In My Veins (23 page)

“Me too… But yes, I’d love to. What are
we going to do?”

“You’ll see.” He smiled and pulled me
down next to him before he closed his eyes.

“What should I wear?” I whispered.

He opened one eye and peaked at me and closed
it again, “Anything.”  He smiled showing his sharp canines. I cuddled into
his side some more and soon fell asleep.

The next day I convinced him to let me go back to my
apartment so I could get the new maroon dress I bought a while ago. I guess
it’s not new anymore, but I haven’t worn it yet so it’s still new in my opinion.

Jenny had pulled me aside in the morning
and told me to dress as she said, “Hot!” So this dress will be perfect.

After taking a shower I slipped on the
knee length body hugging cleavage loving dress and smiled in my reflection. It
hugged me in all the right places, meaning everywhere, but it was slightly
conservative by not showing too much skin. Just in case. Since all I knew was
‘dress hot’. The dark red tone brought made my skin glow and hair look extra
dark and sultry. I hoped James would like it.

I did my hair in loose curls and smoky
makeup with a touch of shimmer. He said he’d pick me up at eight. He had told
David to be by my apartment just in case and he didn’t want me to know. But
David didn’t feel like walking around outside for nothing so he ended up just
knocking on my door and I let him in. I ended up finishing way too early and
sat with him to watch television. It’s only half past six.

I groaned and remembered I hadn’t talked
to Tiff in a long time. I texted her and told her to come over if she was in
the area. Knowing her, she was because of Daniel’s coffee shop.

David rolled his eyes and was about to
leave but he stood and turned to look at me, “I… I’m happy my cousin found
you.” He said awkwardly and didn’t let me answer before he left. I smiled and
waved even though he wasn’t looking back.

Tiffany arrived a little before seven
and hugged me hello. “You look hot! What’s the occasion!?”

“James and I have a date.” I smiled,
“But it’s not till eight so I figured we could do a little catching up.
Want anything to drink?”

“Tea would be great!”

I served her tea as she caught me up on
her and Daniel. “I really like him! He’s so sweet and he’s such a hard worker.
He wants to open two more locations by the end of the year. Oh and he’s been going
to some auditions. Apparently acting is his secret passion.”

“Oh really? Hope he gets some!” I said
and sipped on my tea. 

“How are things with you and James? I
feel like I haven’t seen him in months. Or you in that matter.”

I almost choked on my tea, has it been
months that she’s seen him? “Um… yeah” I laughed, “He’s just really busy with
work and stuff.” I glanced at the clock and noticed that James would be here in
thirty minutes. “It feels like a first date for some reason.”

“You look nervous! How cute!” she said.

“Yeah…” I laughed as the butterflies
increased. Why did I feel so nervous?

After chatting some more she left right
before James came over. “You look so beautiful.” He said lifting me making me
squeal as he twirled me. He gave me the most passion hello kiss yet as I
wrapped my arms around him. He handed me the flowers that were now squished
because of his dramatic hello and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thank you, you look handsome and hot.”
I said and checked him out. He was wearing a black on black Armani casual suit.
He looked beyond hot.  If he was a celebrity, I’d be totally fangirling at
that moment.

“Want to come in while I put the flowers
away?” I asked looking at the squished roses and laughing. He nodded and came
in with me, the butterflies increased by the minute. “They smell so good.” I
smelled it as I put them in a vase.

“Want anything before we go?” I asked
and he shook his head. I noticed he had been quiet this whole time.

“Why are you so quiet?” I asked while he
put his hand on the small of my back and led me out the door.

“I’m just nervous. It’s been a while.”

“It’s just me…” I smiled. I noticed we
were heading up the stairs. I gave him a curious look but he only smiled.

“You’ll see…”

We made it to the rooftop door. He took
a deep breath and my butterflies were now piranhas. I still don’t know what I’m
so nervous about. Or him. His nervousness is only adding onto mine.

He opened the door and the scene was
spectacular. There were white Christmas lights hanging from the trees and
wrapped around their stumps reminding me of the trees in Paris. There was a
small white table in front of a bench,
the
bench that we got back
together on.

“Whoa… it looks so beautiful! Did you do
this?”

There were candles and roses on the
table that he led me to. The table had soup already, it looked like miso soup. There
were no chairs so we both sat on the bench and cuddled as we ate. James lifted
the silver lid of the food and I smiled at the takeout box from Lotus Dragon in
it.

“Lotus Dragon?” I asked.

“It’s where we met…” he smiled.

James’s phone rang and he hesitated, “I
told Chris to call only if it was an emergency.”

“Go ahead.”  I smiled and looked down at
my now clammy hands.

“I told you to call only if there was an
emergency.” He mumbled. “Only call if there is an emergency Chris!” he mumbled
and I heard Chris yell a ‘good luck’ before he hung up.

