Terribly sorry for the extra long wait between chapters. I'm spending a lot of time working on my Sons of Anarchy story to finish it, and/or get far ahead in chapters again, before I turn my focus fully to Dancing with Demons. However, I still have several more chapters of this story ready to post. If I wait a little longer in between posts, I'm hoping to have LUYFM finished so I can devote my writing time to this. I am not and will not abandon this story, so just hang tight with me, my lovely readers... Jasper and Cora's story will be told! :)
Happy reading!
Chapter 5 - Jasper's PoV
The sound of music drifted from below as I read a book while sitting on the couch in the living room. Cora and Charlotte were in the ballroom creating their own choreography. Charlotte was having a blast and Cora, to my surprise, was enjoying herself and growing to like Char more the more time they spent together. Tomorrow night would mark one week since I took Cora and brought her here. One week since I had brought my mate home. I knew I should not expect miracles, but I was upset that Cora had still not come to me. Peter had warned me though.
Cora had spent almost all of yesterday in her room after her encounter with me in the hallway and her torment of emotions from talking about Collin. My mate felt powerless and scared of us. Me and Peter more than Charlotte, but she was also curious. I was positive she suspected we were not as human as we appeared. Her emotions told me more than her words could, yet I longed to speak with her, to have a true conversation with her.
Charlotte had gone to her bedroom yesterday afternoon with a tray of junk food and the girls had stayed in there for a while before Charlotte kicked both Peter and I from the living room and sent us to hunt, with a promise to keep Cora safe. When we returned the girls were watching a movie and Cora shocked me by being slightly more content. She was still weary, nervous, and hesitant, but along with her fears of what would happen to her Cora was also bonding with Charlotte.
The music stopped and I listened and Cora and Charlotte came upstairs and to the kitchen. I longed to be in my mates direct presence, but her emotions were calmer without me in her line of sight, so I stayed put. Cora and Char worked well together in the kitchen and chatted about the moves to add to their dance while moving about the kitchen. It smelled like they were making a salad with chicken grilled on the stove. The smell of human food was gross, but Cora had to eat as well.
Once Charlotte had called Alice when I first found Cora, so that Charlotte could have clothes and necessities ready for my human mate, Alice had searched for Cora, looking for her decisions and at her future. Alice was able to tell Charlotte about what Cora ate, what she disliked, how she wore her hair, everything about her style and choices in food and clothes... down to her sizes. That had certainly pissed Cora off.
The book that was in my hands smacked my chest and I looked up to growl at Peter. He chuckled and gave me a knowing smirk. "I bet you've been on that same page for at least an hour. How slow do you read, J? Or is it that your mind is focused on something else?"
"I read just fine, thanks."
He laughed and sat down in one of the chairs. "You should just talk to her, man. You've respected her space and let her have her bedroom to herself. You barely interact with her, but when you do you've always been a gentleman. It's not gonna do any more harm to talk to her, I mean, it can only go up from here right?"
"What exactly am I suppose to say to her, Pete?"
He raised his brow. "I already told you that, before you took her and messed up my plan. Since you went your own route here with your mate why don't you think of something to tell her. Make her want to come to you."
Peter stood and strolled into the kitchen as Cora sat down to eat. "Afternoon, ladies. How's the dancing coming along? Should I be expecting a performance soon? Char knows how much I like it when she shakes her ass."
A wave of embarrassment flooded Cora and I chuckled under my breath.
"It's ballet, you don't shake your ass," Cora replied with a good bit of humor tinting her emotions. She was apprehensive around Peter, but he was relaxed enough - and enough of a perverted smartass - to make Cora more comfortable.
"Damn. What kind of dance do you girls have to create so I can watch you shake your ass?"
I growled from my place in the other room. Peter was feeling both mischievous and giddy. "She's not gonna shake her ass for you, fucker," I said loud enough where only Peter and Charlotte could hear.
"Oh I bet she'd shake it for you if you laid some of that Jasper feel good mojo on her," he replied quickly.
"A hip hop or sometimes jazz dance will have some moves that you'd like to see," Cora told Peter.
"Char, baby, have her teach you one of those dances, then you can give me a private show."
