Her Secret (35 page)

His shout was as it had been that day months
ago in the hotel. It was loud enough to shake the room as it tore
out of him, as if it was tearing out his heart. “Saaaaaarrr!”

Devlin held me tightly, his hips still
shuddering against mine as he shouted my name over and over.
Several minutes later, he stopped spasming, then hugged me
tightly.

“I love you,” he whispered. He carefully
withdrew his softening penis, then wrapped me in his arms.

“I love you, too, Oathed One,” I whispered,
closing my eyes as I hugged him, contented.

Though I meant just to doze, I quickly
dropped off to sleep. Sometime later, Devlin awakened me with a
kiss.

“Sar, how do you feel?”

“Wonderful,” I said languidly, stretching.
Every muscle I had ached, but it was the good ache that a woman
feels after she has been well loved. “That was incredible.”

“Yes, it was,” he said, deeply satisfied.
“But one thing still remains.”

“I don’t want to drink your blood,” I said,
trying to be as nice as possible about it.

He laughed, touching my face with his hand.
“You don’t have to, Sar. We have shared enough these past few days
that it isn’t necessary, though that is what is usually done. I’ve
given you my blood to heal you, and you have given me yours, both
for pleasure and to sustain me. The Oath is satisfied.”

“I have to ask something,” I said, curious.
“Danial never asked me to drink his blood. If that is what is done
during Oathing, why didn’t he ask me?”

“He was new at it,” Devlin said, unruffled.
“He had never Oathed anyone before you, Sar. Also, he didn’t want
to hurt you, and he probably thought his blood was dangerous to you
back then, as it might well have been. He may have been unsure
about what amount to give you or even how to give it to you. Any
vampire who has taken blood from a donor and then healed them with
their own blood has done enough to validate the blood exchange
asked for in Oathing. I merely mention it to you out of
formality.”

“How is it usually done then?”

“Usually, the vampire, be it man or woman,
opens a cut or has their intended do it, and then the intended
kisses the wound. Or, the vampire will taste their intended in a
long kiss, then open a wound themselves, and give their intended
one their blood in that kiss, much how I shared my blood with you
that night we met.” He gave me a pleased smile. “As I said, that
part of the Oath is well satisfied.”

I hadn’t liked him doing it then, but oddly I
remembered that the taste of his blood had reminded me of maple
sugar. And Devlin had liked it very much. “Do it again.”

Devlin glanced over, startled and clearly
excited. “You want me to taste you?”

“That night, I was scared,” I admitted. “Too
scared to remember much except it hurt.”

“You’re right that if I do it now there will
be no pain,” Devlin answered. “Are you sure you want to? It is more
a symbolic gesture than anything else. It has no lasting effects,
at least that I know of.” He kissed me softly again on my forehead.
“Not five minutes ago, you just said you didn’t want to drink
blood, Love.”

“I want to taste yours,” I said deliberately.
“As your Oathed One, it’s my right.”

Devlin lowered his eyes, his smile widening.
“Then sit up, Love. Your wish is my command.”

We both sat up. He took my face in his hands.
“Tell me if it hurts, and I’ll stop.”

I nodded.

Devlin brought my lips to his. After a few
seconds, I felt one fang slice my tongue. There was no pain. Devlin
began to kiss me harder, his tongue delving into my mouth as he
swallowed. Languid pleasure washed over me. I kissed him back
harder, thrusting my tongue into his mouth. He suckled it gently,
then let it go, drawing back slightly, our lips parting. Within a
moment, he kissed me again, his mouth opening on mine. Again, I
tasted sweet maple sugar with a faint undercurrent of copper. I
kissed him eagerly, licking the inside of his mouth. Devlin let me,
emitting soft groans of pleasure. Gently, he pushed me away.

“God, that was wonderful,” he sighed,
sprawling back on the bed.

“Why do you like it?” I asked curiously. “I
get that you’re a vampire and you drink blood, but why the sexual
aspect to it?”

“I’m a man of many desires,” Devlin said
wantonly, smirking. “You must have a favorite food? Name it.”

“Several. Chocolate in all its forms, pizza,
French fries, hamburgers, eel—”

“Are these in order?” he said, laughing
richly.

