The Oath (4 page)

“I’m glad you like them,” he called from the
great room.

I paused before the mirror. This was it, the
moment I’d planned on telling him I would swear to be his. Like
before, my uncertainties arose. I couldn’t ever leave him if I did.
Not ever. Was I that sure?

Words my friend Kat had spoken earlier came
back to me.
Why haven’t you told him you’ll marry him? Are you
crazy? You love him; he loves you; he’s rich; and he’s gorgeous!
How can you even have to think about it?

I went to the bedroom door. Danial waited for
me, the strong lines of his face relaxed in a happy smile as he
studied the tree. His freshly cut hair feathered back except for a
loose wave that fell over his forehead. I loved him so much my
chest ached.

It was now or never, the perfect moment to
pledge to be his forever. Kat was right; things weren’t going to
get any better. If I didn’t do it, I’d wonder the rest of my life
what it could have been like with him, what I missed out on by not
taking the chance.

I walked to the couch and bent over, kissing
him on his lips. “They are beautiful. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like them.” He reached for me.
“Sit with me.”

I took hold of his hand and gently pushed it
back toward him. That got his attention. “Sar?” he said, alarm and
wariness clouding his features.

“I have something for you, too.” I went to my
knees beside the couch. He watched me, riveted.

God, I so wanted to do this perfectly, like
I’d mentally rehearsed all afternoon. “I’m yours, Danial Racklan,
for tonight and the rest of my life. I, Sarelle McGarran, promise
myself to you.”

He helped me to my feet, hugging me tightly.
“I, Danial Racklan, accept your Oath to me, Sarelle McGarran. From
this day forward, you are mine to love, protect, and honor. What we
have joined together no one may put asunder.”

I hugged him, shell-shocked. I’d wanted him
to understand that I wanted to give him my Oath, not do the actual
Oath here and now. “Don’t we need witnesses?” I whispered.

“No,” he said happily. “You offer your word
to bind yourself to me, and I accept. That’s all there is.” He
scooped me up in a quick motion. “Except for the consummation.”

He carried me into the bedroom and began
removing his clothes. I removed mine, apprehensive. “What do I have
to do?” I asked nervously.

“Nothing you haven’t done before with me.
Come here, Sweetheart.”

I went to him, my heart racing. He took my
face in his hands and brought my lips to his gently, his fingers
caressing me. When I tried to kiss him harder, he drew his lips
aside and hugged me.

“Patience,” he whispered. “We have the rest
of our lives stretching out before us. But there will never be
another night like this one.” He kissed me again, chastely. “I want
to remember you exactly as you are now, the way your hair shimmers,
the love in your eyes as you look at me.” He ran his hands
backwards, brushing the hair from my face. “I had forgotton how
good happiness felt. I want you to remember this night as one of
the best of your life, the way I will remember it.” He kissed me
gently. “Tell me again you’re mine, that you want to be.”

“I’m yours,” I said huskily. “I want you more
than anything.”

He let out a soft sigh, then his solemn
expression curved into an eager smile. He eased us down on the bed
and kissed down my throat, his fangs bringing moans with each light
prick as he pressed his lips to me. I kissed him harder, shifting
my hips under him to receive his first ardent thrust. Moments
later, I slid into climax, Danial right behind me.

He kissed me again, then withdrew and cradled
me close. For the first time, we didn’t speak afterward, even to
declare our love. Maybe for the first time, neither of us felt we
needed to say the words.

Danial drank from me that night during sex,
reopening both scars and making the shallow one deeper. He did it
very gently and tenderly, his love for me in every kiss and touch.
Our sex had always been good, but that night, he made me feel
cherished.

As we were drifting off near dawn, he asked,
“Where would you like to go?

“Go?”

“I understand it’s traditional to go on a
honeymoon for a week or two after marrying. Where would you most
like to go?”

I thought of all the exotic locations that
could be mine. “I’d like to stay here.”

He looked at me with puzzlement. “Here?”

“I’d like you to stay here with you beside
me. That’s where I most want to be. Can you take the time off from
work to be with me?”

He traced my cheek with his hand, nodding.
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll cancel all of my business dealings
for next week. Get some sleep, Sar.”

I fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of my new
life and all that was possible.

THE END

About the Author

Tara Fox Hall’s
writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense,
action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical
paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal
action-adventure
Lash
series and the vampire romantic
suspense
Promise Me
series. Tara divides her free time
unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing
firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for
donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

Other works by the author with
Melange Books, LLC

Return To Me

Surrender to Me

The Origin of Fear in
Spellbound 2011 Anthology

Night Music
in Midnight
Thirsts II Anthology

Partners
in Midnight Thirsts
II Anthology

Kink
in Wicked Christmas
Wishes Anthology

The Oath
in Wicked Christmas
Wishes Anthology

Bedtime Shadows
Anthology

Make Me Behave Anthology

Latham’s Landing, An
Anthology

Her Frozen Heart, in
Frozen,
A Winter Anthology

The Promise Me Series

Promise Me, Book 1

Broken Promise, Book 2

Taken in the Night, Book
3

Taken for his Own, Book
4

Promise Me Anthology, Book
4.5

Immortal Confessions, Book
5

Her Secret, Book 6

Point of No Return, Book
7

Lost Paradise, Book 8

Dark Solace, Book 9

Coming Soon

Tempest of Vengeance
-Promise
Me, Book 11

Turn the page for more books
available
from Melange Books

Also Available
From Melange Books

Promise Me
Book One

by Tara Fox Hall

When young widow Sarelle McGarran finds the
vampire Danial Racklan unconscious and hurt in her woods, intuitive
concern quickly becomes passionate love. Together Danial and Sar
work to overcome their own past heartbreaks, their vastly different
lifestyles, and Danial's relentless enemies. Yet Danial needs more;
an Oath of forever. But can Sar give Danial his greatest
desire?

Also Available
From Melange Books

Latham's Landing

by Tara Fox Hall

All That Remains

Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking
to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared
there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a
little paranormal investigation will be fun.

The Origin of Fear

Four college friends mount an expedition to
Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious
deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the
origin of fear.

The Fire Within

A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission
to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with
several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of
their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's
Landing?

Also Available
From Melange Books

Surrender to Me

by Tara Fox Hall

Former aristocrat turned lowly vampire Devlin
Dalcon gets by on his supernatural charm, swindling others for
money and goods. When Devlin encounters bride-to-be
Annabelle—another potential victim—he finds the tables have turned
as he falls in love with her.