“How?” Gaby asked.

  “That is perhaps a story for another time.” Killian faced Doctor Blanton. “Gaby here was injured earlier this night and is with child. Give her a look over and make sure the baby is still intact.”

  Intact? Could she have lost it? Seeing the fear on my face, the doctor waved it off. “Not to worry. I’m sure everything is fine. If it wasn’t, she’d know.”

  “I’ll leave you to it then and go gather your paperwork.” Killian spun around and closed the door behind him.

  “All righty miss. We’re going to do an ultrasound. We’ll try it externally, but if it’s too early we might have to try another way.”

  Gaby hopped up on the table at the doctor’s gesture. He had her lean back and raise her shirt to expose her stomach. The doctor’s gaze locked with mine when he saw the blood coating her skin. He was stunned. Not uttering a word, he went about cleaning her up. Raising her shirt a little higher, he attempted to remove the blood the best he could when suddenly the wound appeared. It looked like a black scar between two of her ribs.

  “How long ago did this occur?” he asked. His fingers pressing around the wound, but Gaby didn’t seem bothered by it.

  “A little over an hour ago?” she offered, but her voice showed she wasn’t sure.

  “It should have healed a little more than this. You’ll need to feed, preferably live.”

  “Live?” I asked wanting clarification.

  “A human? From the source? Bagged blood is fine for hunger, but when it comes to healing, live is always best.”

  He lowered her shirt some, keeping her stomach exposed, then squeezed some jelly like substance onto her. Before he started, I watched him turn the screen away when Gaby wasn’t looking. It felt like a rock sank in my stomach. He wanted to make sure the baby was alive before showing us. I grabbed her hand seeing the fear in her eyes too. I held my breath when he placed the wand on her stomach. It wasn’t until the sound of a rapid drum filled the room did I breathe again. I gazed at Gaby who was beaming.

  “Is that…?” she started asking, but the doctor knowing what her question would be, finished for her.

  “Your baby’s heartbeat?” he offered then nodded. He turned the screen to face us. It all just looked like a blob of static when suddenly a side view of a head appeared.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  “It’s something else, isn’t it?” The doctor stated. “It’s a little too early to determine the baby’s sex. If it’s something you wish to know, I’m sure your doctor back home will be able to tell you on your next visit.”

  “So the baby’s fine?” Gaby asked and I understood the need for confirmation.

  “Your baby is perfect.” He withdrew the wand and placed a towel on Gaby’s stomach to remove the gel. “Don’t forget to feed to heal the wound, but other than that you appear fine. You’re very lucky it was your lung. I’m not sure if the baby could have survived had the knife sunk lower.”

  There was a rapt at the door just before Killian opened it. “I’ve got the paperwork ready to make your visit sanctioned.” He held it up. Gaby nodded, hopped off the table and headed to the door. Abruptly she spun and threw her arms around my neck. I caught her just as her lips claimed mine. Not being able to resist her, I kissed her back. My tongue beckoned for entrance, which she granted. When she was in my arms, it was hard to remember the outside world existed or the fact that we had two onlookers to our intimate moment. It was Gaby that broke away first.

  “We just saw our baby!” she whispered excitedly.

  “I know,” I kissed her forehead. “And he or she is perfect.”

  She giggled before turning and following Killian. I was suddenly grateful the vampires found us and drug us to their nest. Although the situation could have turned out a lot worse, I was glad that we were given an opportunity to make sure Gaby and the baby were both okay. It had me relaxing just a hair.

  After our paperwork was complete, Killian led us to another room where he offered us donors. Gaby tried to refuse, only to be reminded of the doctor’s suggestion. The room appeared to be more like a bedroom with a large bed that was made up nice and tidy with white bedding, which stunned me. White in a vampire nest seemed odd. There was a chocolate leather sofa that sat against the wall. The smell of old blood filled the air and even though the room appeared spotless, I’m sure a proper light would show signs of blood throughout.

  Two women were lead into the room. They stood in front of us just feet away from where we sat on the couch.