More embarrassment washed over Cora, but this time a pinch of lust was there as well. Not for the first time did I wish I could know her thoughts. What drove her to feel that way? I was a master at feeling emotions, and most times could decipher the thoughts and reasons behind them, but my mate left me clueless sometimes. Her concoction of emotions were more than I could handle, another reason why I longed to speak with her. I wanted to know her.
Peter tried to start up a conversation about sexy dances, but the girls ignored him and continued to plan their own. After a few minutes of being ignored he came back to the living room and turned on the tv, flopping down on the other end of the couch.
"I knew I'd get a rise outta you. You've got it worse than I thought, Major."
"Yeah, yeah, like you didn't have it bad with Charlotte. You still do."
"Never said I didn't, but it was a lot harder sneakin' 'round Maria's camp trying to mate with my mate than it's gonna be for you here in the comfort of your home. Least you'll have a bed for your first time, not a bale of hay, but then maybe you won't make it to the bed."
"Oh, really? I'm gonna have to get away from you, you perverted ass clown. I'm sure you'll be ready to attempt and film it, won't you?"
"Hey now, give me some credit. I only want to document my best friend, my brother's, first time having true meaningful sex with someone since he was human," Peter teased with a slightly serious emotional undertone.
I knew my brother well enough to know that he just wanted me to find happiness in my mate, in Cora. He also knew, being a guy himself, that part of that happiness came in the form of lovemaking with one's mate. For now, that would have to wait for Cora and myself, but one day she would come to me for that as well, and it was fantasy that I played out in my head frequently.
My attention was drawn back to my mate as she walked across the hallway from the kitchen to her room. She rummaged through her closet, sounding as if she was changing clothes, and then she made her way to the library.
I couldn't help but smile. My mate was a reader. She had started and finished four books in her week here. I was sure she would start a fifth today. It usually took her several minutes to choose her next one, so I listened to her move around - her fingers trailing along the spines of the books, the way she would occasionally pause and pluck one of tomes from the shelf, sliding it back into its place a few seconds later.
When she finally selected a book she sat in the chair in the corner of the library. It put her in the corner of the room, but also gave her a view of the doors if someone entered. She trapped herself, but also gave herself a view of the entrance to the room, and the soldier side of me admired the fact that she did not want to put her back to the door.
I waited for a while, just listening to her even breathing as her thoughts began to get lost in the story and her own emotions tangled with the ones she was feeling from the plot of her book. Peter gave me a look and jerked his head toward the library.
He was right, now was as good a time as ever to talk to Cora, and it was growing harder to just sit and listen to her, knowing she was only a room and a half away from me. Standing from the couch I made my across the living room and hallway and entered the library.
Cora looked up as I took a seat in one of the chairs across from her, leaving several feet of distance between the two of us.
She stared at me from across the library, looking and feeling like she would bolt from her chair at any moment and run to the safety of her room. Only Charlotte was permitted in her room, and I kept my word that I would let her have a space to herself. I was silent for a long moment, just watching her as she watched me. Finally breaking the silence, I folded me hands together and rested my elbows on my knees.
"This could be very different for us, Cora. I swore to you that I would not hurt you, and I will protect you with my own life, but I also need you to trust me."
Her emotions swirled around inside her; longing, a deep sadness, distrust, attraction, and a twinge of fear to name just a few. That last emotion hurt me the most, but I was dealing with it since it had slowly begun to lessen. She set her book down on the table beside her and glared at me. Her anger bubbled up inside of her and she lashed out at me with her voice.
"You kidnapped me. You snatched me from my life, the one that I worked so hard to build for myself and brought me here. You told me you and yours wouldn't hurt me and that I have free roam of the house and porch. I know you can catch me faster than I can run out the door, and your stronger than any man I've ever met. Your eyes are red, not to mention your brush off answer about eating habits. I'm certain you are what I think you are, but I'm afraid to even ask Charlotte if I'm right. Why should I trust you? Will it make it easier for you to kill me if I trust you?"
I was at her side before she could blink. She jumped, her fear spiking, and let out a startled scream as her heart beat stuttered before racing in her chest. I sent her a wave of calm, but she scowled. "Don't do that to me. Leave my emotions alone, I know you can do that too, you did it the night you took me."
