“Yes.” Folding his long legs before him, Julian leaned slightly forward. “Are you going to do what they want?”
Devon’s head slumped, his hands folded tightly before him. “I don’t want to condemn her to this life,” he whispered.
“It’s what she wants.”
“I know that, but the consequences…”
“Are something that can be dealt with after. You know that this has to be done Devon, if you fight it they may very well kill us all.”
“What if things go wrong?”
Julian sighed softly as he folded his arms across his chest. “We all know that is a possibility, but this is something that has to happen Devon. Whether they make it happen, or you do it willingly.”
“I know.”
They sat silently together listening to the odd silence of the deadened town, interrupted only by the small snores or shifting from the sleeping people upstairs. Devon rose slowly; he wanted to get back to Cassie before she woke. He wanted to get back to her in order to hold her and find the solace that only she could bring to his wounded soul. Julian watched him; his eyes oddly alight in the warm glow of the sun.
“You will find your Cassie one day,” Devon said softly.
Julian’s mouth quirked, his eyes sparked with amusement. He shrugged as he rose to his feet again. “Maybe, but I’m not going to start looking for her anytime soon.”
Devon nodded. “I didn’t either, but one day she’ll be there.” Julian looked as if he was going to argue, but he remained silent. “You really have changed.”
“So have you. I actually like you again.”
Devon grinned at him, chuckling softly. “Same here, but if you kiss her again I’ll rip your throat out.”
Julian laughed loudly as he shifted on the crates. His grin was wild and cocky as he tilted his head. “It was a moment of celebration only.”
Devon wasn’t as amused as Julian about it, but he didn’t blame Julian, Cassie was irresistible and Julian was in love with her. He also knew that, to Julian, the kiss had been a way of expressing his love and saying goodbye to her. To Cassie, it had simply been something sweet and celebratory. It had also been a way of sorting her feelings out, of knowing where she belonged. And that was with him.
“She told you about it?”
Devon shook his head, leaning slightly against the thin rail. “I saw it.”
Julian’s eyebrows furrowed, he bit lightly on his bottom lip. “During the blood exchange?”
“Yes.”
Julian glanced away, his eyes troubled and distant. “I’ve never opened myself up to another person.”
“Neither had I.”
Julian’s electric eyes were back on him, a small smile curved his hard mouth. “No, you hadn’t.”
“I need to get back up there.” Julian nodded, but didn’t look back at him. Devon padded silently up the stairs, leaving his friend within the growing light of the morning. Leaving his friend to his pain, while he returned to his greatest joy. Guilt tugged briefly at him, but he forgot about it as his eyes landed upon Cassandra, curled tightly within the blankets, her golden hair spread around her, her tiny hands folded beneath her cheek. She was so wonderfully beautiful, so wonderfully sweet and loving and caring.
She was so wonderfully his, and always would be.
CHAPTER 18
Cassie woke slowly; blinking against the soft light that filtered around the old blanket that Devon had hung over the window. The attic was mostly in shadow, but there was a small amount of light playing over the boxes that had been stored there. Devon’s arm was wrapped tightly around her, his bare chest pressed to her back. A thrill of excitement and wonder shot through her as the sweet, joyous memories of the night suffused her. She hadn’t known that anything could be so amazing, and she greatly wished that they could just stay here, in this room, for the rest of their lives.
But, unfortunately, their lives would allow no such thing to happen.
His hand moved upon her, gently caressing her arm. “Are you ok?” he asked softly.
Suddenly she felt shy, they had shared something so intimate and special last night, but now she wasn’t quite sure how she was supposed to act, or react. Her voice caught in her throat, she could not get her words out. He touched her arm, rolling her gently over as he brushed the hair back from her face. His emerald eyes were bright with worry as they searched her face.
“Did I hurt you?” he demanded.
Cassie shook her head, forgetting her shyness in the face of his obvious distress. “No, no of course not.”
“I tried not to cause you too much pain, but I know I lost some control. I’m sorry Cassie…”
He broke off when she rested her hand against his cheek. “I’m fine Devon, really,” she assured him. “It only hurt for a moment, and then it was over.”
His eyebrows drew tightly together as he frowned at her; his eyes scanned her rapidly once more. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, offering him a small smile as she kissed him softly. “Positive.” His fingers stroked over her face, gently caressing her cheeks as he kissed her nose. “It was wonderful Devon,” she whispered, barely able to hear her own words over the increased beat of her heart.
He smiled softly as he kissed her again. “It was more than wonderful.”
“Yes,” she breathed, losing herself to him as his delicious kisses deepened, drawing her away from the room, and all of the many problems that existed outside of it. In here, with him, there were no problems; there were no worries or fears. There was only love and utter contentment and bliss as she lost herself to his body and the wonderful way that only he could make her feel.
It was awhile later before she roused again. The light in the room was fuller, and it appeared to be mid morning. Below her, she could hear people moving about; soft whispers of conversations were exchanged. Her hand and head rested upon Devon’s chest, his arm was wrapped securely around her. Though he did not make a sound, she knew that he was awake without having to look at him. She was completely in sync with everything that he was.
“We should go down,” she whispered.
Devon’s hand stroked over her back, running up to her shoulders before entangling gently in her hair. She lifted her head to look at him, propping her chin on her hands as she studied him. He was magnificent, amazing, and completely hers. She did not feel shy now, she felt loved, and so unbelievably secure in this small room.