“Idiot.” James mumbled.  “Sorry
about that.” He opened the boxes and set up our plates. It was the same order
from that day. I knew that because it’s the same thing I always order from Lotus
Dragon but I’ve only been there once with him.

“I remembered your order… monster brain
has good memory.” He laughed nervously.

I elbowed his side, “If you’re going to
keep referring to yourself like that, at least make it vampire. Sounds
less…mean.”

“Sorry…vampire brain.” He laughed.

We fed each other each bite of sushi and
had small chat since we were both unbelievably nervous. And as we took our last
bite, I felt even worse.

“I don’t know why I feel so nervous…”I
said and laughed timidly.

He eyed me curiously, “You feel
nervous?”

“Yeah like I’ve been having butterflies
like crazy… I sometimes have them when I’m with you but it’s like constant
today and it keeps getting worse.” As I said that it stopped and James smiled.
“It stopped.”

“I know because I don’t feel nervous
anymore.”

“What?” I eyed him.

“I think you’re starting to feel what I
feel too…” he said shyly and looked out to the city lights.

“How is that possible?”

“You’re blood is in my veins baby. We’re
like one.”

I smiled at the thought, “So you’re
nervous?”

“Yeah…”

“Why?” I asked.

“Um… let’s have dessert first.” He took
another silver tin and opened it revealing some fruits. Starting to get the
nervous feeling again I decided to help him stop being so nervous. I took the
grapes and started to feed him. After feeding each other fruits he stood up and
the piranhas were back.

He grabbed his phone again and texted
someone or checked something. Before I had a chance to ask him what he was
doing he held his hand out to me indicating that I stand up.

I stood up and looked at him hesitantly.
He pulled me into his embrace. He threw his phone aside after pressing
something and I realized he was using it as a remote. Suddenly a voice and
music surrounded us. I knew that gorgeous voice anywhere, Michael Buble.  “My
favorite singer.” I said.

“I know.” He smiled making my heart
clench from happiness. It was the same song we danced to at the 12AM show we
went to.

Who was I kidding? I was totally having
a fan girl moment in my head. He held me close as his arms were around my waist
and mine around his neck. We swayed with the music as I rested my head below
his shoulder thanks to my height. As the song ended and volume lowered as a
piano song came on. He pulled back to face me and the nervousness ignited again.

He took a deep breath and got on one
knee. He reached into an inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a dark red
box. I knew that box anywhere, Cartier.

He took another deep breath as he opened
the box revealing a gorgeous diamond ring and said, “You have been my rock
throughout this mess… my heaven through this hell. My heart belongs to no one
but you and it can’t beat without you. I can't think of anything else that
would make me happier than to live with you forever as your husband and you as my
wife. I know I’m not perfect, but I promise to make that up to you. Will you…
officially
marry me?”

I felt my eyes fill with tears and the
sight of him get blurry before the tears dropped along with me as I fell on my
knees. I wrapped my arms around him tightly and finally l managed to say,
“Yes!”

I pulled back to look at him and cupped
his surprised face before kissing him repeatedly. He laughed and pulled away
from me. He cleared his throat and smiled as he took my hand and slipped on the
ring.

I squealed, “It’s gorgeous! Thank you.”

Before I knew it he pulled me up and
carried me bridal style, “Hope you know there’s no escaping me now.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck,
“Right back at you baby.” I smiled as he leaned in and kissed me sweetly.

Our lips locked on our way into the apartment we
tumbled into my room. I couldn’t believe it. We were officially engaged. He let
go of whatever fear was holding himself away from me as he slowly unzipped the
back of my dress letting it slide down to my hips.

I pulled his jacket off and with shaky
fingers tried to unbutton his shirt. He unwillingly pulled away so he could
help me by ripping the buttons off his shirt and throwing it aside.

“James your shirt!”

“If I stop now, I will probably talk
myself out of it.” He said cupping my face and pressing his lips against mine
to keep me from saying anything. My hands touched his shoulders slipping lower
to the abs and the V I loved so much. Finding the buttons of his pants I undid
them but didn’t pull them down.

He lifted me and set me on the bed, “Are
you sure
you
want to do this?” he asked.

I nodded, “Yes.”

Before we knew it my dress was thrown
aside and so was his clothes. I tried to kick my shoes off but couldn’t. He
pulled away and looked at my body causing me to cover with my hands the best I
could. I tried crossing my legs too but he was already in the way of them. He
leaned forward and grabbed my arms, “Don’t cover. You’re so beautiful.”

I felt heat rush through my body knowing
he was watching me and thinking that I was beautiful. He bent my leg caressing
every inch his fingers grazed and he slipped off my shoes of each foot. He slid
himself up starting to kiss every inch from my hip up giving me goose bumps. The
feel of his skin against mine was indescribable.