“The first one is,” I said, laughing.

“Imagine the rush you get, the intense
pleasure just tasting the chocolate, the joy you feel as it melts
in your mouth and you consume it. I feel that same joy.”

“With my blood?”

“With most blood,” Devlin amended. He kissed
my hand. “Yours is a hundred times more intensely flavored. My only
lament is that tonight will be my last taste for some time.”

Panic flooded me. “Won’t you be leaving on
Friday night? Why will the last time be tonight?”

“Danial is coming back Friday, which is
tomorrow night. He will be here right after nightfall, perhaps
sooner. You need time alone together, both to celebrate your love
with him, and to cement your final plan for the Gathering.”

Ask him now
. “Please come with us,” I
begged, clasping his hand in both of mine. “You said Lash is the
best—”

Devlin grasped my hands in his. “I’ll do you
more good by not being there. You are better off making plans with
Danial, and letting me fight this war from a different front.”

I broke down crying, devastated. Devlin
hugged me close, but didn’t say anything.

“I need you,” I sniffled. “Danial needs you.
I’m scared to death of what’s going to happen to Theoron.”

“Terian will watch him like a hawk,” Devlin
said soothingly. “He will be the safest person at that party. It’s
Danial and you who must be watchful. Do as he says, Sar. And you
must also do as I tell you.”

I wiped my eyes. “Tell me your plan. I can
face this if I know it, Dev. I’m terrified.”

“I’d tell you if I could,” Devlin said,
serious. “But you must know nothing of it for it to work—”

I gripped the choker with both hands, and
yanked hard, letting out an anguished cry. “Take this damned thing
off! You don’t love me!”

Lightning fast, Devlin grabbed my hands,
pulling them away. “Stop, you fool, or you’ll cut your flesh.” He
hugged me close. “If I feared for your safety, I’d not let you go.
The worst that can befall you is that you’re taken hostage against
your will. If that happens, I will send Lash for you. He has never
failed me.”

“He hates me,” I sobbed. “I tried to be nice
and he hated me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” Devlin said, clearly
uncomfortable. “He’s just having trouble adjusting. In any case, he
never lets his emotions interfere with his job.”

“I’m scared,” I whispered. “They’re going to
kill Danial. He thinks so, too.”

“I know one who will likely try,” Devlin
said, vengeful. “But you leave that to me, Love. As I promised you,
I’ll do all that I can.”

I moved away from him, wrapping blankets
around me. “When are you leaving?”

“I have to get back early tomorrow morning to
Hayden.”

“Did they succeed?” I asked hollowly.

“Yes. Lash called this morning.” He turned
regretful. “I would have loved seeing the look on Danial’s face
when he learns you’re his again. It is going to be something to
see.” He kissed my hand fondly. “You will have to tell me of it
later.”

“There won’t be a later,” I said darkly.

Devlin turned me to face him, then hugged me.
“Yes there will. Come, get dressed. We are going out to
celebrate.”

“It’s got to be eight at night at least.
Besides, I don’t feel like celebrating.”

“I do,” Devlin said pointedly, getting up.
“Worrying and sulking is a waste of your time, particularly if you
believe you have not much left. Dress, and let me take you
out.”

I got out of bed, and began to put on
clothes, not answering.

“Sar, I have to feed,” Devlin continued. “I
can’t take any more from you tonight, save that little taste later,
or Danial will not be able to drink from you tomorrow. Also, there
may be some kind of public display Saturday you need to do with
him. You need me not to feed from you, especially not the amount I
need to take.” He turned me to face him slowly. “I could go alone,
but a large meal would do both your body and your mind good.” He
embraced me again. “And we have never been out together before.
Please, come celebrate with me.”

I pushed him away and finished dressing.
Still silent, I hung up my ivory gown. It was remarkably smooth for
all my time in it.

“Wear it for him,” Devlin whispered sadly. “I
want him to have a night as enjoyable as ours was, at least at the
beginning.”

Upset, I clasped his hand. “I’ll go with you.
Get dressed, and meet me in five.”

Devlin left. I washed up, then put on some
makeup and fluffed my hair. When I emerged, Devlin was dressed, and
had just given the dogs some treats they were gnawing.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, then tossed him the keys. “You
drive.”

