leaned into him. “What do you have in mind?” she asked with a teasing grin.

His gaze moved over her face as he drew her hips against his. “Can’t you guess?”

“Is that a gun in your pocket?” she asked, doing her best Mae West impression. “Or are you just happy to see me?”

Thorne shook his head. How had he lived as long as he had without her? She made him feel young, vibrant, more alive than he had in centuries. “What about Sam?”

She looked up at him through the fringe of her lashes, a seductive smile playing over her lips. “We could always go to your place.”