Once he reached my face he stopped and
looked at me in my eyes, “If… if I lose control. I… I want you to do anything
you can to get away from me.”

“I trust you James.”

“I don’t.” he said unplugging the small
lamp I had on my nightstand, “Hit me with this if I bite you.”

“James---”

“Just promise me you will.” He cut me
off.

Hesitating I glared at him, “I promise.”
I lied.

Taking my word for it he continued where
we left off. His lips taking mine, mine taking his. Limbs tangled with each
other. Hands exploring every inch of each other’s body as if it was the last
time we could ever do this. “Are you sure you want to?”

I smiled nervously, “More than
anything.”

He was just as nervous as me, but for
totally different reasons. I tried to comfort him as much as I could since I
was shivering myself. The warmth of his body against mine was somewhat helping
but I was just as scared as he was.

I pulled away from him and gasped from
being touched so intimately. He looked back into my eyes and I smiled
reassuringly that I was okay. I closed my eyes from the pain when he looked
away waiting for it to get worse as I gripped onto his back and shoulders
tightly digging my nails into his skin. He was holding me tightly and he had
his face buried in my neck.

I don’t know why I felt that something
was wrong. And then I realized what it was.  I was a virgin. There is blood…

“James…are you okay?” I asked nervously.

He was breathing hard as he forced
himself away from my neck to face me, “I should be asking you. Are you okay
baby?”

I swallowed, “Yes…” In pain, but I’ll
survive that.

He was trying to act normal. I cupped
his face and brought kissed him hoping to get his mind off the blood and onto
us. It helped as we both started getting lost in our lips and our touches. We
just ignored everything else.

My
entire body felt like jelly as I molded into his. We made love. We belonged to
each other in every single way possible and no stupid curse was going to hold
us back from each other. He pulled away from me and kissed the tip of my nose,
“Are you okay?”

I
smiled, he sounded like the James I knew and loved, “Yeah.”

“I
love you Karina,” He said smoothly and I felt myself relax in his arms. I
wasn’t shivering anymore and the fear from earlier was gone. He buried his face
in the crook of my neck trailing kisses and gently nipping my sensitive skin,
“You smell so good.”

I giggled and ran my fingers through his
hair lifting him back up so I could look at him. His hungry lips met with mine
as we both moaned into each other. His hand was massaging my hips and slowly
moving up my waist. I was practically cutting into my lip with my teeth at the
anticipation of what he was going to do.

He ran his tongue on my bottom lip
forcing me to stop biting it as I whimpered against his lips.

“If I can’t bite you, you can’t either.”

I giggled, “I never stopped you.”

He smiled and pulled me into his arms
our legs still tangled with each other. “Are you okay?” I asked feeling the
tenseness of his muscles.

“More than okay.” He said his voice a
deep whisper.

I looked up at him and smiled before
pushing myself up so that I could rest my head on his shoulder. I felt him
twist the ring on my finger as I cuddled into his side. I yawned as sleep
started taking over my tired body. “You should go to sleep…”

“I thought you wanted to stay at your
parents…”

“David will watch over them tonight. I
want us to be alone tonight…” he said his fingers instinctively drawing doodles
on my hip.

I nodded, “Goodnight James…”

He wrapped his arms around my waist and
kissed the top of my head, “Goodnight beautiful.”

 “What’s wrong?” I asked moments later feeling
that he was still tense. He looked surprised that I was awake still and I
smirked, “Yeah not so fun is it when I can tell how you feel is it?” I laughed.

He shook his head, “It’s okay. I was
just thinking… what will your parents think about our engagement?”

“What do you mean? They loved you when
they met you. You heard yourself.” I smiled.

“When I met them…I was…” He said
pointing to his teeth, “Or even worse.” He said pointing to his eyes.

“I could explain it to them before
meeting with them again.”

He looked at me wide eyed, “No…no way.
They’ll never let you see me again.” He said and held me tightly.

I sighed, “James… I’m old enough to make
my own decisions.”

“You’re only twenty-four, that’s too
soon for marriage.”

I rolled my eyes, “James… They liked you
before, they’ll like you now. You’re the same man…just different teeth. I’m
marrying you for us not for anyone else’s approval. I want the whole world to
know we’re getting married, but I don’t care what they think. I just want them
to know.” I smiled.

“How did I get so lucky?” he said
kissing the top of my head.

We cuddled some more. I couldn’t sleep.
Neither could he. I stared at him as he stared at me. We both laughed at each
other for being so ridiculously lovey dovey.

“What is it?” he asked brushing my
fringe away from my eyes.

“Um… if I ask you something promise not
to get mad or offended?” I hesitated.

He looked worried, “What is it?”

“Um…” I looked at his mouth and back at
his eyes, “Could I… touch them?”

“Touch what?” He asked confused. I
opened my mouth and pointed to my not so sharp canine teeth.

“Why?” 