* * * *

“They have fries, hamburgers, and chocolate
here, not to mention wine,” Devlin said, parking the car at a
popular chain restaurant.

“This is good,” I said, nodding. “I’m
hungrier than I thought.”

The night was a slow one. Within minutes, we
were in a booth, sipping the best red on the wine list and perusing
the menu.

Devlin put down his glass, and leaned across
the table. “Sar, I am leaving now. I’ll try to be back in a half
hour or so. Order whatever you want to, and eat without me.”

Panic filled me. “What should I do if a—” I
cut off as a waitress passed close by.

“You will be able to resist,” Devlin replied,
squeezing my hand. “And they will not be drawn to you, should one
see you. All danger of uncontrollable behavior is over. You are
safe here with so many eyes watching you.” He kissed me once more,
then got up and left. He hurried to the truck, started it, then
drove off.

The waitress came back, noticed Devlin gone,
and gave me a sad look. Ignoring her misplaced pity, I gleefully
said, “Salad for an appetizer, and then some fries and a rare
colossal sized hamburger, then some Tiramisu for dessert.”

When she’d gone, I called Danial. He answered
on the first ring.

“Sar, I was about to call you. Are you still
well?”

Say as little as possible, or he’ll know
something’s up
. “Yes.”

“I’m getting done early out here. I should be
to you by six tomorrow. I need to take Elle to your parents’ home
tomorrow, but that will only delay me a short while.”

“Danial, I’ll take her,” I offered. “Now I’m
better, I’d like to spend some time with her before we leave
Saturday.”

“We are leaving for Canada on Friday around
midnight,” Danial said primly. “Theo wants us there before
Saturday, remember, so he can take that entire day to check out the
hotel, and the Gathering place?”

“Sorry, I forgot. What should I bring to
wear?”

“Tatiana has made you a dress, and she has
accessories for it as well. You need only pack whatever else you
need for the journey.”

Time for the big question.
“What are
the hotel arrangements?”

“As when we have traveled before, Sar: a two
bedroom suite.”

“What did Theo say, Danial? Have you talked
to him?”

“He asked that he be allowed to sleep on the
sofa outside. He said that you could take his room, that he could
guard us both better that way anyway.”

“He can have his room. I’ll be in yours. I
was really asking about his plans.”

“He said only what I just told you—”

Stymied again. Shit, why did I care?
I
told myself I didn’t care.

“—
what I want to know is where you are.
You’re calling from your cell phone.”

There was fear, but also delight. Yet
suddenly blurting that we were Oathed again via phone was not how I
imagined breaking the news to him. I wanted to be face to face.
“I’m out.”

“Out where? With who?”

“I’m with no one right now,” I said honestly.
Devlin still hadn’t returned. “Trust me.”

“I do trust you. Now tell me where you are
and who you’re with.”

“I’m at a restaurant waiting for food in a
booth, alone.”

“I know who is with you,” he said menacingly.
“What have you done—!”

“Danial, I love you and I’ll see you
tomorrow,” I said, and hung up. Quickly turning off my cell, I put
it in my purse. Danial would call back immediately, so it was
better he got voice mail.

The waitress brought my food. I began
devouring it, relishing how good the fatty food tasted. I was just
finishing my fries when Devlin appeared. He was almost glowing, his
stubble again present.

“Hey,” he said, kissing me quickly on the
cheek and sitting down. “How was your food?”

“Good,” I said, giving him an appreciative
look. “I take it you’re full, too?”

“Yes,” he said, sipping his wine. “I was
starving. Do you need more wine?”

I was halfway through my second glass. “No.”
I wanted to ask him if he’d killed the person he’d bitten, but
remained quiet.

His phone rang. He checked the caller ID,
then shot me a grin.

“Danial?”

He nodded. The phone continued to ring.

“Should I answer, Sar?” Devlin said
teasingly. “Or should I let him wonder why I don’t?”

He was enjoying this way too much. “I called
him, so he wouldn’t worry when I didn’t answer at home. He suspects
you are with me, Dev,” I said, drinking the last of my wine. “I
told him I was out eating alone at a restaurant, and he still
knew.”