Ensanguined

By Emma L Edwards

Till death do us part.

Have Ash and Angel found their happy ever after?

Witnessing the death of the slayer cleared the way for the future they both wanted, the future they both needed, for without one there cannot be the other. They are the air each needs to breathe. But the legacy of the slayer dies hard and is hell bent on destroying all their dreams for a happily ever after. Even if they can survive this new threat, unexpected revelations rock Angel to her very core. Life has never been easy for either one but together it seems it is them against the world.

A secret.

When a secret is revealed it leads to further disastrous consequences for all. Happily ever after has never seemed so far away.

Trust no-one.

With warnings like that Angel begins to doubt everyone around her. But if she can’t trust Ash, what does she have left?

Betrayal.

Angel is served the bitterest betrayal yet and she has to question who anyone really is and how well she knows the people that she thought she did. And when she finds herself with far more to protect than just her own life, she needs to figure out fast who exactly she can trust. But will she make the right decisions?

Sex, blood and rock ‘n’ roll.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emma L Edwards
• Release date: Sep 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301262915

Book preview

Emma L Edwards

Ensanguined

Published by Emma Edwards

At Smashwords

Copyright © Emma Edwards 2013

All rights reserved

All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This work was edited by Susana McGarvie Editorial Service.

For Jordan and Jasmine

Acknowledgements

Thank you...

To those in my family that have continued to support me.

To all those that have read and enjoyed Sanguinary and Imbrued and provided such wonderful feedback.

To my beta readers, the beautifully brilliant Julia Lake Mills, thank you too for all the support and friendship, you rock! And Ronda Sheldon for also giving me the occasional kick in the butt.

Wendy for making sure that I keep working, even when on holidays!

And a shout out to the awesome I Love Vampire Novels website

www.ilovevampirenovels.com

Table of contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Cardiff, Capital city of Wales. A modern metropolis, a city brimming with history and culture. The jewel in its crown, a medieval castle, situated at the very edge of the bustling shopping centre.

I had walked past the imposing stone walls of that castle in Cardiff many hundreds, possibly even thousands of times. It was on the route from my house to the city centre. But never before had the sight of it caused such anxiety to swell inside me. My stomach swirled as the car slowed and turned into the entry gates to the castle and continued up the driveway.

The tyres crunched along the gravel until the car drew to a halt. I hadn’t expected to be feeling so nervous but I was. Anxiety clenched my stomach as I exchanged a look with my father. His expression could only be described as resignation. This was a stretch for him, indulging his daughter in her wish, although it was against anything that he wanted for me. Nothing had happened to change that in the previous six months. But it was what I wanted. It was what I wanted more than anything else in the world. That he was even there was enough, expecting him to look pleased about it would have been asking too much.

‘Let’s do this,’ he said. It was to his credit that he didn’t add, ‘Get it over with.’

My car door was opened for me. I wasn’t ready but I took the hand that was offered and I was helped out of the car by the driver. The cold December night air bit at my bare arms and I shivered a little. Another car had pulled up behind us; the occupants had already emptied out. The girls gathered around me, all of them looking stunning. Actually Coral looked more than a little pissed off, but that seemed to be the case for my family.

Minnie, Celeste and Coral were wearing red floor length fitted gowns. Understated, yet beautiful. The colour of their dresses matched the blood red bouquet of passion roses that I held in my hands perfectly.

‘Are you okay?’ Minnie asked, smiling.

‘A little scared,’ I admitted.

‘You have nothing to be worried about,’ Celeste said.

‘Could we get inside? It’s bloody freezing out here,’ Coral said.

‘Come on, Angel,’ my father said and took my arm, probably trying to stop his two daughters breaking into an argument already, as we were prone to doing.

He led the way and the girls followed as we picked our way along the illuminated path to the entrance of the castle. Once we were inside we stopped and I shrugged off the cloak that I had been wearing. Minnie took it from me as the rest of the girls removed their own cloaks, which hadn’t been much protection from the bitter cold anyway.

My father was staring at me. Everyone was staring at me.

‘You do look beautiful,’ Dad said, although he still looked a little sad.

