We were on the path, woods surrounding us when it hit me and I found my feet suddenly stopping. Thus I stopped Magdalene with me and Isobel was forced to halt behind us.
I turned to them, moving out of the curve of Magdalene’s arm and that was when I found my mouth moving.
“I… Lucien… he’s shared with me a variety of things and I… well, being me, being mortal, I mean, it’s very hard to wrap my mind around them. But at lunch, I was worried… um, I mean to say…” Damn! I was screwing this up! I took in a deep breath and forged on, “What I mean is, he’s very strong but still, I sense he’s suffered. That will happen to everyone at times in their lives, I know. It would just suck if it happened to you and you didn’t have good people, family, friends, at your back. At lunch I worried that he didn’t.” My eyes took them both in and I finished quietly, “I’m glad to know that he does.”
Magdalene’s normally soft, friendly face got softer and friendlier. Isobel, who played her cards closer to her vest, smiled a genuine, heartfelt smile.
I kept talking.
“Lucien would never thank you and it isn’t my place to do it but I’m going to do it anyway. So, uh… thank you.”
Magdalene looked at Isobel, Isobel looked at Magdalene then Magdalene again moved into me and wrapped her hand around my elbow.
She turned us and moved us forward but she did this walking close and saying softly, “And thank you, my dear. It’s lovely to know my son spends his time with a woman who cares.”
“I do,” I said softly back and, actually (shocker) I did.
Her fingers gave my elbow a squeeze.
“Good,” she murmured and I looked to the side to see her facing forward, her expression thoughtful but content.
Then I threw a look behind me and caught Lucien’s beautiful daughter’s smile.
Totally weird. Either one of them could be his sister.
Still, I smiled back.
Then I concentrated on walking close to Lucien’s mother as we made our way back to her son.
* * * * *
Wearing a raspberry satin nightie with a deep edge of black lace at the bottom, I wandered out of the dressing room, through the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Although Magdalene and Isobel had been true to their promise to conclude the visit from Lucien’s family shortly after we returned, five minutes after they left, my family descended.
This did not make Lucien happy and his frustration was apparent. He only put a clamp on it when Aunt Kate explained their plane left early the next morning and that evening was the last opportunity they had to visit with me. Therefore, they stayed for dinner and beyond, leaving only fifteen minutes ago.
However, during their visit they were all watchful of Lucien and me. I didn’t get the opportunity to ask them to explain though it felt weirdly like they were taking our pulse after the visit from Lucien’s family.
The second we walked back from me giving them hugs and kisses at their rental car and Lucien closed the front door of the house, he turned, looked down at me and growled, “Bed.”
I felt his growl in secret, happy places and this feeling was so strong, I totally forgot I wanted to ask him about his family and my family seemingly worried about my visit with them. So I called my goodnight to Edwina and skedaddled up the stairs to peruse my lingerie drawer for Lucien’s next treat.
As I changed, I heard him in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Then I heard him leave the bathroom.
Now I was walking through the bedroom to see he was as he was last night. Reclined against the headboard, chest bared, book in hand but eyes on me.
He immediately flipped his book shut and set it on his nightstand.
I immediately walked to him, put a knee in the bed, threw my other leg around and settled astride his hips.
“You don’t use a bookmark,” I noted, moving my hands to rest them lightly on his upper gut.
“No,” he answered shortly as I felt his stomach muscles tighten even with my light touch.
Power.
My power over the Mighty Vampire Lucien.