"I will never hurt you. You believe me to be a vampire, yes?" Her emotions told the truth and I continued. "You're correct of course, but you need not be afraid of me. I will not bite you, not until the day you ask me to, or if you are in danger of dying."
"Why would I ever ask you to do such a thing to me?" she asked with a touch of disgust.
I sat back down, in the chair closest to her this time and answered. "I told you, this can be very different for you, for us. I will not let you go, Cora, but I will not force myself on you either. I have enough respect for you and for my own self as a gentleman to not hurt you in anyway. However, aside from me having control and you doing as I say if the situation should arise, I will let you come to me when you're ready."
Shock had weaved its way into her emotions along with a healthy dose of skeptism. Her curiosity spiked as well and I could not help but smirk. As worried as she was about her theory being correct, she was also curious, and curious was good. Eventually she would have to come to me.
I was sure she would go to Charlotte to ask her questions, but I also knew Char would only tell her so much.
"Is that why you took me? Am I to be your next meal?" she asked fearfully.
My smirk vanished and I looked at her seriously. "I will not hurt you, and I most certainly will not drink from you. No other vampire will drink from you, either. You are mine."
Her anger rose to the surface again and she stood, grabbing her book from the table and sending me a look full of barely checked fury. "I am a human being and not an inanimate object. I do not belong to anyone, least of all you!"
Cora pivoted on her foot and moved to storm out of the library. She almost made it, well... I let her almost make it, before I stopped her by standing in front of the door she went to leave through.
"I did not intend to anger you today, Cora. This is different for me... I never planned to take you, not like I did, but I will not, ever, in any way, hurt you physically, and I hope not emotionally. I am not human, I am vampire, and you are mine, but believe me when I tell you, I will wait for you to come to me."
Her anger had lessened as I spoke and her furious expression softened just a hare. She was mad, but contemplating my words carefully as she looked at me. My ruby eyes caught her stormy blue ones and I felt as if I would lose myself in her gaze.
My mate was beautiful in the rare moments of peace that I had witnessed her have, but Ares believed she was most beautiful in her fury. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her, but I knew that would set us a hundred yards in the wrong direction. So instead I watched her as her eyes flickered away from mine to look down before she snapped them back up to meet my gaze.
"Why should I believe anything you say? What have you done to gain my trust. You kidnapped me from my home."
"I gave you my word that I would not hurt you, I have and will continue to keep my word to you," I replied sharply.
"It's only been a week. That's not nearly enough time to have formed any sort of trust in your word. Your word? Do I need to repeat myself? You have taken me hostage! You're a fucking vampire, you shouldn't even exist!" She screeched, her hands flying around as she spoke in her rage.
I tried to resist the urge to smile at her. She brought Ares close to the surface with her rant. He liked her anger and he really liked her dirty mouth. He stayed behind bars though, and let Jasper, the Major, handle the woman in front of us.
"Yet, here I stand. I exist in this world just as much as you do. After I saw you in the park I wondered how I would introduce myself to you. The threat to you came without warning, and I reacted quickly and instinctually."
"Your instincts told you to kidnap me?" she questioned sarcastically, folding her arms over her chest and shifting her weight to her right leg.
"No," I smirked and then added seriously, "my instincts told me to protect you. Cora, I would kill for you, I would die for you. I do not expect my feelings to be returned anytime soon, but vampires are different. How we are right now, you and I could be different than this," I motioned between us with my finger. "It does not have to be the way it is now."
She was thinking again. Her emotions swirled inside her, as if one was battling to have control over the others. Her brows drew together and she bit her bottom lip as she thought. Her eyes searched my face and roamed over my neck and covered chest.
We were close, only inches apart, and even knowing better I still longed to close the distance between us. I wanted to pull her bottom lip from her mouth and draw it into mine. I wanted to devour her, I wanted to hear my name fall from her lips in a breathless whisper and in a scream of ecstasy. Those were all things I wanted and could not have, and I would not dare take them from her knowing that she did not feel the same way. Eventually, Cora would be mine in every way. Eventually she would see that I was hers as well. Peter was right, Cora had possessed my every thought, every fiber of my being.