I had fallen in love with my dress the minute I saw it. It was the only one I had ever tried on, it was the one that was meant to be. It was black, a tight corset top, with red lacing down the back. The skirt was huge; well I was only getting married once, wasn’t I? Layers and layers of black net flounced out around my legs, covering the Victorian high heeled lace up boots I was wearing. I’d had the dress customised with blood red roses sewn into the bodice to match my bouquet. My hair had been piled up on top of my head by my favourite hairdresser and best friend, Minnie. Sitting atop it was a small black tiara with tiny fake red roses and a black veil. I looked like a Gothic princess.

I smiled at my father; he returned it, despite his reservations.

There was someone waiting for us to lead the way, she smiled and gestured the path forward. I took my father’s arm again and we entered further into the castle. It was at the top of the steps that led downwards my father hesitated, he looked down at me. ‘Are you sure about this?’

‘Of course I am.’

He looked resigned but said. ‘Let’s do this then.’

My steps were tentative in my heels on the steep stone stairs. Once we all reached the bottom there was a long stone corridor stretching before us. I could hear music in the distance, an instrumental of one of Erebis’ songs. It made my nerves swell even more.

With the girls following we made our way along the corridor until we reached a sharp bend. Just before we made the corner it was I that hesitated briefly. I didn’t really know why I was feeling so nervous. It wasn’t doubt that plagued me; this was the one thing in my life that I was sure about. Did I ever entertain the thought that he wouldn’t be there? After everything that we had been through, never.

It was almost midnight on the twenty first of December, Winter Solstice night, and one year to the day that I had first given to my blood to Ash, my vampire lover. A lot of other bad things had happened on that night as they had also done in the year that followed, but I chose to only remember the good things at that time. And that night I was giving more to Ash than my blood, I was giving him my life, the rest of it, to spend together, forsaking all others. I would also get his life in return. It was worth the exchange.

We had walked this route many times before in rehearsals. Not once had Ash and I had the rehearsal at the same time though. When I walked into The Undercroft, the room where we would be married, and saw him waiting for me, I wanted it to be the first time when we were doing it for real.

I shifted my bouquet nervously in my hands. My father was looking at me expectantly. Maybe he was waiting for me to continue to move forwards. Perhaps he was hoping that I would turn around and run out of the castle screaming. Ever since my parents had found out that Ash drank blood, specifically my blood they hadn’t approved of the relationship. At least their feelings towards Ash had scaled down from the original threat of restraining orders and forbidding me to see him to a kind of quiet disapproval. There was no doubt that my parents didn’t want this for me so the fact that they were there at all was something I was immensely grateful for. They must have seen how determined I was for it to happen.

Taking a deep breath I resumed our walk forwards, around the corner which led us to another long corridor. At the end of this one were double wooden arched doors. As I had expected the ushers were waiting outside them for us. Kieran, Ash’s friend (I use that term in the loosest sense) and Matt, Ash’s brother. Both of them, Ash’s band mates. In a band that was really starting to take off since they had won the Battle of the Bands competition earlier on in the year.

Matt and Kieran were both looking handsome in dark suits and they smiled at me as we approached. When we reached them, I paused and took a shuddering breath.

‘You look stunning,’ Kieran said and bent down to kiss me on the cheek.

‘Absolutely,’ Matt agreed and kissed me next.

‘So, is he there?’ I asked.

Kieran arched an eyebrow. ‘What do you think? And if he wasn’t I would take you in there and marry you myself right now.’

Dad coughed next to me. Kieran apologised, it was normal talk between me and Kieran, my father wasn’t used to it.

‘Come on, let’s do this. I want to gain a new sister,’ Matt said.

Kieran and Matt both took hold of a door handle each.

‘Are you ready?’ Matt asked.

It should have been easy. Why did it seem as though my legs were going to give out? Why was it so hard to say, ‘Yes.’?

