right?"
He laughed softly. "No, bella, it's the key to your new car."
"New car! You bought me a car?"
Grigori nodded. "It's parked out front."
Marisa ran to the window, drew back the curtains, and looked outside. There were two cars parked at the curb. A sleek black Corvette, and a red Corvette convertible.
"You don't mean one of those?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Grigori came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. "Which one do you like?"
"Which one? You bought them both?"
He nodded. "I thought you would prefer the convertible, but you can have the other, if you like."
She didn't know what to say.
Grigori put his hands at her waist and turned her around to face him. "Would you rather have something else?"
"No. No. Who wouldn't want a Corvette, but - "
"But?"
"They're so expensive. And the insurance. I could never afford it."
"Cora, it's all paid for."
"But... it must have cost you a fortune to buy two cars, and insurance and - "
He placed a finger over her lips. "I have a fortune, cara mia. Let me spend it on you."
She looked up at him, wondering how she had ever thought him a monster. He treated her like a queen, spoiled her shamelessly, and not just by buying her presents. He was thoughtful of her wants, her needs. He valued her opinions, listened to what she had to say.
"Grigori, you're so good to me."
He smiled down at her. "Ah, cara, it is you who are good to me. It's been so long since I've had someone to care for, someone to take care of. I'd forgotten how wonderful it is."
"I love the way you take care of me," she murmured, and drawing his head down, she kissed him.
As always, the touch of his lips on hers flooded her with heat, made her long for the day when she could be his, body and soul.
"Three more days," she whispered. Today was Wednesday. She had taken Thursday and Friday off to spend with her family and run a few last-minute errands. She had to pick up her wedding dress tomorrow afternoon; tomorrow night they were all going out to dinner so Grigori could meet her family. Saturday morning she had to pick up the flowers and get her hair done. The wedding was at six o'clock at the Methodist church around the corner.
"Three more days," he repeated softly, and the idea filled him with such longing, he thought he might die of the pain.
Three more days. He could wait that long. With an effort, he stilled the hunger within him. "So," he said, "which will it be? The red one, or the black one?"
"What? Oh, the cars." She smiled up at him. "The red one. I've always dreamed of owning a red Corvette." She tilted her head to the side. "But you know that, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've been reading my mind again."
"No," he replied. "It just looked like you."
"Honest?"
"Honest."
"My parents will be here tomorrow." She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She loved her folks, she really did, but she wasn't looking forward to having them underfoot for the next three days. For one thing, she wouldn't be able to sit up late at night and neck with Grigori on the sofa, not with her father staying up to watch the eleven o'clock news. Her brother and his family would have to stay in a motel. There was just no room in her apartment for Mike and Barbara and their kids, unless she wanted to move out. Which might not be such a bad idea, she mused, if she could move in with Grigori.
She grinned at the thought. Tempting as it might be, she couldn't do it. Her parents would have a fit. They'd only be here for three days. She could stand anything that long. And then she would belong to Grigori forever.
"Come on," she said, grabbing his hand. "Let's go for a ride."
It was the most luxurious car she had ever seen. The interior was butter-soft leather, and it smelled as only a new car could smell. She fastened her seat belt, slid the key in the ignition, felt a thrill of excitement as the engine hummed to life. Purred might have been a better word, she mused as she pulled away from the curb.
"You like it?"
"I love it." It handled like a dream. "But why did you buy two?"
"One for you, one for me."
"I thought you just wished yourself