  “You don’t have any men?” Gaby asked.

  “Sorry. All our donors are women,” Killian said.

  Gaby’s gaze nervously shifted to me. “It’s okay,” I offered. “I don’t have to.”

  She shook her head. “Just let me go first then I’ll spot you?”

  Spot me? I tried not to laugh. It sounded like we were lifting weights not feeding, but I agreed.

  Gaby smiled at the girl who nervously grinned back. She took the spot between us. Swiping her blonde hair over her shoulder, she exposed the side of her neck. Her fear was overwhelming. We were hunters by nature and the panic she was radiating was filling me with a desire to sink my teeth into her, which wasn’t good. I needed to maintain control. Gaby pushed her influence onto the girl. “Calm down.” I didn’t understand why this girl was a donor if she was terrified of donating. “I am not going to hurt you. I am going to bite you, but instead of pain you are going to feel pleasure. It is going to be better than the best orgasm of your life. Would you like that?” The girl was breathing heavily, nodding eagerly and a new scent flowed through the air. Lust. Gaby grinned ignoring the girl’s desirous state. Watching my new wife let her fangs down, I knew my eyes shifted to honey-green just from her instinctive state.

  Gaby tilted the girl’s head to the side to see the artery pulsing away. She ran her tongue across it feeling it throb. The girl moaned. I had to shift because I realized my erection would be noticeable if anyone glanced my way. The idea of drinking from humans had never appealed to me, but observing Gaby feed was an experience I wouldn’t mind watching again.

  In a more aware state, Gaby’s honey-green eyes locked on me and she sank her fangs into the girl’s neck. I could hear the girl gasp in euphoria. It only made Gaby sink her teeth in deeper. I could hear her pulse starting to slow, but my wife didn’t stop.

  “Gaby?” I stated firmly reaching her from her blood-induced trance. Pulling back, she licked the girl’s wounds closed. Her fangs rescinded and she wiped the girl’s blood off her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “Another?” I asked, but she shook her head.

  She could hear my heart rate accelerate just from watching her. Somehow knowing it was my turn didn’t hold the same appeal as admiring her feed. The girl Gaby fed from was replaced with the one I would be drinking from. She faced Gaby. My wife brushed the girl’s brown hair that cascaded down her back to the side making sure it was out of the way for me. Suddenly this felt just as intense as watching Gaby.

  “Have you done this before?” Gaby asked the girl. She nodded. “Then you know how lucky you are. I don’t know what kind of after affair you’re use to, but this is my husband you’re feeding. Do you understand?” I grinned at her possessiveness. She glared at me over the girl’s shoulder. There was a hint of amusement, but mostly jealousy in her gaze. I shifted behind the girl making sure to keep some space between us. Not only was I sporting a hard on, thanks to my wife’s display, but I wasn’t looking for anything intimate. Gaby leaned back giving me some space. My eyes stayed on her as I positioned myself above the girl’s neck. Like a cobra, I sunk my teeth into her neck like I’d done it so many times to Gaby. I saw a flicker of jealousy appear on my wife’s face as I watched her, before the blood became overwhelming and I was forced to close my eyes. Where the girl Gaby fed on had merely moaned, this one made it seem like it was a full-blown sexual experience. With a growl, I yanked her flush against my chest. My hand moved on its own accord up her body and groped her breast.

  Gaby didn’t budge. I wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or the same strange fascination that had held me when I gazed upon her. Part of me didn’t want her to see this, because I hated for her to look at me differently, but there was another part, the vampire part, that enjoyed her eyes on me. The couch shifted as Gaby drew near until she was only inches away. I opened my eyes, but Gaby was no longer focused on me. The girl reached for her. Mesmerized, my wife placed her hand into the girl’s outstretched palm tugging her closer. She ran her finger along Gaby’s lips, tracing them before placing her fingertips into her own mouth. At the last second, I saw the tips red before they dipped into her mouth. The girl moaned in pleasure. It momentarily stunned me even in my blood haze. Tasting human blood or even vampire blood wouldn’t have any effects on her. Her hand went to cradle Gaby’s head drawing my wife in. Gaby went willingly as if she was the one under a spell.