I couldn’t so I merely nodded. The doors were swept open. My father and I exchanged a glance, this time he did look pleased, as though he was indulging his wayward daughter in another of her fantasies. I knew what lay beyond. A 15th century stone vaulted room. It had never looked quite as beautiful as it did then though. The stone walls were lit with what looked like hundreds of flickering candles and beautiful rose bouquets also decorated the walls. I took a brief moment, a few mere seconds to glance around.

Then I looked forward and saw him; staring at me, in his way. The look that said he wanted to possess me, the look that made me feel as though I was the only other person in the room, in the castle, in the world. Upon seeing him, as always, I could breathe. Nerves and anxiety were swept away and my next step wasn’t hesitant. I walked towards my destiny with purpose. But never before had the walk down the aisle, from the door to the front appeared so long. It seemed to take an eternity to reach him.

He was looking devilishly handsome, in a black suit, with a black shirt. His hair was as always, long, jet black and tousled, I was glad he had left it down, not tied it back. His dark gaze did not stray from me as I approached him.

My gaze shifted briefly from Ash to Jay, who was the best man and standing at Ash’s side. We shared a glance, and I had to push some thoughts away. Things that I didn’t want to think about, a secret that I was taking to my wedding that I wished didn’t exist; something that had occurred between me and Jay, something that should never have happened. He smiled at me, giving me the reassurance of what he always promised me, that we would always be okay. I returned the smile and then my gaze drifted back to the man that I was there for.

The rest of our intimate congregation was there. My mother and Ash’s mother. Not his father, he had nothing but hatred for his youngest son, for what he had become, nothing had changed there. In fact in being there Wendy was verging on facing a divorce. But she was determined to be there, she said she had spent too much time denying her son because of her husband’s beliefs that Ash was evil. And, unlike my parents, she thoroughly approved of mine and Ash’s relationship.

Also there was Matt’s wife, Sophie. Cat was alone, she was single, she’d had plenty of casual flings but she no longer trusted anyone enough for a relationship. Or maybe she was with Gabriel, who was sitting next to her but I wasn’t too sure what their relationship was anymore. Max, Coral’s husband was there. And that was all; our small congregation of family and trusted inner circle of friends. Celeste’s mother would have been there but she was looking after Star, Celeste and Sebastian’s baby. Two more babies had arrived into our world since Ash’s proposal. Both boys; Matt and Sophie had Alex, Max and Coral had Dexter. Both babies were being looked after by their other set of grandparents.

I was aware that all those people were there but I could only truly see just the one person.

We arrived at the registrar. My father released me, although he did hold on to me for a second, as if reluctant to give me to Ash. But release me he did, and Ash took my hand.

‘You are beautiful,’ he said.

‘You don’t look so bad yourself, Rockstar,’ I said. He cupped my face in his hand and looked as though he was going to kiss me there and then, way ahead of schedule. The registrar coughed politely and started the ceremony, Ash interlaced his fingers though mine and squeezed.

The registrar started to speak, giving the welcome speech. Ash and I stared at each other; he mouthed three words to me.

‘I love you.’

The ceremony was planned to be short, no hymns, that wasn’t our style. I knew that neither of us would have much patience for it. Ash spent most of the registrar’s speech looking at me as though he wanted to devour me.

We stared intimately at each other as we went through the formalities that had to be spoken, until we got to the part where we could say our own vows that we had written for each other. Ash went first.

‘Angel, you take my breath away, you make me breathe, you brought me to life. Without you I’m nothing and now you’re mine for eternity.’ He smiled, giving his face that heart-breaking, dangerous look that almost made me forget what I was supposed to say. After taking a shuddering breath I managed to continue.

‘Ash, before you I merely existed, you brought me to life, you made my blood flow. Together we create fire. I love you endlessly.’

Then we went on with the ring sharing ritual and the required vows that had to be spoken. When we slid the rings of Claddagh gold onto each other’s fingers, our eyes were locked in a moment of complete connection as we finished off the promise of our lives to the other.

Eventually the registrar said. ‘You may now kiss the bride.’

‘About f… time,’ Ash said, catching the swear word only on a warning look from me.

He held my face in his hands and took his time lowering his lips towards mine. It started with the softest meeting of lips, but there was never any doubt that he would come back for more. My lips parted for him and oblivious to the audience in the room we kissed as though it was our first time. He finished with a hungry bite of my lower lip.

