LUNA LOVE
The next couple of weeks were quiet. Stephan was practically glued to Scarlet’s side the entire time. And when he and Solara had to check out a couple of leads Vincent took over, they didn’t want them to be left unattended at any time. They also thought it would be wise for him to avoid any situation that would bring him closer to his brother. Earlier that week he revealed something else to them that didn’t sit all too well with them.
Vincent and Victor had another connection besides them sharing a womb, they shared a mind. They could see in each other thoughts and minds, they could practically communicate with each other without any one of them talking. But this only happened when they were within a five hundred or so mile radius of each other. Because of this, they limited all they told him about their plans. They could not risk it.
Scarlet noticed the change of mood and attitude in Stephan. She didn’t ask him about it partly because she hoped he would come to her about it, and partly because she was too afraid to find out. When she had asked him about his job he said he had money, so she didn’t push the issue. She thought the money came from the work he did before.
Earlier that week Stephan had taken his mustang out of the garage. He thought it would be best, he rarely went to the garage and he wanted to get behind the wheel again. Scarlet didn’t see anything special with the machine and didn’t understand his attachment to it. Neither did she understand why Solara and Vincent were in awe of it. She figured it was a male thing. She was happy about one thing, her run-down Clio could take a break now. With the two cars, she didn’t need to use it at all, Solara and Stephan were always the ones driving. Her girl was getting a well-deserved break.
He needed to get a hobby or a job, something other than watching her all day. It made some of the customers uneasy especially the rowdy ones. Joany didn’t mind them, she thought it was a good thing, they kept order in the diner. Their presence sent drunks staggering back to their holes and the barbaric ones seemed to have found their manners.
She loved having him around, and he was never alone Solara was always with him watching Kayla with the same intensity he was watching her. Vincent always lightened up the mood, he was a comedian and had a tender heart. She admired the way the two older men took him under their wing though they had only known him for a couple of weeks. He had also become a permanent resident in their home. She was happy with the small crowd at their home, it was much more fun and entertaining.
Scarlet thought of how much she would miss this. Once she got her new job, Stephan wouldn’t be allowed to hang around her like this in a formal office setting. She wondered how much their lives would change once she and Kayla moved to Washington. She hoped that they would all move together. Nothing was keeping them here anymore. Stephan had let go of both the apartments he was keeping. He and Solara gave Sotera’s things away to goodwill. Nothing was holding them here anymore, they could now move forward.
Kayla was leaving with Solara tonight. They were going to spend the night at his place. They did this a couple of times before. They wanted to spend time alone, the rest of them took it as code for sex, and they didn’t want any interruptions. Their intimacy at the time made Scarlet jealous, Stephan didn’t feel that they were ready for that kind of step at the time.
***
Unlike Solara, Stephan had never been intimate with a human before. He didn’t know how to handle a fragile body when his own was in need. Besides Solara and Stephan were different, he didn’t phase when he was under pressure. He decided to put it off as long as he could, even after the pep talk Solara had given him. He didn’t trust himself to be in control or to have the power to restrain himself in that situation. Scarlet had been dropping subtle hints about it but got more aggressive when she sent him to the pharmacy for a packet of condoms.
She wanted to be with him, but he didn’t trust himself enough. He remembered the day he phased when he was with Sotera, the passion was too much for him to bear. He transformed into a werewolf and had broken a couple of her ribs. The fact that she was immortal and could heal helped the situation. But Scarlet didn’t possess such healing capabilities, he would wait as long as he could.
“Hey, thought I should give you a heads up.” Solara slid into the booth next to him while Vincent took the seat across from him. He abandoned his thoughts and concentrated on what his friend was saying.
“What about?” Stephan was curious but didn’t think it was that important Solara looked very calm, and Vincent kept snickering under his breath.
“Kayla says that we are heading to my place tonight and has invited Vincent.” So far he hadn’t anything that concerned him, nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact that Vincent was tagging along with them tonight. “Scarlet wants some alone time with you. So I kind of took a peek into her head.” He raised his hands in defense when Stephan turned his whole body to face him, he didn’t like it when Solara invaded her private thoughts, especially when they concerned him.
“Anyway she has something planned for you, and since the lingerie in my car isn’t for me, sadly, I’m guessing it’s for you. Well for your benefit anyway.” Solara laughed he knew how it terrified Stephan, to be faced with the sex thing after he put a lot of effort to avoid it.
“Is this according to Kayla or did you see Scarlet plan this. And how extreme is it exactly.” Stephan heaved out a distressed breath, he would have to come up with something to distract her. Leaving her wouldn’t be an answer the others seemed to already have plans. Since Kayla had made the plans no one was about to go against her for him. It was amusingly odd considering he was the powerful immortal.
“According to Scarlet, plus I technically saw what she bought. Its lace,” he said it as if it was good news and Stephan should be happy with his present. “If you ruin this for her she will be hurt, so if I were you I would start thinking of where to put the excesses. I have an idea why don’t you use your shield to filter your strength.”