  I detached from the girl before Gaby even registered what she was doing. I grabbed my wife and with vampiric speed had her on the bed. My mouth still covered in blood kissed her lips in an almost violent way. She was mine and not even a human girl was going to get a chance to taste her lips. I ignored the two girls as they stumbled from the room, lightheaded from the blood loss. All I could see was Gaby.

  Our kisses were hot and wild as my tongue danced with hers. I could taste the other girl’s blood on Gaby and I was sure she could taste the girl I fed from too. Even though it wasn’t anything spectacular, on Gaby it tasted amazing. I moaned enjoying the flavor.

  I had her pants undone in a second then slid my hand into them. Before she could even take a breath my fingers were inside of her. She gasped with surprise but also with arousal as my fingers found the perfect spot.

  “I don’t wish to share you Gabriella, even with a woman,” I hissed.

  She giggled then moaned while I thrust my fingers in and out. “If I recall, you were the one molesting her,” she groaned when I slowed my motion.

  “Now I’m molesting you, wife.”

  My lips latched on to her and she moaned into my mouth. Her body tensed and I knew she was on the brink. Just before she exploded there was a knock at the door.

  “Go away!” I growled then flicked my thumb over her clit refusing to let her stop. I watched as she came in a silent scream. I continued my motions milking every ounce of pleasure from her until her body settled. I was glad—this one time—that she was quiet. We were in a house of vampires who didn’t believe in soundproofing.

  “Is it safe now?” Killian asked from the other side of the door. I watched as Gaby started to laugh and I couldn’t help but smile.

  The rest of the night was entertaining, which was startling, considering how we arrived. There was some witty banter back and forth, some catching up over what had been happening the past five years between Gaby and Killian. We ended up staying longer than we planned. When we finally prepared to leave, Killian had a car pull up out front. He held the door open letting Gaby slip in as I made my way to the other side.

  “A moment,” he asked, appearing next to me, placing his hand over the door preventing me from opening it. I glanced back at Gaby through the window. The driver was behind the wheel leaving only Killian and I outside. “It’s soundproof. She can’t hear us.”

  “Is there a reason she doesn’t need to hear it?” I asked, but he shrugged. I was curious what he had to say so I followed him a few steps away from the car.

  “It may have been several years since I’ve seen her, but I consider Gaby a friend. I understand that there is more going on than what has been explained to me this night.” I opened my mouth to speak but he raised his hand silencing me. “Your lie is not necessary. I understand that trust is something that must be earned. I wouldn’t expect you to divulge your secrets. They are yours and Gaby’s, but understand that if help is needed,” he handed me a business card, “we will assist as long as I am master.” I eyed the card before slipping it into my wallet. “A child from the only known day walker is sure to be an interesting sight to see.” He nodded to me before heading back up the steps to the house.

  “What did he want?” Gaby asked when I entered the car. She cuddled up into my side resting her head on my chest.

  “To help.”

  The next day I took Gaby into the casinos against her protests. Gambling wasn’t appealing to me, but this was Vegas and she needed the full experience. Coming back here wasn’t something I thought we would be doing anytime soon so it had to be now. Gaby had never gambled. I wasn’t sure if she had ever even bought a lottery ticket. When I asked her about it she explained that drawing attention to ourselves as vampires was something the nest had taught her never to do, which made sense. A vampire winning large amounts of money wasn’t likely to go unnoticed in this day and age. I tried my best to keep my wife from the slot machines, but it was impossible. I tried explaining that it was a fool’s game. That real gambling was done at the tables, but she seemed to really enjoy herself at the penny machines, which were definitely not a penny the way she played. I sat down with her and played until I had lost one hundred dollars. I could see the appeal of the machines. They seemed mindless yet intriguing. You constantly believed that you could score bigger if you just played one more, and then when you did win you convinced yourself you could make it even bigger. Eventually I dragged her to the black jack table.