‘I love you, Mrs Knight,’ he growled. I had a feeling I was going to get a lot of the Mrs Knight thing, another way for him to say that I belonged to him. I wasn’t complaining, he was completely mine now too.

‘I love you too, Mr Knight.’

He still had hold of me and we were paying little attention to the rest of the people in the room. Ash was looking like he was ready to kiss me again when the registrar announced loudly.

‘I present to you, the bride and groom.’

A cheer went up through our small congregation, making me look at them for the first time. There had been a lot of tears – Wendy, my mother, Sophie, Celeste and Minnie were all in varying states of tearfulness. Hell, even Coral looked a bit misted up.

Ash took hold of my hand and together, as husband and wife we walked back up the aisle. We didn’t get far as the photographer ushered us back to the picturesque scene for photos. By the time the photographer was done I could tell that Ash’s patience was tested to its limit but he didn’t complain.

Eventually we walked back out of the room, but we were not alone, as the rest of our gathering followed. The room that we had just been married in was going to be quickly rearranged so that we could have our wedding reception in there.

We were hugged and congratulated by all our guests. My father did not shake Ash’s hand and welcome him to the family. That one broke my heart a little.

Even as we were drawn into talk with others, Ash kept looking at me as though he wanted to devour me.

‘Can I take you home now?’ he whispered, drawing me away from the crowd a little.

‘Afraid not, my darling,’ I said. ‘We have the reception to go to now.’

A lot of people had been distracted by the bar, Ash took full advantage of the lull in attention focused on us and led me further away, finding a dark corridor to pull me down.

He growled in my ear. ‘Goddamn it, I want to be alone with you; right now.’

‘We have the rest of our lives for that. We only get one wedding, so rein it in because you are going to have to wait,’ I said firmly.

The lips that had been near to my ear moved closer still to brush against it as he spoke. ‘You know I can very easily make you want to get the hell out of here too.’

Despite the fact that I wanted to maintain being a dignified bride I couldn’t help the moan escaping as he bit at my ear lobe. If that wasn’t enough those deadly lips moved down my throat where he sunk his teeth into the crux of my neck. My knees almost gave way but he had hold of me and pushed me back into the wall. It was cold on my back as he pressed me into it. I grabbed his face and kissed him like he provided the air I needed to breathe.

‘I need to touch you,’ he said, his hand roamed up my basque. ‘But I’m not going to grope you in your wedding dress. Changed your mind yet?’

‘I need you too, Ash,’ I said and I did. ‘But we have to wait.’

He groaned, his eyes settling on my breasts peeking over the top of the basque. ‘You are killing me right now.’

I drew his eyes back up to meet mine by tilting his chin. ‘I don’t want to kill you. I want to save you.’

And at that moment, I thought that I could.

When we went back into The Undercroft there was a banquet table going straight down the middle of the room. It was a long table and there were enough chairs around it to seat us all. Ash and I took our positions at the middle of the table.

I accepted the glass of champagne that was passed to me. I have something of an issue with alcohol; an issue that I was far from kicking. At that point it was moderately under control. I shouldn’t have been drinking at all and at times I still drank to excess but as long as I wasn’t stressed I didn’t tip over into the oblivion seeking drinking that I had been known to. That was the line I walked; one step away from oblivion and far too many steps away from sobriety. And it was a damn thin line sometimes. But it was my wedding day, I wasn’t intending on denying myself anything.

Ash dragged my chair closer to his and put his arm around me. I leaned into him and kissed him. As I did so I was only too aware of my father sitting next to me. The meal was served, everyone chatted politely while we ate and Ash looked at me as though it was me that he wanted to consume.

Once the food was finished and cleared it was time for the speeches. Jay, as best man was first up. He stood up and winked at me.

‘Ash and Angel, two of my best friends, two people that I love very much. Ash, I’ve known you for many years now and I am proud to be considered your friend and your band mate. Angel, from the minute I met you there was something that clicked between us, I knew you were a special girl; you would have to be to tame Ash even slightly. And the two of you together are something special, it’s easy for anyone to see that you are destined to be as one and the sparks are always flying. I am honoured to be here today and witness you joining together forever.’ He raised his glass. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I propose a toast to Ash and Angel.’

