I want you. I want to make a life with you,and I want to grow with you. I want to taste you in the forbidden way that would make you mine forever. And to scare you even more, I would like to make you immortal one day when you're ready, and only if you would like, so that I do not have to face any of the rest of my long life without you.
"I like the way you say my name."
He tilted his head, the light of the moon slanting over more of his face. "How's that?"
"You say it like you want to make sure the world knows you're talking to me. It's nice."
He didn't respond.
"It scared me, finding out that a vampire could take from a witch and use her magic if he drinks her blood. And I worried that was why you chose me, or were attracted to me. And then worry became a living creature inside of me for a while." She paused as the ruffle of trees above sent down a delicate dance of leaves. "I can be sensitive. Small things hurt, and I don’t know how to stop that.”
Theo's tilted head and smile made her confession feel safe. “Ah,” he reached out a hand to tuck emerald hair behind her ear. “But small things make you happy too. And that is far more valuable than most realize in this world.”
Hearing someone understand you was made of infinite promises, and joys she wasn't sure she knew how to hope for.
"I can be a bit of a mess."
A look crossed his eyes before he finally spoke. "I'm old. And I'm still a mess, Tilly."
"Really?"
He nodded. Then one side of his mouth quirked up in one of his rare smiles. "You're a powerful little witch, Tilly Nguyen. But are you okay with what I said before?"
"You mean about wanting a forbidden life with me, and that you want to taste me and turn me into a vampire to have with you for eternity?"
A nod. A very serious nod.
"At the risk of sounding cheesy, I think I've been looking for you for a long time. And I'd like a lot more time to enjoy you. Though you'll need to give me some time on the immortality bit. That's daunting."
Silence speared the forest as vampire stared at witch. Her words hung between them, and she waited. He must have been waiting for something, too, until suddenly, without warning, she was in his arms, cradled against his chest, and being swept through the woods.
She hung on tight, arms around his neck as she caught her breath. "What are you doing?!"
"Well, I'm not waitin' for you to change your mind," was his gruff response as he maneuvered them quickly up the dark porch through the front door and up his sweeping staircase until she was being laid down on his large, soft bed. He reached down, cupping her face in his large hand. "I am going to enjoy forever with you, Tilly.""Will you promise to bake me pie?"
An almost smile as he climbed over her on the bed, the predatory gleam in his eyes making something dip low in her belly. His lips brushed over her softly, making their way along her jaw to her ear where he whispered darkly, "Yes," before his teeth lightly bit her earlobe, making her shiver with what she hoped would come.
Halloween (Actual Fall)
Bess poured the hot cider into three mugs. These three mugs were a realistic piece of wood, a log cabin with picturesque windows, and a bat. She placed them onto a tray where a three-layered black magic cake sat, and three dessert plates.
"Hey, how's it going?"
Bess and Kelsea looked up to see Tilly walk in after her day at the inn. She looked worn.
"Hey, Aunt Tilly. How did the Halloween party go?"
"Long. Though Judy can throw a party." She set down her bag and leaned on the island. "And she and Jen went as Meg and Hercules together." Her eyebrows wiggled.
Bess and Kelsea leaned in with wide eyes.
"Noooo," and "Hell yes," they both said.
"What's up?" Ursula asked. She and Eloise walked into the kitchen.
"Jen and Judy," Kelsea replied.
"Called it!" Eloise exclaimed.
