Page 16 of Bitten By Desire

I hoped it wouldn’t take centuries to track down Mama’s killer.

“This is also where I first dreamt of us being together.” Julian pulled back enough to stroke my cheeks with his thumbs as he stared into my eyes. “The first place we made love. Though that was in your home, about a half mile that way.” He jerked his head to his left without breaking contact with me.

My insides warmed as I read the love in his face.

“Good memories and bad,” I said. “I wish I could remember our first time. Or any of that life really.”

A sly smile spread over his face and his eyes glowed slightly. “I’ve improved over the centuries. No need to recall anything.”

I smacked his chest in mock horror but left my palm resting over his hard pectoral. One sluggish, soft thump answered me. His heart still beat, though so slowly it was hardly noticeable. He hadn’t fed on me since before that night. But I thanked the gods I’d talked him into feeding elsewhere when we’d started our journey on the run. I hadn’t ever seen him do it. Nor did I ask. But I could tell by the color of his eyes that he had.

“Thank you for showing me,” I said.

His grin made my own heart flutter as he dropped to his knee.

“Julian? What are you doing?” I asked, panic overtaking me. I glanced around as if for help or hoping someone would intervene.

He laughed, a wonderful sound I rarely heard, and it calmed my nerves enough to let me focus on him.

“I don’t have a ring,” he said once I’d settled down.

I took a breath, feeling silly.

“But that can easily be remedied.”

Oh shit. This was happening.

“Charlotte, will you marry me?”

The words stole the air from the entire planet. I was sure of it. My pulse revved into overdrive as my head spun. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Julian, there was no doubt in my mind, but now? In the middle of two murder investigations and while we were fugitives?

My vampire waited patiently, his dark curls dancing in the breeze as he looked up at me, preternaturally still, as always, giving me all the time I needed.

I dropped to my own knees, facing him. “I love you, Julian.”

He cocked his head to the side. “But?”

A blush warmed my cheeks. “No. No buts. I love you and I want to spend my life with you. Well, okay I guess there is a but.” I was babbling, so I snapped my mouth shut.

“Go on,” he prompted.

“We haven’t ever finished the conversation we started the night Mama was killed,” I said, averting my eyes. I’d thought about it, though. Thought hard about what would be different. “If we commit to each other, I want it to be forever.”

Julian stood, and I followed suit. A muscle in his jaw worked as he ground his teeth.

“I want to be a vampire,” I said, fisting my hands at my sides.

“You have never wanted that.”

“I changed my mind. It’s my decision.” I lifted my chin in defiance.

“Charlotte, you are still grieving. You aren’t thinking straight. Wait until things have settled and then we can have this conversation.”

“Don’t put me off like that. Stop patronizing me. I’m not a child, and I know what I want.” I very nearly stamped my foot like the insolent kid I claimed not to be.

“If you change your mind after, there will be no going back.” Julian took a step toward me.

“I understand that. I am a scientist you know.”

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