I met Ash’s eyes as we clinked glasses and took a sip of our champagne.

‘Your turn, Matt,’ Jay said as he sat down and Matt stood.

‘Firstly, I would like to say that it should be my father here right now, making this speech and welcoming Angel into our family. But his stubbornness and ignorance has kept him away. And those two reasons also kept me away from my brother for too many years and I am ashamed to say it. I will admit that one of the biggest reasons that Ash is back in my life is Angel. She was the one that convinced me to take a chance on getting to know my brother. And I am so grateful that I did because, you know, he’s alright, my brother.’ He raised his glass. ‘To Ash and Angel.’

Wendy was in tears as Ash turned to look at Matt behind him. Up until that point, he had been staring ahead, his jaw set, trying to hold back his emotions. Ash stood and gave his brother a hug. I was rather misty eyed myself by that point.

My father had warned me that he would not be making a speech long before that moment. That was an indication of how strongly he was against our marriage. He was there, for me alone he was there. But that didn’t mean that he was condoning it. If he was moved by Matt’s speech my father didn’t show it. If I had hoped that it would make him change his mind, it did not.

Instead it was Ash that stood. ‘There’s not much that I can say beyond the fact that I love Angel endlessly and I am so proud that she has given me the honour of becoming my wife. I know that I’m not welcomed into this family, hell I can even understand it. But I can’t stop it, I can’t be without Angel, I have to be with her.’

Max stood up. Coral whacked him with the back of her hand. I cringed, preparing for the probable upcoming drama.

‘Sit down,’ Coral hissed.

Max looked at my father. ‘I’m sorry, Dennis, but I have to do this. If no-one else is going to welcome the man to the family then I’m going to do it. Ash, I know why people have issues with you but I am looking beyond that. I like you, I always have done and I know how much you love our Angel, that’s easy for anyone to see. You ever hurt her then you’ll have me to answer to but, for now, welcome to the family.’

Max reached across the table to shake Ash’s hand.

‘Thank you, it means a lot, Max,’ Ash said, accepting the handshake. Coral had turned almost purple next to Max; I considered pointing out that it was clashing with her dress. Instead, I stole a glance at my father. He remained stony faced, my mother was dabbing her eyes.

Then Wendy stood. Wendy, who always kept her head down and never made a fuss, Wendy, who had stood by her husband when he had kicked their son out of the house because she had been afraid to stand up to him. Yes, that Wendy was making a stand. She was looking directly at my father. ‘My son is not a monster.’

My father looked as though he was on the verge of storming from the room. For fucks sake, was it too much for me to ask to even have a wedding day without drama? Of course it was. There was much more drama yet to come that day. This little altercation was mild in comparison.

‘Of course he’s not,’ my mother said and attempted a smile. My father remained stormily silent. Ash gave his mother a hug whilst she sobbed.

I figured it was my turn to say my part. So I stood up. ‘Dad, I know you have an issue with Ash and I am grateful that you even came today. I wish you would also give us your blessing but even without it, me and Ash are going to be together forever because I love him very much. Wendy is right, he is not a monster. Thank you, Max and thank you everyone for being here for us today.’

Ash took me in his arms and whispered, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too.’

Jay, possibly in an attempt to bring an end to the speeches and avoid any more confrontation, raised his glass. ‘I propose a toast…to the bride and groom.’

Everyone gratefully sank their drinks.

Once things had settled down, it was time for the room to be transformed again; this time into a disco for the final planned part of our party. The parents left, as it was becoming very late. I think by that point they were grateful to be getting out of there. My dad hugged and kissed me, although the look he gave me was still stern. My mother hugged the both of us as she left, as did Wendy.

Then more guests arrived, lots of our other friends. The room filled up, the candles had been exchanged for purple lights and a disco was set up, it wasn’t long before rock music began to pound. Ash and I were drawn apart for a time as new people gathered to congratulate us. I was told endless times that I looked beautiful and passed far too many drinks than were good for me.

