He nipped my nose, then ushered me down to the second level of the deck. “For sure, I need those sexy tits.”
We stood in front of the railing, looking out for a beat.
There was a calmness about the ocean that made it easier for me to breathe. Sam, on the other hand, had his shoulders hunched slightly.
My stomach fisted. “Sam, what is it?” I moved my head in a mechanical precision from left to right, once, twice, wondering if his sharp vamp vision spotted a threat. But I didn’t see anyone or anything but a beautiful scene—a million stars twinkled in the darkened sky, surrounding the crescent moon as the soothing sound of the Atlantic carried on the wind.
He glanced upward, pulling me to him. I leaned my head on his chest near his fast-beating heart.
He released a breath. “In high school, Jo and I had a space science class that took place in the school’s planetarium, where we learned about the constellations.” He pointed outward and up over the ocean. “See those three stars stacked on top of one another at a slight angle? That’s Orion’s Belt.” He used his finger to trace the outline of Orion in the air.
I couldn’t exactly make out Orion, but I saw the three stars of the belt. “The arrogant, sexy vampire is an astronomer. Who knew?”
He didn’t respond but continued, “I never knew my mom, but according to my dad, she believed in the mysticism and symbolism of the stars and planets. That names held power. For example, the planet Jupiter, guardian and protector of the sky, signifies great fortune.” He paused, squeezing me to him, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was trembling. “Since I was born with the astrological sign of Sagittarius, my mom thought it befitting that my middle name should be Jove, which is of Latin origin and means Jupiter.” A somberness flitted in his tone along with something else I couldn’t put my finger on.
Dropping the blanket, I twisted around until my back was against the railing and our chests were mashed together, then I rested my hands on his hips. I’d learned more about Sam in a day than I had in the two-plus months since we’d met. From his love for baseball to his rough childhood to why his father had left him and Jo in foster care.
After their mother passed, their dad had gotten orders to deploy to Afghanistan, and the only one who could care for them was their maternal aunt. She didn’t want anything to do with raising kids, and she hated Steven. But she’d taken them in anyway until a heated argument ensued when Steven called to tell her his mission had been extended. Not long after that conversation, Sam’s aunt turned Sam and Jo over to the Department of Children and Families in Massachusetts. When Steven returned, he did everything in his power to find his kids but had gotten the runaround with the state. The aunt couldn’t help Steven since she’d died in a car accident. At the same time, Edmund Rain was on the hunt for Jo and Sam for the same reason as Intech’s—genetic engineering. Steven had felt the kids were safer in the system.
I couldn’t judge Steven for what he’d done because I didn’t walk in his shoes. I also didn’t want to think about how my kids with Sam would be hunted, but maybe after our babies were born, it would be safer for us to stay off the grid and hide. Maybe we could even live at this house in Maine.
Still, compared to how Sam had grown up, my childhood had been blissful.
I admired every fiber of the formidable immortal. It was clear to me that the stars had sparked some painful memories. “Your mom was right. The name does fit you, Sam. Protector is who you are. But you’re also kind, caring, sometimes an arrogant ass but mine, and you love unconditionally. I often wonder why you and I are together. I’ve killed vampires like they didn’t matter. You taught me that they do. The good ones anyway. Now here we are, building a family and loving each other. Given my history, sometimes I struggle with how you can trust me. Your father, sister, and the entire SEAL team didn’t have to accept me, but they did.”
He cupped my face in his large hands. “It doesn’t matter to me that you’re a vampire hunter. The moment I saw you at the nightclub was the very moment you grabbed my heart. I’ve been drawn to your feistiness, your strength, and your beauty, inside and out.” Silver threaded through the green in his eyes. “You care for those you love, you see the good in people, and your take-no-prisoners attitude fits us.” He sighed, stepping back as he slipped his hand into his back pocket.
My legs wobbled at the emotion we were pouring out to each other. Then they shook like a leaf when he got down on one knee. I brought my fingers to my mouth, just as surprised as the last time he asked me to marry him right before he went into a coma. My heart punched my ribs as he held up the exquisite ruby gem with a trembling hand.
The precious stone was round, big, at least a carat, and set in a gold band. It couldn’t be more perfect—simple yet elegant.
Tears flowed out one by one.
His silver eyes shone like a beacon calling me home. “Layla Aberdeen, would you be my sidekick, the woman who will keep me sane, a partner who will stand by my side and fight for what we believe in and those we love. Above all else, will you love my arrogant ass no matter what?”
I sobbed through the tears, my stomach a whirlwind of flutters. “I would love to be your partner, the mother of your children, and to fight to the ends of time alongside you. I will always, always love your arrogant vampire ass.”
He kissed my stomach. “Did you hear that, kids? Your mom said yes.” He rose, swaying as if he was dizzy, and slid the ring onto my finger, but it wouldn’t go over my knuckle. “This was my mom’s ring. She wanted me to have this for my bride-to-be. The ruby is a such a perfect match for your courageous and fiery personality.”
More tears spilled, each one carrying happiness, peace, joy, love, and affection. “It’s gorgeous, Sam.” I was at a loss for words. I now understood his somberness when he started talking about the symbolism of the stars, Jupiter, his middle name, his mom, and her ring. “Maybe I can wear it on a chain until after I give birth.” With the way I was retaining water and gaining weight, nothing would fit me.
He left the ring partway on my finger, then once again captured my face in his hands, his eyes searching mine. “No matter how rough the seas are ahead of us, never, ever forget it’s you and me and that our kids that will always come first. I fucking love you, baby doll.”
I couldn’t stop shedding tears as emotions clogged my throat. Never in a million fucking years did I expect I would be standing beneath the stars saying yes to a marriage proposal from a vampire, but I couldn’t imagine my life without Sam.
I quivered in his embrace. “Fate hit the nail on the head, throwing us together, and I will die a thousand deaths for you and our little ones.”
His mouth crashed into mine. The kiss was slow, sensual, and passionate as our tongues intertwined. I knew our journey would be jagged and rocky, but as long as I had him, I could endure anything thrown at us.
29
SAM
Our two-week getaway had finally come to an end. I’d never spent more than a few days away from my job. I wasn’t the type of person to sit around, hang on the beach, or stroll through shops. Fourteen days with Layla changed all that. She’d brought out a side of me I never knew existed, and it wasn’t the side of me that wanted to strip her naked any chance I had.
Hell, looking at her now as she dozed in the passenger seat, my cock pulsed to be inside her. We’d had several nights of unbridled passion. But in between them, we talked about our fears, dreams, and fantasies whether walking the beach or lying by the fire. We checked out quaint stores, ate at the diner in town, and just chilled. If my buddies saw me in a store, they would rib me until they were on the floor, laughing their asses off.
Speaking of shops, Stan’s wife, Gina, was a godsend with helping Layla pick out a necklace for her engagement ring. The pretty vampire with eyes the color of the ocean had been a wealth of information about handfasting and ribbons as well. Layla sucked up every bit of detail about the intimate ritual.
