Night's Pleasure (30 page)

“You already make me happy.”

Looking up, he brushed a lock of hair from her face. “So, what do you say we go see my folks?”

“So soon?” she exclaimed.

“There's nothing to be afraid of.”

Nothing? A lone mortal, who was supposed to be a hunter, in a den of Vampires?

“You've already met Rafe. That wasn't so bad, was it?”

“No, but…”

“Remember when you said my being a Vampire was just a quirk? Well, think of it as a hereditary quirk. My family all suffer from it, but they're good people.”

Savanah settled in his lap. “So, tell me about them.”

“Well, my grandfather Roshan is somewhere around four hundred years old.”

“Just a baby when compared to Mara,” Savanah muttered.

“I guess you could say that. My grandmother Brenna is a witch.”

“I thought she was a Vampire?”

“She is.”

A witch
and
a Vampire. Now there was a combination to be reckoned with, Savanah mused.

“You'll like her,” Rane said. “Grandfather went back in time and saved her from being burned at the stake.”

“You're kidding? People can't go back in time.”

Rane shrugged. “Maybe not, but my grandfather did. You'll have to get one of them to tell you the whole story. My father is a mechanic, or at least he used to be. I don't know if he's still working or not. I haven't seen any of them in years.” Mara had told him that they had all moved to some little town in Oregon about five years ago, and that Kathy's friend, Susie, and her Were-tiger husband, Cagin, had followed a year later.

“What about your mother?” Savanah asked.

Rane shrugged. “She's just Mom.”

“And they all like being Vampires?”

“So far.” He brushed a kiss across her lips. “No one will pressure you to accept the Dark Gift, love. That decision will be yours.”

“But you'd like me to?” Her joy at his proposal ebbed as reality again crept in.

“Very much.” He kissed the length of her neck, his mouth warm against her skin.

“Rane, be honest. Do you really think we can make a life together?”

“Don't you?”

“Maybe for a while, but what happens when I'm old? I don't mean forty or fifty, but what if, God willing, I live to be a hundred and ten? You'll still look the way you do now. You'll want a woman who can keep up with you, one who can make love all night long, and…”

Rane put his hand over her mouth, silencing her. “Stop that.”

She kissed his palm, then drew his hand away. “It's something we need to think about, no matter how painful it might be.”

“Savanah…”

“Most couples grow old together. We won't.”

Rane swore softly. “Have you changed your mind about us?”

“No, but…”

“I'm going to Oregon to see my folks. I want you to come with me.”

“We haven't settled anything.”

“I love you,” Rane said. “You love me. Everything else can be worked out, in time.”

She looked into his eyes, his beautiful dark eyes, and wanted more than anything else in the world to believe him.

“Come home with me,” Rane coaxed softly, “meet my family. We won't say anything about getting married.”

“All right.”

Drawing her close, he kissed her, long and hard and deep. “We'll leave tomorrow.”

They left at sunset. Savanah stared out the window. The ocean was beautiful in the waning light of the setting sun. Once she thought she saw a whale break the surface. Gradually, the sky grew darker, until it was hard to tell where the sea ended and the horizon began.

With a sigh, she glanced at Rane. He drove with his left arm resting on the open window, his right hand lightly gripping the steering wheel. A breeze ruffled his hair. Just looking at him made her stomach curl with pleasure. They had made love last night. She smiled inwardly, remembering the wonder of it. She didn't know if it was because they were now unofficially engaged, or because they had been apart for so long, but she had wanted him desperately and she hadn't been afraid to show it. She didn't remember ever being so uninhibited, or so vocal. Thinking of it now brought a rush of heat to her cheeks.

Feeling the weight of her gaze, Rane looked over at her and smiled. “You okay?”

“Definitely okay,” she said, recalling how she had insisted on being the aggressor in their lovemaking. She had batted his hands away when he tried to undress her. Determined to have her own way, she had undressed him, slowly and deliberately, then pushed him down on the bed. He had laughed, amused by her provocative behavior, but the laughter had died in his throat when she began a slow striptease. Neither had been laughing when she slithered into bed beside him.

She lifted a hand to her neck, her fingertips exploring the place where he had bitten her. He had taken only a little, but it had enhanced their lovemaking, heightening the pleasure of every kiss, every stroke of his hand.

Rane pulled over about an hour later so Savanah could get a quick bite to eat. She ordered a cup of coffee and a doughnut to go and they were back on the road.