Even without my empathatic ability, it was easy to see that a war was raging inside of her. Only seconds had passed since I spoke and she was trying to decide her next words and actions. Cora was a smart woman, and I'm sure knew there was nothing she could do to escape me, especially now that she was aware that I was a vampire. She was attracted to me, had been since we first saw each other across the park, but she was apprehensive, nervous, afraid either of me or what would happen to her if she agreed to be more, or if she refused.
Cora took another breath and uncrossed her arms, raising them, palms facing me in an almost submissive gesture. "I can't, Jasper, not right now, not ever. You're a vampire! You kill people, you... you... don't do this to me. You can't kidnap someone and a week later expect that person to want anything to do with you. I... no. Just no."
I could smell the saltiness of her tears as they pooled in her eyes, and her emotions struck a chord deep within me. She was still warring with herself between the desire she felt for me and the part of her that wanted to hate me, to have nothing to do with me. It was hard to tell which side of her was winning her internal battle, and I did want to push her too far and lose her. Lose whatever progress I may have made today.
She stepped back and then quickly turned to leave. Before she made it out the door I spoke, "I will still keep my promise to you, Cora. Man or vampire, I will not hurt you, no one will."
Cora stiffened, freezing in place at my words. She did not turn around or acknowledge me at first, but after a few seconds she nodded her head, a gesture to show she heard me, before rushing out of the room. I expected her to return to the sanctuary of her bedroom, but instead she went downstairs and then outside. The window in the living room gave a clear view of the pool and patio area, so I watched as she sat down by the side of the pool.
She drew her legs up close to her, her feet resting on the ledge of the pool. Bringing her arms around her knees she ducked her head and I watched as her shoulders started to gently shake with her sobs. The threads of her emotions wound around my own heart and squeezed.
This was my fault, and there was nothing I could do to fix it. I had done exactly as my mate had said. I had ripped her from her own world and thrown her carelessly into my own. I had made promises to her, but expected her emotions to be an echo of my own for her after only a short time knowing her. For vampires, time was different, falling in love was different. My mate, Cora, was not a vampire, and I knew she would not reciprocate my feelings without being given time.
I growled without thinking as a small hand touched my shoulder. Charlotte pulled away quickly and looked down at the floor. "I did not mean to startle you, Major, I just... I know you are upset about what's happening with Cora."
"I didn't know you had a gift like Peter's?" I snarled, interrupting her.
Charlotte turned her body to face me fully, her hands placed on her hips, and a dangerous glint in her eyes. "I'm going to ignore the fact that you are being a dick right now, when I'm only trying to help you, and finish what I had to say."
A gave her a dangerous look of my own, but she didn't back down. "Look, Major. I'm a woman, she's a woman. You've thrown her into a brand new world. It's going to take her some time to come to grips with the atomic bomb you just dropped on her world. I think Cora and I have become halfway decent friends in the short time she's been here. Let me talk with her, let me comfort her, and for god's sake Jasper quit telling her the same thing over and over again. She knows you won't hurt her, even if she says she doesn't trust you. Deep down, somewhere inside of her, a sliver of herself believes you, trusts you. Let that have time to build, to grow, and eventually she will come to you. Until then, you look all hot and sexy from a safe distance, and I'll work my womanly magic on my fellow female friend."
"And if it doesn't work?"
"I said she'd hate you, I didn't say she would never want to be with you," Peter answered as he joined us, sitting on the couch and clasping his hands behind his head, leaning back against the couch quite relaxed. "You are mates, and eventually with time and patience, a virtue you don't have a lot of, she will come to you. It will work out, brother. Any woman who is mated to Ares will be strong enough to overcome being kidnapped and told they are living with a vampire."
"I'm going to go talk to her. Y'all stay inside and find something to entertain yourselves with," Charlotte said and then disappeared.
Peter kept quiet as we both listened to Charlotte open the back door and sit beside Cora. I stayed standing near the window, my eyes and ears trained to watch and listen to the scene below me on the patio.
The two women were silent for a long time before Cora sniffled and spoke. "So are you and Peter vampires, too?"
Cora didn't sound angry, it was more of with a sense of resignation, a feeling of knowing there was nothing she could do to change the fact that she felt certain was true.
"We are. Jasper turned Peter and then a few years later he turned me."
"Why?" she asked next.
"That's a question you would have to ask Jasper."
