There was a note on the table from Sentin. Thought you might need some privacy. Went fishing.
Niccolo knew that meant they were half way to Bacalar, Mexico by now. Niccolo recently acquired a villa on the lake just for them after his return from hibernation. He liked the idea of giving the men a place that was warm and peaceful where they could fish at night-merely for sport, of course. But there was also something about the area where Cimil's cenote stood that called to him. Perhaps because it was the very place that his fate had taken a turn towards his beloved Helena.
With Niccolo's sensitive hearing, he realized that Helena was in the shower. He thought about joining her, but she might not be ready to forgive him yet. He sat on the couch and waited anxiously; he paced and sat again, returning to a pace while he practiced his forgiveness speech.
Finally, the water shut off and he heard the bathroom door creak open. The scent of Helena, shampoo, and soap filled the air.
"Is someone there?" Helena called out from the bedroom.
Here goes. "We are alone, mio cuore," he responded from the living room.
Helena quickly appeared in the doorway wearing nothing but a plush white towel. Her large blue eyes immediately widened when she saw Niccolo. She had a bandage on her wrist and he could see splotchy, deep black bruises running up her arm. She must have fought Andrus. She also looked thinner and pale, like she hadn't eaten or slept in days. Had Andrus chained her up or hurt her? Niccolo pushed away his thoughts of taking Andrus' head for mistreating her. Andrus is dead by now, or soon will be. I need to be content with that.
He slowly stood, but did not approach. He needed to look at her, soak her in.
Despite the apparent fatigue, she was more glorious and beautiful than he'd remembered. Her plump lips, her full breasts, her curvy hips … she was almost too beautiful. His heart wanted to jump from his chest and weep with contentment. Helena was everything to him. How could he have been so foolish to think he could let her go?
He would find a way to keep her human and safe from his world. Even if we only have hours or days left together.
But what was she thinking and feeling? Did she hate him for all that he'd done to her? He reached out with his mind to sample her emotions. Anger. Pain. Fear. And … love.
A wave of relief washed over him. She still loved him.
"Helena, I know you have no reason to forgive me, but I hope you will." While there is still time for us.
Helena fidgeted with a corner of the towel near her bare knee, exposing her upper-thigh. Niccolo balled his fists to keep from pouncing. He wanted to take her to bed more than he'd ever wanted anything in his entire existence.
"I heard the good news about your freedom," she said in a quiet tone. "Congratulations. I guess the prophecy wasn't right after all."
Niccolo winced. So she knew about the prophecy. "Cimil?" he guessed.
Helena nodded. "She paid me a visit while I was with Andrus."
"What did she say?"
Helena looked down at her feet. "Nothing coherent, really."
Niccolo felt relieved. He was not going to tell Helena how the likely outcome of his story was ending up in the queen's dungeon-ninety-nine point, nine, nine, nine percent, according to Cimil-which he would do everything in his power to prevent since Helena would feel his pain too.
No. Death would be the answer. This way, Helena would be free from their bond.
But before I go …
"Cimil was right. You are my one true love." Niccolo continued to hold back. He needed Helena with every cell in his body, but he wanted the choice to be hers. He listened carefully to her heart. It was pounding furiously in unison with his own.
"Niccolo, I want you to know something." She stepped from the bedroom doorway towards him. Drops of water slid down her shoulders from her damp hair. "I know you pushed me to Andrus because you thought you were trying to protect me."
"You're not angry with me?"
She was angry at someone. He could feel the emotion radiating from her. Andrus was the likely answer.
Helena shook her head and took another step. "Not any more. I'm just grateful to see you again. I love you."
Niccolo could no longer refrain from touching her. He closed the remaining gap between them and pulled Helena into his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with so much affection, he thought he would die from joy.
"I love you, Helena. I will love you until my last breath. Please forgive me. I thought if Andrus had a way to break our bond, I should give you that chance."
"No. I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Vampire. Until … until death do us part."
Maybe she did know about the consequences of the prophecy going unfulfilled? Didn't matter now. They had this moment. He'd take it.
He dipped his head and covered her mouth with his. The sweet scent of her clean warm skin filled his lungs. His groin swelled instantly. Every fantasy he'd ever had of her flashed in his mind. He had to have her.
He slid his hand through her damp curls to the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Over thirteen hundred years of living, and he'd never felt anything so euphoric.
His lips traveled down the side her neck. "Ask anything you want of me, Helena. Anything at all. Your own island. A small country. Anything. It is yours."
Helena whispered. "I want … you. Just you." She dropped her towel onto the floor.
Niccolo's breath escaped him. She was so beautiful. So perfect. The soft curves of her hips. Her silky creamy skin that glowed with life. Her round full breasts. The golden brown curls between her legs. He would sample every inch of her tonight. He would savor every moment. Because whatever change she'd provoked inside his heart had effected his body too. He longed to be inside her, make love to her.
Yet his savage, vampire side that called for her sweet blood was now completely under control. The power of love.
Niccolo dropped to his knees, wanting to worship at her feet like a sacred alter. He nuzzled her stomach. He spread kisses over her hip. His hands moved up the back of her thighs and cupped her round bottom. Like him, she seemed to be lost in the moment of their bodies touching, the sensation of lust running between them. His erection throbbed painfully, but there was just one thing he wanted to do before sweeping her in his arms and taking her to bed. He pulled her real engagement ring from his pocket.
He gently took her hand and trailed kisses down her wrist before sliding the ring on her finger. He looked up at her face.
A glorious smile swept across it. "What's this?" She held out her hand.
Now the moment was perfect. "This is the ring I should have given to you-a priceless family heirloom. I still want to complete the ceremony with you so that you feel like my real wife."
She tilted her head to one side. "I don't need a wedding. I am already yours, Vampire. Forever."
He smiled. He knew they wouldn't have forever, but he'd savor every moment.
"In that case, there is one last thing we must do to make it official. I must take you to bed."
Helena laughed. "What are you waiting for? I'm not getting any younger."
Chapter 20
Niccolo was going to die.
And Helena had to stop it. Not just because she loved him, but because the lives of everyone she'd ever loved were at risk, too.
Yes, it was possible Cimil could be wrong, but who in their right mind would roll the dice on something so important? Maybe that was the reason this was her destiny; she understood and respected the impact one life could have on the other billion life forms on the planet. One life form-a virus-could kill millions. Another life form-a scientist in a lab-could save millions. The power of one should never be underestimated.
She chuckled to herself. If she survived, she'd have to change her official career from evolutionary biologist to evolutionary paranormal spiritual scientist. Sounds like a perfect new religion for California.
Speaking of the impact one could have, she looked up at Niccolo and wondered how many specs of dust, how many millions of stars, drops of rain, births and deaths, flakes of snow, and days of sunshine it all took for the world to evolve in such a way for the universe to bring her the one person who'd changed her life. And now, the two of them were together in this perfect moment.
He's evolutionary perfection. She didn't want to waste any more time thinking of the task to come and all that was riding on her. Niccolo loved her. She loved him. They had this moment together. It had to be enough.
He studied her briefly. Then he scooped her in his arms and carried her to the king sized bed. The room glowed softly from the muted sunshine filtering through the thick curtains. The bed linens were her favorite: soft white sheets and a fluffy down comforter. If they had actually had a human wedding today as planned, she would have picked a hotel and a room just like this one for their wedding night.
Niccolo laid her gently on the bed and began peeling away his own clothes while his thirsty gaze raked over her naked body.