It was a little after ten when they drove over the cattle guard at the town's entrance. A sign proclaimed that Porterville had been incorporated in 1911 and had a population of five hundred people.

Since neither of them had ever been there before, Rane decided to have a look around. As he drove slowly through the town, Savanah counted two museums, a library, a historical society building, a couple of nice-looking restaurants, a gas station, and an old-fashioned general store. Thick stands of timber grew along the roadside and lined the distant fields.

“It's a beautiful place,” Savanah remarked.

Rane pulled up in front of a motel, then turned to look at her. “Do you want to spend the night here, or go find my folks' place?”

“Let's stay here tonight.”

“Still nervous about meeting them?”

“A little. What if they don't like me?”

“Savanah…”

“What if they look at me and all they see is dinner, or dessert? Stop that, it's not funny!”

He tried to say he was sorry, but he couldn't stop laughing.

Savanah punched him in the arm, realizing, too late, that it was going to hurt her fist more than his arm. The man had muscles of steel.

Rane took a deep breath, glanced at Savanah, and burst out laughing again.

“Anytime you're through, I'd like to check into the motel and take a bath.”

“Sor—sorry.” He switched off the engine and got out of the car.

She didn't wait for him to open her door. Grabbing her handbag, she swept into the office.

With a shake of his head, Rane grabbed her overnight bag and followed her inside. She was really something, he thought, and wondered how he had ever survived without her.

 

Rane squeezed Savanah's hand. “Just relax. They're going to love you.”

“Right.” Savanah took a deep breath as they walked up the pathway to his parents' house. It was a pretty place, white with dark green trim. Tall trees rose behind the house; a riot of colorful flowers surrounded a small fountain. It didn't look the least bit the way she had expected a Vampire's home to look. It was like expecting Dracula and finding Mary Poppins.

Savanah looked up at Rane as he knocked on the door. There was a faint tremor in the hand she was holding, and she realized he was just as nervous as she was.

The man who opened the door looked enough like Rane to be his brother. He had the same chiseled features, strong jaw, and thick black hair. The only difference she could see was in their eyes—Rane's were black, his father's were dark brown.

Vince Cordova took one look at his son and drew him into his arms. “Welcome home, son.”

All Savanah's fears melted as she watched the two men embrace; the love and affection between them was almost palpable.

Clearing his throat, Vince held his son at arm's length. “I can't believe you're here. Let me have a look at you. Why didn't you tell us you were coming?” Vince glanced at Savanah. “This pretty lady must be Savanah.” Releasing his son, Vince held out his hand. “I'm Rane's father.”

“I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Cordova.”

“Just Vince. Come on inside. I can't wait to see Cara's face when she sees the two of you.”

The inside of the house was lovely, all done in shades of green and mauve. A pretty woman with long blond hair sat in a chair beside the fireplace. She looked up from the book she was reading when they entered the room, her blue eyes widening when she saw her son.

“Rane!” The book fell to the floor as she jumped to her feet.

“Hi, Mom.”

She hugged him fiercely, her eyes filling with tears. Tears that Savanah noticed were tinged with red.

“I can't believe you're home,” Cara said, wiping her tears with one hand. “Why didn't you tell us you were coming? Oh, it doesn't matter, I'm so glad you're here.” Still hugging her son, she looked at Savanah. “Thank you for bringing him home.”

“I didn't…”

“Oh, yes, you did,” his mother insisted. Releasing Rane, she offered Savanah her hand. “I'm so happy to meet you.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cordova.”

“Cara,” she said, squeezing her hand. “Well, come in and sit down. I want to hear everything.”

The next hour passed quickly as Rane brought his parents up-to-date on what he'd been doing since he left home. Savanah was completely charmed by his parents, both of whom were sympathetic when they learned of her father's death.

To Savanah's surprise, Rane's mother offered her a glass of iced tea and a slice of chocolate cake, neither of which Savanah had expected to find in a Vampire's house.

“We keep food on hand for the neighbor kids,” Cara explained. “They love to come over after school. Especially the teenage boys. They're always coming around, asking Vince to fix their cars, or make them go faster.”

Vince grinned at Savanah and shrugged. “They're good kids.”

Rising, Cara said, “I should call Rafe and tell him you're home.”

“Don't forget to call your folks,” Vince reminded her with a smile. “We'll never hear the end of it if you don't.”

“You're right about that,” Cara said, and went in to the other room to make her calls.