"You don't know why he turned you into a monster?" Cora snapped, her thread of hatred and anger seemed to thrum, but it faded as quickly as it sparked to life, blending back into the tangled knot of emotions.
"Yes, I know why he turned me into a vampire, but I do not believe I, or Jasper or Peter for that matter, am a monster."
"You kill people, right? That's what vampires do. They kill people and drink their blood." Cora had lifted her head from her knees and was looking at the horizon.
"We kill people when we hunt for food, but we do not hurt innocent people. We are very specific in who we hunt - serious criminals, rapists, murderers, child abusers and molesters, sometimes the occasional homeless drug addict if we cannot find someone more unsavory."
"So you're fucking vampire vigilantes?"
"Well, don't let Peter hear I said different, but no, not really. We feed on the scum of society because we do not feel the need or desire to hurt innocent people. You eat animals, but you do not go out and kill them without reason. Our food source is different, but the logistics are the same. We don't want to hurt people, humans."
"Do all vampires think that way?"
"No, not all. The majority of civilized vampires have enough decency about them to not kill excessively or in a way that would cause suspicion, it's against our laws, but there are some that do not care. Just as there are some humans who do not value the life of other humans."
The girls were silent again for a long time. Cora fidgeted as she thought, her emotions a whirlwind inside of her. She alternated between looking up at the sky and then down at her hands clasped in front of her bent legs. I expected her to be overwhelmed, to be in disbelief, but she was also curious and apprehensive, along with a fuck ton of other emotions that I couldn't even begin to decipher as I listened to her question Charlotte.
"Do you have fangs?"
Charlotte laughed out loud and I had to chuckle at her question. Peter howled with uncontrolled hilarity.
"No," Char replied, still giggling. "No fangs, just really sharp teeth. We don't fry in the sun either, and garlic, while smelly does not hurt us. Wooden stakes don't make us explode into a pile of bloody goo either, the wood just breaks. Oh, and I can see my reflection in the mirror just fine," Charlotte teased.
"Hardy, har, har, you're so fucking funny," Cora snapped back before falling silent again. She found little humor in Charlotte's response.
She turned her head to look at Charlotte and they sat silently as they each studied the other. "Why am I not terrified of you? Of him?"
Charlotte shrugged. "That's one for Jasper, sweetheart."
"I don't want anything to do with him, much less have a conversation with him. All of this is his fault. He's the reason I'm here and not -" Cora snapped her mouth closed with an audible snap, even to human ears. I could smell the tears well up in her ears, but she did not let them fall. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a few seconds and the opened them to stare at the sky.
Charlotte frowned at Cora. "He's not all bad, I promise. I know you think he's evil, and maybe you have every right to hate him because of what he's done, but he means well. He truly does. Even if he will not let you go, and even if he is a vampire who feeds off of and kills humans, he does have his reasons for taking you, for doing what he's done. He has absolutely no intentions to harm you."
"Then why did he do it? What fucking reason does he have that could ever justify what he has done to me, to my life?"
"I'm sorry, Cora, that's another question you have to ask him yourself."
Cora let out a frustrated grunt before bending down to violently swipe at the water, sending droplets flying through the air and splattering against the concrete on the other side. The thread of anger thrummed inside her again and I listened carefully to discover why she suddenly felt that way again.
"How did you know my clothing size? My bra size?"
I rolled my eyes. I knew the boxes, upon boxes, of clothes that Alice had delivered to the house would be too much for her. I should have told Charlotte to get the basics and then later we would get Cora more suitable and fitting clothes for her, but the second day that she knew I had a mate, Alice had called and taken over Cora's wardrobe.
"If it will make you feel better, Jasper didn't have anything to do with your overstuffed closet. He has no clue what size your anything is. I, and another female vampire from a different coven, ordered your clothes."
"Coven?"
"It's a group of vampires that lives together. Most covens also see themselves as family, others don't. Jasper, Peter, and I do consider ourselves family."
"How did you know my sizes? You and the other female?"
"Her name is Alice, and she knew because she can see the future. She's also a shopaholic and had everything delivered here and I put it away."
"She can see the future? Okay, now you're just trying to see how much fucking bullshit I will believe!"