Stephan’s eyebrow rose questioningly. “That’s not a bad idea. The problem is I don’t know if it will work.” It was worth a try, he didn’t need to concentrate that much when it came to his shield he was strong enough to hold it up.
“Have faith.” This time it was Vincent cheering him up, but his uncontrollable laughter only managed to annoy him. He was falling off his seat. Stephan was glad his predicament amused someone, as for him it was more serious than he could imagine. He had faced a lot of danger in his life but nothing frightened him as making love to Scarlet for the first time.
He spent the rest of the evening on pins and needles. Scarlet’s lingering stares didn’t help at all, and her creeping smiles only set his body on fire. For a second he fantasized about making love to her, but that was often squashed with the thought of him hurting her.
Closing time came too soon for him, as for Scarlet the night had been the longest she had ever had. She was excited, she was going to surprise him. This would be her first time with a man, she was terrified yet she looked forward to being with him. They had known each other for almost a year and had been together for the better part of it. She thought that it was now time, besides he always spent the night in her bed but this would be different.
They waved bye to the rest as they walked to Solara’s car. Vincent was still snickering and it was getting on Stephan’s last nerve. He had other things to worry about, something that would require all his immortal strength and concentration. He tried to buy himself time by driving at an unusual pace. He always loved speed and the fact that a car crash couldn’t kill him made it all the more thrilling. But today he would settle for a slower pace.
When they got to the apartment he lingered outside, using the stars as a pretense. He tried to show Scarlet all the constellations that were in the sky, but she knew all of them already, and soon gave up on that idea. He tried to get her to look out into the darkness, trying to make the black night sound more beautiful than it was. That also didn’t work out well, her mind was set.
Scarlet reached to the back and brought out a bag, it was purple with pink paper sticking out of it. He finally realized what it was, the test to his sanity. No ordinary man would turn down such a well thought out gesture, but he wasn’t an ordinary man. With nothing else to distract her, he followed her into the house.
“Wait here for me. I will be back in a while.” The tone in Scarlet’s voice was a note deeper laced with seduction.
He didn’t know what theatrics she was playing at but since he was now out of options and did as he was told. Dropping into the armchair, he tried to play out the night’s upcoming events in his head but it only made him more nervous. He opted to sitting and patiently waiting for her.
A quarter of an hour passed, he wondered whether she had changed her mind, or if she had forgotten about him and fallen asleep. He hoped and besides, it had been a long day and she did look tired. Tonight he could settle for holding her as he usually did, but doubted that was all he would do.
Just as he was getting comfortable she came down the stairs, she dimmed the lights in the room for the right effect. He got to his feet as she walked towards him. There was nothing he could say at that moment. She looked beautiful in the black lace, she let down her hair and it cascaded on her back. She was a vision to be adored.
Her gaze burned him with intensity, she took his hands in hers and looked up at him. “I know you are a bit reserved about this, but it’s what I want. This is the next step.” She put her hand on his face stroking his cheek with her thumb. “So be with me now and don’t think about anything else.” She turned and pulled him behind her, and he followed watching her body move from the back, her curve accentuated by the lace.
When they got to the room he could see that she had put a lot of thought and effort into this night. She had set their stage well. Candles dully lit the room, rose petals scattered everywhere and she did her best to make herself delectable. He was not going to disappoint her, he would try his best. Backing out now would only hurt her feelings especially because she wouldn’t be able to understand why. Telling her the truth about his identity now would ruin everything.
She was so small compared to him, up close to him she looked half his size easily breakable. “Have you any idea how much you mean to me?” Her words touched his heart. Yes, he knew she loved him, as he loved her she was the most important thing to him. He responded by kissing into her palm, he could find the right words.
“More than words could ever express.” Emotion filled her voice as she talked. Tears were welling in her eyes. This night meant more to her than he ever thought.
“Make love to me, let me feel your soul kiss mine, your arms embrace me and your eyes ….” she paused trying to control her voice. She didn’t want to scare him off by pressuring him to fulfill her every dream. But she couldn’t control herself, she wanted to be bare before him.
“Let them see right through me. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you.”
He would give her all she asked for. He pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it to the side. She was stunned by his body and the muscles as they ripped with each move he made. He held her close to him, she ran her hands over his muscled back. She had always imagined him to be beautiful but not like this, he was perfect.
“Only if you will have me.” His voice was rough and rugged, full of his emotion. He would be gentle with her, make her happy. He dipped his head to kiss her, closing his eyes he kissed her deeply needing to feel her lips on his and her petite body in his arms.
She wasn’t prepared for the ferocity of his kisses but welcomed it. Her heart was racing, she was nervous and terrified yet so happy. He could hear her heartbeat increase, he laid his hand on her chest and asked her to trust him. He lifted her off her feet and gently lowered her to the bed. The moonlight streamed in making the beauty of the night even more precious.
They drowned in their love, in the night with the moon as the only witness to the passion and love they had for each other.
He was perfect. She was his.