Authors: Ciana Stone
"Thank you." Augustus offered a smile. "I am honored by your trust and will strive never to damage it."
"Good night guys." Ellie looked at her family. "Breakfast in the morning?"
"Homemade biscuits?" Clint asked.
"For you, sure."
"I'm in. See you all in the morning."
After everyone left, Ellie turned her attention to Layla. "Layla you know where everything is so make yourself at home and I hope you get some rest."
"Thank you so much." Layla got up as Cam pulled Ellie to her feet. She embraced her friend. "I'm so sorry to have brought trouble to your home, Ellie."
"It wasn't your fault and I'm so happy to see you. I've missed you."
"I've missed you."
Ellie gave her a final squeeze and smiled at Augustus. "See you both in the morning."
"Sleep well." Augustus said.
"Night all." Cam put his arm around Ellie and escorted her inside.
There was a long silence on the patio. Layla was aware of Augustus watching her and she had no doubt that he sensed something was bothering her. She had been trying to keep her mental barriers up to keep him out of her head but wasn’t sure how successful she'd been.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He draped one arm around her where they sat on the wicker loveseat, his fingers brushing at the top of her shoulder.
She shook her head. "I don't even know how to start."
"Layla, look at me."
For a moment she resisted, fearing he would see her uncertainty and fear in her eyes. Finally, she turned her head to look at him.
"You are not simply another in a long succession of loves for me."
Heat flooded her face and she was grateful for the dim light. She was embarrassed by her own feelings. No, that wasn't true. What was embarrassing was that he knew.
"It is nothing to be embarrassed about. Were I in your place I might feel the same. But it is important for you to know that while you might not be the only love I've had in my life, you will be the last."
"That's sweet to say but we both know it's a lie. I'll get old and die and you … you'll forget all about me."
"No. I could never forget you."
"But you will go on without me."
"That is entirely up to you."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, sweetheart. You can stay as you are and grow old and I will love you. Or you can –"
"Don't – I – that scares me, August. More than getting old and you getting tired of me. What if I became like you and then you grew tired of me? I'd live forever without you? No."
"You have so little faith in our love?"
"I—I don't know. I want to believe but—but my track record doesn't lend itself to promises being kept and …and I don't know that I can get over you, August. You're inside me. Do you understand?"
"All too well."
"Then where does that leave us?"
"Where most people, human or not, find themselves when contemplating committing to one another. We both take a leap of faith and hopefully reap the rewards, or we let fear stay us and we never know if we could have been one of the lucky."
It slammed into her like a truck. What had happened to her that she'd lost her sense of optimism, her ability to hope and dream? No one was guaranteed happiness, human or not. It did require a leap of faith. And love.
"I've got to tell you that sometimes it's downright annoying how you're right most of the time."
"Most of the time?" His brow rose and an exaggerated tone of superciliousness came into his voice.
"Yeah, most of the time."
"Now being one of those times?"
"Most definitely."
"Does that mean the wedding is on?"
It must have been her night for epiphanies because she was all at once one-hundred percent certain of what she wanted.
"It is. But not the wedding your mother has planned."
"Then what?"
"A small wedding. Here. If Ellie will still agree. With her family, you and me and whoever is important to you."
"Gabriel. And Connor."
"Yes."
"Your publicist?"
"Most definitely not."
"Thank the stars."
"You don't like her much, do you?"
"Honestly, no. Nevertheless, if she is important to you I can tolerate her. I can put up with almost anything, if it makes you happy."
"I'll be happy if Ellie and Cam say yes. Then we can go back to Texas and start our lives. You'll do all the things you do and I'll write and maybe learn to ride and …"
"And what about your publicity and promotions?"
"I don't care about that. If my publisher wants to drop me, I can self-publish. And if people want to read my books then that's great. But I don't need – no I don't want all that attention."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Look at Ellie. She's an amazing artist. Seriously, she could compete with any of the New York designers and she's happy as a clam living here on a ranch. That's what I want. I real life, with you."
"It's what I want as well."
"Then we ask Ellie in the morning?"
"Most definitely."
"And your mother? She's be furious."
August took several seconds before answering. "I believe we can pacify her if we agree to turn her wedding into a reception."
Layla groaned. "You know there'll be a thousand people there and cameras snapping and filming away at our every move."
"Yes, but we do not have to stay for the entire affair. We stay through dinner and toasts and then we leave."
"She won't be happy."
"She will get over it."
"You don't really believe that do you?"
"No, but it doesn't matter."
"Doesn't it?"
"No, it doesn’t."
"I love you, Augustus Octavius Thurinus."
Augustus slid off the loveseat to kneel in front of her. "And I love you, Layla Ann Summerfield. So here I am again, on my knees, begging … marry me, be my love."
"Yes."
He leaned close, his breath brushing her face before their lips met. Then all thought fled. There was only the two of them, in this moment. And that was all that mattered.
Coming Soon
Untitled
Book Two of The Seven Series
Gabriel is an Angel. One with a sense of humor and one who has not found lasting love. Maybe whatever Force governed the Universe had decided he'd been given enough blessings.
Most of the time it didn't bother him. Seeing his oldest friend, the Vampire Augustus find love had turned Gabriel's thoughts to things of that nature. Maybe he was even a little envious.
When he agrees to attend the reception Augustus' mother, Asha is holding to celebrate Augustus' marriage to romance writer, and human, Layla Summerfield, he had no idea it was going to be a televised event.
He had to agree to a certain wardrobe, having a stylist for his hair and of all the crazy things, a make-up artist. If not for his love for Augustus and his perky and good-natured beloved, Gabriel would have said no.
Nevaeh Rockwell, or Nev to her friends, never imagined she'd be offered a job at what was sure to be
the
media event of the year. Someone from her past that she'd kept in occasional contact with, Ellie Marsh, was the maid of honor at the wedding of none other than Layla Summerfield, the overnight romance sensation and the Prince of Vampires, Augustus Thurinus.
She'd recommended Nev to Layla, who had insisted that Nev be given the job.
What a boon this would be to Nev's career. At present, she was scrambling, working for local theater companies as an assistant make-up artist, doing jobs for independent film companies, and tending bar at a beachside bar in Daytona Beach.
This might just boost her career and even if it didn't how many people got to attend
the
event of the year?
What she didn't expect was to be assigned as the makeup artist for an honest to goodness Angel. And what an Angel he was. Gabriel was heart stopping gorgeous. The trouble was, as she'd been warned, was that his touch inspired bliss.
Bliss? That's not what she felt when he touched her. No indeed, it was extreme and intense but definitely was not bliss.
Gabriel had never met a woman that didn't melt into a state of bliss at his touch. Nor had he met one that sent her feelings ricocheting back to him. Feelings strong enough to ruffle his feathers.
This just might be interesting after all.
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Books by Ciana Stone
Hot in the Saddle
– a Four Book Box Set
The Whisperers: Simply Irresistible – A Three Book Box Set
Holdin’ On for a Hero: A three book set
Tales of Betrayal, passion, danger and love
Hunger: The V’Kar Series – A three book set
On My Knees