"No, it's true. Some vampires are talented, gifted with special abilities above and beyond what normal vampires can do. Alice can see the future, just like Jasper can manipulate and feel emotions, and Peter has a way of knowing things."
"Are you gifted?"
"No. I'm just an ordinary vampire. A better fighter than most, but I'm not talented."
"What other special abilities do vampires have?"
"We can run faster than you can imagine, we don't need to breath, but have an incredible sense of smell. We can hear better than any creature and see farther, more clearly. We have incredible strength and we sparkle like a fucking disco ball in the sun."
"Wait, what? Seriously?" Cora asked in disbelief.
"Yep. Makes it a bitch to go anywhere sunny. It's why there are so many myths revolving around vampires and the sun. We won't burst into flames, but we glitter and shine like a diamond. The guys hate it, says it's the most emasculating thing about being the top predator."
Cora let out a sound that was a mixture of a chuckle and a snort. When she sobered she asked, "You said something about laws. Who makes the vampire laws?"
"The Volturi, and there are several vampires they've employed to enforce the laws around the world."
"Who are they?"
"The Volturi or the enforcers? You'll have to ask Jasper."
"I don't want to speak to him. Why can't you tell me?"
I was curious what Charlotte would tell her and watched without breathing as she turned to look at Cora. "It's not my place to tell you. I'll answer the questions that I can, but others you'll have to ask him."
Cora frowned and so did I as her anger flared once more. It was like the ocean, an ebb and flow. One moment calm, the next crashing against the shore. "I don't want to have any sort of conversation with that fucking bastard," my mate replied through clenched teeth.
Char chuckled and held up her hands. "Easy there, kitten. Put away your claws. It's not like I'm going to force you to speak to him, but I won't answer those questions either. Can I give you some advice? Suck it up buttercup, 'cause Jasper ain't goin' nowhere and neither are you."
A pregnant pause had both Peter and I waiting anxiously to hear Cora's reaction. Her emotions flickered back and forth, between calm and hysterics, the force of her anger slowly fading.
"Well, I guess fuck me."
Charlotte smiled softly at Cora. My mate looked at her suspiciously. "It's not all bad, being here, I mean you have me. Vampire or no, I'm still the only other woman and I do want to be friends."
Cora studied Charlotte, as if seeing her with new eyes. Maybe they were new to her, now that she knew the other three occupants of the house were vampires who fed on humans. That vampires were very much real and lived in her world.
"If you really are my friend, want to be my friend, tell my why Jasper took me."
We were all surprised by Cora's response, but Char handled it well. "I do consider myself your friend, but that's something I still can't tell you."
Before Cora could lash out with a response Char kept going. "I have my reasons, several of them and I'll explain if you will hear me out." When Cora nodded she continued. "First and foremost, vampires are different from humans also by the way we think. We have animalistic instincts that have become a part of ourselves, along with our humanity. In this family, this coven, Jasper is the leader - the head of the family. I would not overstep that boundary by telling you something that I know should only be told to you by him. Secondly, there are some things that only Jasper can answer, which ties into my third reason. Jasper is my brother, maybe not by human blood, but by his venom we are family. I know you have no reason to truly believe any of us, and I understand that this is all been terrifying and horrible for you, but... maybe not anytime right away, but I think you should give him a chance."
Cora scoffed.
"At least have a conversation with him that doesn't end with you running from the room. He's not all bad, trust me."
Cora sighed and stared off at the sky again. "Will he make me like you? Like him?" She whispered.
"Can't say. That's something between you and him, but if it makes you feel better, Jasper would never bite you against your will."
"Against my will? I would never ask him to fucking bite me, and I told him the same thing."
"I know, I heard you. Super hearing, remember. All I'm saying is he won't if you don't want him to bite you."
She shuddered. "No thanks. I think I'll remain off the dinner menu. Besides, I don't meet your criteria anyway."
Peter laughed. "Well, at least she's trying to be humorous about it."
"Shut the fuck up," I growled.
I turned my attention back to the women as Charlotte finished laughing. "No, you certainly aren't on that list. You may believe we've ruined your life, but I am glad to have a friend. That is, if you still want to be my friend, Cora."