  “I always pictured you more as a poker man,” Gaby joked while I was dealt my first hand.

  “I do love a good game of poker, but not in places like this. Poker’s a better game with friends,” I smiled before having the dealer hit me again.

  Gaby stood by my side and watched as I played a few hands. I suggested she play too, but she said she’d rather watch. It wasn’t until I was up two thousand dollars that I noticed her shifting her weight around. She was either bored or tired. Whichever was the case, I cashed out.

  “But you were winning.”

  I nodded, “But there are better things to do than gambling.” My eyes darkened as they raked over her body. I didn’t understand how our sex life hadn’t diminished over our relationship. In my past, sex would slow down after the first few weeks. Even though Gaby and I had had a few dry periods due to extenuating circumstances, whenever we started again, it was like being hormonal teenagers. We couldn’t get enough of each other.

  I watched as her eyes flashed honey-green before returning to her normal sapphire blue. I saw her chest rise and fall faster with each breath. My wife desired me as much as I did her. I couldn’t help the cocky grin that was tugging at my lips. I loved this woman.

  Grabbing her hand I pulled her along until we were inside our hotel room. I lifted her into my arms and carried her to bed.

  Afterwards, I laid there beside her with her draped across my chest. Her breathing evened out and I knew she was asleep. Pregnancy was taking its toll on her and my desire for her wasn’t helping, but I knew better than to deny either of us the need to be together. She wouldn’t have it if I tried. As much as I wanted to stay there in bed with her, I had other plans. When she awoke, our bags were packed even though the sun was still high in the sky.

  “Since we’re here, I figured we should see the Grand Canyon,” I explained when she eyed the luggage questionably.

  “Really? I’ve never seen it, but do we have to ride donkeys through the heat like in the movies?”

  I chuckled. “Not unless you want, but since it’s a little bit of a drive, I hope you don’t mind if we just hit the skywalk?”

  She grinned, “That sounds perfect.”

  Gaby

  I cuddled up beside Grayson in the back seat of the town car while we were driven out to the Grand Canyon. I half expected John to be driving us, but he was back in New York awaiting our return. I was tired, but I wanted to have this experience with Grayson, plus how often would I get the chance to see the Grand Canyon? We were having a baby in six months. It wasn’t until Sebastian had taken me to San Antonio several months ago that I had even left the state of New York.

  I must have drifted off, because I soon felt Grayson placing feather light kisses along my face.

  “Newlyweds?” I heard the driver ask.

  Grayson chuckled, “Is it that obvious?”

  “Only to a trained eye,” the driver joked.

  Grayson turned his attention back to me, swiping a few stray hairs back to their place. “We’re here, baby.”

  My eyes fluttered open. The first thing I saw was Grayson’s smile. “I fell asleep?” I asked.

  Grayson nodded. “You’re making another person,” his hand caressed my stomach. “I’m sure it’s exhausting.”

  “Congratulations!” The driver offered.

  “Thank you,” we replied in unison.

  “Ready?” Grayson asked holding his palm out for me. I took it with no hesitation.

  The skywalk itself was certainly a stunning piece of architecture, but walking out on it made it look like a suicide ledge. The floor was glass. The railing was glass. It made me feel like I was floating above the canyon.

  “You’re a vampire, Gaby,” Grayson whispered tugging me against his chest. “Even if you did fall, I think your chances of surviving are pretty good.”

  Even though there was a constant breeze, it was blistering out there in the desert. The skywalk was a brimming tourist attraction. I tried keeping my distance from everyone, but there was still some jostling from others. I felt my vision turn hazy and I struggled to focus. I gripped the rail trying to find my way off the bridge.

  I’m not sure if it was the heat, the anxiety, or maybe the exhaustion, but I felt myself slipping into darkness.

  “Gaby?” Grayson grabbed me before I drifted off. “What’s wrong?” he asked, clutching me to his chest.

  “I’m just tired,” I mumbled.

  “Maybe it’s the heat?” I heard an older woman offer. “You should take her somewhere to cool off.”