Rafe and his pretty blond wife, Kathy, showed up a short time later, and Cara's parents arrived some twenty minutes after that. Kathy and Rane's grandparents greeted Savanah with welcoming smiles as they introduced themselves. Cara's father, Roshan, was tall and lean with powerful shoulders and long limbs. His hair was black, his eyes a bold midnight blue set beneath straight black brows, but it was Cara's mother who held Savanah's attention.

Brenna DeLongpre seemed too pretty to be a witch. Fiery red hair fell to her waist, her eyes were almost as green as Mara's. She wore a white peasant blouse over a colorful, ankle-length skirt; a necklace of amber and jet circled her throat.

Vince brought out a bottle of vintage wine. After filling everyone's glass, he lifted his own, and said, “A toast to the prodigal, who, though away from us, was never out of our hearts or our thoughts.”

“Here, here,” Rafe said.

“And to the woman in his life,” Cara added. “May she always feel welcome in our presence and in our home.”

Rane slid his arm around Savanah's shoulders. Drawing her close, he whispered, “See? I knew they'd love you. So, will you marry me?”

Savanah glanced around the room. No one would ever think any of the occupants were Vampires. She was finding it a little hard to believe herself.

Rane poked her in the ribs. “You didn't answer me.”

“They really are wonderful people, aren't they?”

“I think so.” He looked at her, his dark eyes intense. “You still haven't answered my question.”

“Yes, Rane, I'll marry you whenever and wherever you want.”

“She said yes!”

Savanah glanced over her shoulder, startled, as Brenna announced her decision to the room.

“I'm sorry,” Brenna said, hurrying over to give Savanah a hug. “I didn't mean to eavesdrop, really, but…welcome to the family!”

“This calls for another toast!” Vince said.

The next few minutes were hectic as everyone came over to wish Rane and Savanah well. Amid bear hugs and smiles, Savanah found herself wondering who would perform the ceremony, since it was illegal for Vampires and mortals to intermarry.

Rane must have been reading her mind because a moment later, he put the question to his father.

“There's only one place to hold the wedding,” Vince said, smiling at Cara. “Right?”

“Yes, of course,” Cara replied.

“And only one priest to join the two of you together,” Brenna declared.

“Father Lanzoni,” Rafe and Kathy said in unison.

“Who's Father Lanzoni?” Savanah asked.

“He's the priest who married us,” Vince said, giving his wife's hand a squeeze.

“And us,” Roshan said, smiling at Brenna.

“And us,” Kathy added, linking her arm with Rafe's.

Rane kissed Savanah on the cheek. “We can't break a tradition like that, can we?”

“No, indeed,” she agreed.

“So, when's the big day?” Kathy asked.

“Whenever Savanah wants,” Rane said. “We haven't really had time to discuss it.”

“We'll have to let Mara know,” Vince said.

“Speaking of Mara,” Roshan said, “I hear she's taken a mortal lover. Is that true?”

“I don't know for a fact,” Rafe said, “but I'd say it's a safe bet.”

“I wonder if she'll bring him to the ceremony,” Brenna remarked.

“I wonder if he knows what she is,” Cara mused.

“Well, one thing is certain,” Vince said, refilling his wineglass, “we know she'll come.”

 

The next week was filled with excitement and anticipation the likes of which Savanah had never known. Once she made the decision to marry Rane, there seemed little reason to wait. The women in Rane's family were more than supportive, and they were all eager to help with the planning, although there was little to plan. There was only one choice for a church, and no need for a caterer.

The one thing Savanah did need was a dress. To that end, the females in the family whisked her into Portland to go shopping. White dresses were no longer in vogue for brides, and Savanah tried on dresses in every color of the rainbow.

Though she had always envisioned herself walking down the aisle in a long white gown, the one she fell in love with was a pale, pale blue. The lines of the gown were simple yet elegant, modest yet sexy.

When Savanah stepped out of the dressing room to show Kathy, Brenna, and Cara, the looks on their faces told her she had made the right choice.

“Perfect!” Kathy and Brenna exclaimed.

“Rane's going to love it,” Cara said, giving Savanah a hug. “You'll be a beautiful bride.”

Savanah picked out a shoulder-length veil to match the dress, as well as a pair of heels. Leaving the bridal shop, they went to a store that specialized in lingerie. Savanah's initial embarrassment at picking out such personal items in the company of Rane's mother and grandmother soon gave way to laughter as they examined a variety of undergarments, including edible underwear and crotchless panties, which brought a rush of heat to Savanah's cheeks as she imagined wearing them for Rane.