Cora didn't hesitate as she replied with a small smile. "I feel like my life, everything I thought I knew about the world, has been smashed into pieces. I want to scream, and cry, and run away, but I can't seem to do any of those things because I don't want to be some sort of victim. I've been given promises, but I'm still scared of the future. I think about my life and everything I wanted, everything that I had worked so hard to achieve and everything that I was so close to gaining and I want to hate Jasper. Yet, at the same time, I struggle to stay hateful. I feel like I'm losing my mind, my center of gravity in the world, my world, and I think having a friend would be really nice right now."
Cora had started crying during her rant and I watched as Charlotte gently wiped away her tears. "Well, sweetheart, we've got a long time to figure out all of your feelings, and plenty more time to adjust to everything that has happened to you. A week isn't that long to adjust, but we aren't going anywhere and everything moves forward when you're ready."
Charlotte leaned over and hugged Cora for only a few seconds before letting go and standing up. "I'll be in the house if you want to watch a movie or do something fun."
She left Cora alone with her thoughts and came inside to join Peter on the couch. "Thank you, Char."
"I didn't do it all for you, but you're welcome none the less."
I sent her a wave of my gratitude and brotherly love as I continued to watch Cora. She rolled her pants legs up and slowly lowered her legs into the water. She leaned back on her hands, eyes closed with her face turned up to the early evening sky. It had been a cloudy day, but now they had begun to part and soft reddish gold light from the setting sun broke though the haze and shined upon her. She smiled at the sky lost in her thoughts and emotions.
Charlotte had said enough to peak Cora's interest. My sister was smart, she had given Cora enough information to ignite her curiosity, but had not told her enough for Cora to be satisfied. She would want answers, and Charlotte had left her with no choice than to eventually come to me. The waiting game would continue, but now I had a bigger spark of hope that some day in the near future Cora would be mine fully and completely, and she would know that I belonged to her as much as she belonged to me.
From the couch, Peter and Charlotte began to feel rather amorous and I shot them a quick dose of disgust. Charlotte giggled, but Peter growled playfully.
"Not cool, dude, you just can't fuck with a man's sex life like that."
"Then take your sex life out of my living room," I replied with a challenging smirk.
Peter scoffed. "Fine," he stood and swung Charlotte up into his arms and over his shoulder. He gave her ass a swift smack and turned around to leave. "I'm taking my mate out for a hunt and a good round of primal, animalistic sex afterwards. Have fun with your mate, Major."
I turned my attention back to the patio as Peter closed the front door behind him, Charlotte still hanging over his shoulder, but Cora was not by the pool. Panic bubbled inside me for the briefest of moments, until the basement door opened and closed and I heard her graceful footsteps and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. The sound of her life and the knowledge of her wellbeing brought me instant peace. I retreated to my bedroom while she stayed downstairs in the ballroom.
The music began to drift through the house when she turned on the radio. I could hear her movements as she lost herself to the rhythm and danced. The turned on the computer that sat on my desk and clicked the little silver icon on the screen. Nine little squares popped up on the monitor, a camera feed of nine different locations on the property. I scanned the others to make sure there was no threat and then focused on the one that gave a view of the ballroom and Cora.
She was beautiful, graceful, agile, flexible, elegant, and captivating. I wanted to stand in the middle of the ballroom, just so that she would have to move around me. I wanted to feel the breeze she created as she twirled around, and smell her scent on the air. As she leapt across the floor, I wanted to catch her and take her into my arms, drawing her close to my chest.
It would be a long wait, but one day Cora and I would complete the mating bond, and then we would be bound together forever. I would never leave her side for all of eternity, and I would worship her, follow her to the ends of the earth. I would make her the happiest woman in the entire world and I would lay down my life to see her safe.
Cora would need time to come to terms with what she had learned. She would need time for her curiosity to grow and become too much for her and then she would come to me with her questions. I would tell her anything she wanted to know. I needed for her to trust me and know that I would always be honest with her. So I would give her honesty, no matter what she asked when the time came.
One day, it would be different between Cora and I. One day, there would be no distance between us, not physically or emotionally. That was the day that I longed for, that made the waiting hard. However hard it may be, I would wait for her to come to me as I had promised her. She was safe in my home, and I would protect her from a distance, until the day she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I was a vampire, and I had forever to wait for my mate.