After mingling for a while I decided that too much time had passed since I had been close to Ash and I was missing my husband. I was just about to go back in search of him when something on a table caught my eye. I approached it and looked closer. A bouquet of red roses, not my bouquet though. I wondered where they had come from; I hadn’t noticed anyone bearing flowers.

As I inspected the bouquet, I noticed that something seemed off about them. I looked closer and stopped breathing. There, nestled within the beautiful red blooms was a wooden stake, the sharp end pointing outwards. With shaking hands I picked up the card that was attached. When I read the words I believe my breath may have come out in a scream.

Till death do you part.

Chapter 2

Wildly I looked around for my husband. It was him that I needed right then, to share this with, to let him hold me in his strong arms, to tell me that it was going to be okay. I barged back into the party room with the intention of finding him. It was Jay that I absently collided with.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, it wasn’t a stretch for anyone to see that something was very wrong.

I held the note up for him to read, I watched his face darken. ‘What the hell is this?’

I merely pointed back out the door, in the direction of the roses.

Jay took my hand and led me back out to the vile ‘present’.

‘What the fuck?’

I felt lightheaded and weak. I had thought that it was over. The slayer was over. But there it was; a stake, on my wedding day.

‘Ash,’ I said and went to go and find him.

‘No.’ Jay stopped me by grabbing my arm. ‘Angel, if Ash finds out about this tonight he is going to go crazy. You don’t want that, not tonight. Tell him tomorrow or after your honeymoon but not tonight.’

‘What if there’s danger?’ I whispered.

‘Hey, I’m on alert now. You two enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll worry about the danger,’ Jay said.

‘How can I enjoy the night now? I can’t forget about this,’ I said and tears threatened to overspill.

Jay looked at me in alarm. ‘Hey, don’t cry, you are going to end up looking a state.’

I punched him weakly. ‘I don’t care.’

‘Get it together, girl,’ he said.

‘I thought this was over,’ I said, leaning against his chest and trying to take his advice about not crying.

‘We don’t know what this means yet. Don’t panic. Put it out of your mind, just for tonight.’ He kissed my forehead. ‘And you know I’m right about Ash.’

He was, if Ash found out there would be carnage. Our wedding day would be ruined. I would tell him, but not that night. But that meant that I had to suck it up.

‘What about them?’ I asked, gesturing to the flowers.

‘I’ll deal with them,’ Jay said. ‘Go and find your husband.’

Except I wasn’t ready to face him, I needed some time to compose myself. There was an outdoor courtyard attached to The Undercroft but there were a lot of people there, mostly the smokers who had gone outside to light up. So I followed the path I had used to enter the castle hours before, when I had still been Angel Harris and stepped into the darkness at the front of the castle, for some air, to calm myself. It was freezing out there and I shivered, but at least it cooled the burn inside me. When Ash had killed Gary, we had thought it was over. So why the hell had a stake turned up on our wedding day?

Arms slid around me from behind but I didn’t jump. I knew those arms well but I did shudder as he nuzzled my neck.

‘What are you doing out here alone?’ he asked.

I took in a deep breath of cold air. ‘Just getting some timeout.’

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

‘Of course I’m okay,’ I said, glad that he couldn’t see my face. He knew me too well not to see the worry in my eyes; until he turned me around and cupped my face in his hands.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, so gently that it almost undid me. Jay was right, I shouldn’t tell him. But how could I hide it from him?

‘I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed,’ I said. ‘It’s the happiest day of my life. I promise you.’

‘I love you,’ he whispered, moving his head down towards mine.

‘I love you too,’ I answered. He closed that last gap and his lips came down on mine. He broke the kiss to look into my eyes, to look into my soul.

‘Something is bothering you,’ he said.

‘I’m fine. I promise,’ I said and drew him into another kiss, the purpose of which was not only to distract him but to try to distract myself.

The diversion seemed to have worked because when he drew back he asked. ‘When can I take you home?’

‘Not tonight, we’re staying in the hotel,’ I reminded him.