She picked out a long, black nightgown and matching peignoir, several pairs of bikini panties, bras, a robe and slippers. Cara insisted on buying her a different-colored teddy for every day of the week. Brenna gifted her with a shimmery silver nightgown that looked like it had been made from stardust and moonbeams.

Kathy chose a flowered nightgown, a matching velour robe, and fluffy pink slippers. “For
after
the honeymoon,” she explained with a shrug. “Or for those mornings when you don't feel like getting dressed. After all,” she said, gesturing at the pile of gossamer gowns, “you can't answer the door in any of those.”

The only time Savanah felt the slightest bit ill at ease was at mealtimes. Rane's parents assured her that she was welcome to cook in the house, but she politely declined, preferring to eat at one of the restaurants in town. Rane always accompanied her in the evening, lingering over a glass of wine while she ate dinner.

Mara showed up the night before the wedding with a handsome young man in tow. As Mara introduced Kyle to Rane's family, Savanah couldn't help wondering if Kyle Bowden knew that, except for the two of them, everyone else in the room was a Vampire.

She was glad when Mara and Kyle took their leave and Vince and Cara went to bed, giving Rane and Savanah some time alone in the living room. Though they had shared a bed in the past, Savanah had told Rane she wouldn't feel comfortable doing so in his parents' house, and he had acceded to her wishes.

Now, sitting on the sofa, Rane pulled Savanah closer to his side. “Nervous about tomorrow?” he asked, one hand lightly massaging her nape.

“A little.” She snuggled against him. “We haven't talked about it much lately, but I'm still hoping to find the Vampire who killed my mother. Do you think I ever will?”

“I don't know, but you've got a lot more help now.”

“What do you mean?”

“My family. Mara. They'll all help.” Frowning, he ran his hand over his jaw. “You know, it occurred to me before that Mara might know who the killer is.”

“How could she possibly know that?”

“You always ask the tough questions,” Rane said, blowing out a sigh. “It has to do with her power. She's lived a long time. I'm not sure how she does it, but she seems to be able to tap into whatever affects the Vampire community. It wouldn't surprise me if she knows who killed your mother.”

Savanah bolted upright. “When can we ask her? Do you know where she's staying? Can we call her tonight?”

Rane slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her back down beside him. “I don't know where she's staying, and even if I did, I doubt if she wants to be disturbed.”

He was right, of course. Savanah had seen the way Kyle Bowden had looked at Mara. No doubt the two of them were curled up in a bed somewhere. Savanah let out a sigh. She had waited this long for information about her mother's killer; she could wait one more night.

 

Kyle came awake abruptly, not knowing what had roused him. Sitting up, he switched on the bedside lamp, then turned to see if Mara was asleep, only to find her side of the bed was empty.

“Mara?”

Gaining his feet, he prowled through the hotel suite, turning on the lights as he went. There was no sign of her. Frowning, he returned to the living room and sank down on the sofa. Where would she have gone at this time of the night?

Mara. She was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. True, he had only known her a short time, but she surprised him on a daily basis. She looked to be about twenty years old, but there were times when he would have sworn she was older. Much older. He sometimes found himself studying her, looking for some sign that she'd had a face-lift or other cosmetic surgery, but her body was toned and taut, her skin flawless.

And then there were the people he had met earlier that night. It had been all he could do to hide his astonishment when he overheard one of the Cordova brothers call Vince Cordova “Dad.” Until then, Kyle had assumed that Vince was another brother. Impossible as it seemed, all of them—men and women alike—appeared to be in their late twenties or early thirties.

His thoughts turned to Mara again. Since the day he met her, he had thought of little else. She was like an addiction he couldn't shake, a thirst he couldn't quench. A riddle he couldn't solve.

He remembered a conversation they'd had while still in Egypt. They had been in his hotel room, watching an old movie about Antony and Cleopatra. They had discussed the movie when it was over. Kyle had made a comment about Cleopatra. He couldn't remember now what he'd said, but Mara had corrected him and then, her expression wistful, she had told him about Egypt's most famous queen. Kyle was no expert on the subject. He'd had no way of knowing if what Mara had told him was historically correct or not, yet everything she had said carried the ring of truth. It was almost as if she had known the Egyptian queen personally. It reminded him of an old
Twilight Zone
episode in which a beautiful woman mesmerized men, then, with the help of a beetle, took their life force, thereby keeping herself forever young.

Chiding himself for his fanciful thoughts, he turned off the lights and went back to bed. If there was one thing he did know about Mara, it was that she loved the night. No doubt she had just gone out for a walk in the moonlight.