I shrugged, “Curious…” I rested my head
on his shoulder again, regretting asking him. “Never mind, it was stupid to
ask.” I giggled nervously.

“Sure you can.”

I looked at him in surprise, “Are you
sure?”

He nodded and opened his mouth. My heart
started beating fast from the excitement and I worried he would think I was
scared. I lifted my finger to one of them and pocked the sharpness.

“How do you not bite your tongue?” I
asked as I pulled her hand away and wrapped my arms around his neck,
purposefully staying extra close so he’d know I wasn’t freaked out. If anything
I was just curious. I wondered what it would feel like.

“I’m used to them. The first time the teeth
showed up were when I was thirteen. I used to bite my tongue all the time
then…but I got used to them.” he said laughing at his clumsy teeth memory.

I nodded, “Oh.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with it?” He
asked.

I smiled, “More than you know. Really.”

He looked at me curiously, “What do you
mean?”

“I was actually wondering…what it would
feel like. You know... if you were to…”

“I wouldn’t do it ever… don’t even think
about it.” He said quickly and tensed up again, “When Collin did…I felt so
angry.” He said touching the place on my neck that Collin bit. Thankfully it
didn’t leave a scar and healed quickly.

“You’re different.” I mumbled and rested
my head on his shoulder again. My eyes started getting heavy again.

“We should probably look for a house…”
he whispered.

I smiled and nodded shyly. “Okay.”

A yawn escaped me before I could stop
it. “I’m getting sleepy…”

“Me too.” he admitted.

“Good night for sure this time.” I
smiled and rested my head on his shoulder.

*
*
*

The next morning I woke up with James
holding me tightly again. He suffocates me while we sleep, not that I was
complaining or anything. It’s kind of cute waking up to a hug. I glanced at the
clock and it is well past ten. Which was horribly late since I was used to
waking up early for work. But since it was a Sunday, I decided to just lay
still and let him sleep a little more.

I looked down at his face since he had
his head buried in my neck and smiled at his peaceful expression. His mouth was
slightly open showcasing his sharp teeth and lips. His facial hair was tickling
my oversensitive skin and I tried to ignore the embarrassment from being
wrapped in his arms…
naked
.

He furrowed his brows with his eyes closed
as he groaned then smiled again, “Good morning beautiful.” He mumbled slowly
opening an eye to look at me. His morning voice deeper than his usual voice but
sexy like always.

“Good morning,” I smiled as he shut his
eyes again. He must be exhausted. My cell phone soon started to ring and I
looked over at the night stand to see that it was my mom. I stretched to grab
it but not knock James out of my arms, “Hello.” I answered.

“Hi darling, I called your house and you
didn’t pick up. That’s why I’m calling your cell. How are you? Are you busy?” I
could tell by the background noise that she was cooking or baking something.

James looked up at me worried as I
talked. He must have heard my mom’s voice and is worried as to what she’ll say.
I want to tell her so bad about the engagement but…they’d want to see us again.
Anyone
I tell will want to see us together again.

“No I’m not busy. James was over and we
went to the rooftop. I must have not heard.” I semi lied. We went to the
rooftop last night. I stretched away and sat against the headboard feeling
weird talking on the phone with my mom while I was naked in my James’s arms. Fiancé
or not. I pulled the blanket with me to cover up making James glare. I stuck my
tongue out at him playfully.

“Oh that’s nice, how is he?”

“Great. He’s good.” I said as I ran my
fingers through his hair.

James was deep in thought before he
stood. I closed my eyes as if I wasn’t supposed to see anything making him
laugh. I fluttered them open and he was watching me with a mischievous grin
before grabbing some pants.  I watched him as he walked out of my room, the
view of his tattoos on his perfectly toned back with signs of scratches from
me. I felt my face heat up at the thought and brought my attention back to my
mom as she went on about a recipe she found on TV that she’s trying out today.

Think of the chicken sandwich to get my
mind off of last night.

He walked into the room again and I
mouthed, “Can I tell her?”

He looked worried but he nodded. James
sat against the headboard next to me too.  I scooted close to him.

“…. It was really good but you know how
your father is. Even if it’s the best he’ll find something to complain about.”
She said laughing.

I smiled because it was so true.

“Is there something you want to tell me sweetie?”
my mom asked knowingly. Moms always know

Yes but I can’t tell you all of it.
I thought.

“Yeah mom, actually…” I said starting to
feel like a little kid asking for permission to go to a field trip, “Um…James
proposed to me last night.”

My mom was quiet for a moment, “Don’t
you think it’s too soon? You’re only twenty-four…”

James tensed, “No. I’ve been dating him
for over half a year… he treats me well. We’re going to be engaged for a while
anyway…”

“I don’t know…” she thought out loud.

“I could date someone for years but that
wouldn’t mean it was right. I knew I wanted to be with James right away.” I
said honestly making him smile.