‘I don’t care where we are, I just want to be alone with you,’ he said.

‘We’re alone right now,’ I stated.

‘Not alone enough for me to do what I want to do to you,’ he said and kissed me again.

‘We’ve got the rest of our lives for that. We’ve only tonight to have a wedding party,’ I said, even though there was nothing I wanted more than to get him alone too. Especially after the stake; I didn’t feel like facing anyone else again that night.

He groaned. ‘Still going to make me wait, are you?’ He bent his head down to my neck, kissed and then nipped. I delved my hands in his hair.

‘Not if you carry on like that,’ I said. He did pull back and took my hand. He looked deep into my eyes again and he must have seen that the worry was gone, replaced by desire. Except it wasn’t gone, it was merely hidden.

He smiled, deadly and dangerous. ‘Now that you’re wanting too, let’s get back to our party.’

I slapped his chest lightly with my free hand. ‘Tease.’

‘Absolutely.’

The first person to greet us when we went back inside was Julian. After winning the Battle of the Bands competition Erebis had been invited to remain on tour with Lost in the Shadows, the band that they had won the spot supporting. They had continued to impress and ended up being offered a record contract. Julian worked at the record company that had signed Erebis; he was the assistant to the band’s newly appointed manager. The manager I found to be slightly disinterested, whereas Julian was young and enthusiastic and seemed to be much more interested in the band’s success. We had actually met Julian before the manager even. When Ash had first seen him he had muttered, ‘Welcome to the cheap seats.’ But Julian’s appearance was very deceptive. Julian was gay, his almost effeminate beauty made him look more like a male model. But over the few months that he had been with the band he had proven himself to be a sharp man and talked tough business. He did tend to camp it up at times, but when he did it was deliberate, sometimes self-mocking but it was also a technique that he usually used to un-nerve Ash and it worked like a treat.

I recalled the first moment that Ash and Julian had met, after Erebis were offered the contract. After his initial utterance to me Ash had appraised Julian’s tall but extremely lithe frame and ethereal beauty and said. ‘Who the fuck are you? Our minder?’

Julian has responded with. ‘Absolutely, darling. At the first sign of trouble, get behind me and stay there.’

That had Ash backing straight off, like I had never seen before. ‘I am going nowhere near your behind.’

Julian had winked at me and said. ‘We’ll see.’

And there had blossomed a beautiful friendship. Between me and Julian that was. Julian still had Ash backing off at every opportunity.

Whereas Ash’s career was starting to take off I was still struggling with mine. I was selling books and getting good feedback but I was struggling to find any sort of traction with sales. The writing was flowing though. Having given up work at the bookstore I had plenty of time for writing, when Ash wasn’t demanding attention. I didn’t have a moment of resentment for his success whilst mine was stilted. I would keep chipping away until I got somewhere. And I was so proud of my husband, the rock star.

Julian hugged me, and then offered Ash a hug. Ash gave him a handshake.

‘You look beautiful, darling,’ Julian said, then winked. ‘As do you, Angel.’

I laughed whilst Ash barely suppressed a growl. I still didn’t understand why Ash allowed Julian to get to him quite so much.

‘Thank you, Julian,’ I said.

‘Let me get you guys a drink to celebrate,’ Julian said and we gratefully followed him to the bar.

Much later, at last we were alone. The hotel suite was beautiful, perfect. Champagne was cooling on ice; the bed was covered in rose petals, red of course.

‘Well, Mr Knight, I never thought I would see the day that you wore a suit,’ I said and grabbed hold of him by the lapels.

‘And you, Mrs Knight, look the most beautiful that I have ever seen you,’ he said, moving close, his hand came up to the side of my face and stroked gently. ‘So beautiful that I almost don’t want to take that dress off you.’

‘Really?’ I questioned, he had moved so close that our mouths were inches apart.

‘No, not really, because right now I want to make love to my wife.’

The effect of his words, his actions was no less profound on me than it had been a year ago. How he could seduce me with his words, with his actions.

He closed the gap and kissed me as intimately and intensely as our first ever kiss. Slow and thorough he didn’t rush it. He took his