58.

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

"Hello there, pretty lady. You look as delicious as ever." Vinnie winked at me and looked me up and down slowly.

"Umm, thank you?" I took a step back.

"I hope my wife looks as good as you when she is your age." Vinnie blew me a kiss.

"I'm sorry," Jake said dramatically, holding his chest. "I must be losing my mind because I thought you said.." he started laughing hysterically. "I thought you said your wife?" He threw his head back and cackled like a lunatic. "This guy and a wife." He pointed at Vinnie, still laughing.

"I did say, wife." Vinnie protested.

"Stop it, man. My side hurts." Jake held onto his side, wiping tears from his eyes as he continued to laugh. "That was a good one." He held onto my shoulder and smiled at me. "Wife." He scoffed.

"I don't think he's joking," I said, looking at Vinnie's serious face.

"I'm not. I have a wife." He looked straight at Jake. "I grew up and got married."

"The fuck you did!" Jake laughed. "There is no way a girl married you. Wait, what did you marry Vinnie, you sicko?" Jake made a face at him. "You might want to move back, Eb. You could catch something from this guy."

"Please," Vinnie said, crossing his arms over his chest. "If she is going to catch anything, it will be from you. Remember that night at the cemetery?"

"That was pretty awesome." Jake looked at me. "I have no idea what he is talking about."

"I am married, and she is human," Vinnie said proudly.

"That doesn't mean anything. I've met some very questionable humans in my time." Jake shook his head.

"Why am I not shocked by this?" I smiled at Jake.

"Because you are one of them." He said right in my face.

"Baby, come over here for a minute," Vinnie called to a tall, curved, brunette girl who looked like she had just walked off an MTV set. "Guys, this is Hayley. Hayley, this..."

"Jake, hey. It's been a while." Hayley smiled innocently at a now nervous-looking Jake. "You look great." She blushed at Jake, who looked absolutely horrified.

"Oh no." Jake didn't know where to look. "Oh no." He whispered at me.

"You two know each other?" Vinnie said, looking between them.

"Yeah, we used to.."

"Nope, never seen this girl before in my life." Jake shook his head. "Never." He said, looking at Hayley and shaking his head.

"Oh, yeah. We never used to sleep together." Hayley said, winking at Jake.

"You are not helping," Jake said under his breath to her, clearing his throat.

"Seriously, did you two use to date?" Vinnie asked, looking even more awkward.

"Date? No, we never went on a single date. Did we, Jake?" Hayley said, raising her eyebrow at Jake. "That I definitely remember."

"See, I told you," Jake said, nodding his head. "Never been out with her."

Vinnie looked between the two of them and smiled. "Yeah, well, it doesn't matter because she told me I was the best she ever had." He said proudly, kissing her cheek.

Jake burst out laughing hysterically and almost fell backward. "Yeah, right. Dude, she is lying because there is no way you even compare to..." he stopped laughing as he saw the frown on Vinnie's face. "I mean, yeah, sure. Why not. It's not like I've ever given her the best time of her life...twice, if I recall. You do you, man." Jake patted a disturbed-looking Vinnie on the back. "Best she ever had? What a fucking joke." Jake walked away laughing to himself.

"Hi, I'm Ebony Morgan." I held my hand out to Hayley.

"Ebony, it's such an honor to meet you." She shook my hand vigorously. "You are my idol."

"I am?"

"Are you kidding? Everyone in the resistance idolizes you and your husband. Your sacrifices and loyalty to our people and the vampires are inspiring. I mean, you married Carter Morgan. Talk about husband goals." She was talking so fast that I had trouble hearing her words.

"It's wonderful to meet you too. Thank you. So, tell me, how did you two meet?"

"Well, it's ironic, really, but I was Vinnie's assistant as Midnight Industry." She looked up at Vinnie like he was a god. "Love at first sight, right, honey?"

"That's right, baby." He kissed her and smiled at me. "We are just like you."

"Just like who?" Carter said, standing next to me.

"Carter, this is Hayley."

"Nice to meet you, Hayley." Carter shook the hand of a shocked-looking Hayley. "How do you know Vinnie here?"

"I'm his wife." She smiled up at an amused-looking Carter.

"No." Carter laughed. "Seriously, how do you know Vinnie?"

"She's my wife," Vinnie said sternly.

Carter looked at me like he was waiting for the punch line. "This is Hayley, Vinnie's wife. They met at Midnight Industries, just like we did. She was his assistant." I nodded at Carter as he processed my words.

"I need a fucking assistant," Jake said, walking past us.

"You met at Midnight Industry, and now she is your wife? That's...That's just great, isn't it." Carter put on a smile. "Well, congratulations."

"Thanks, Boss. She's been really excited to meet you." Vinnie looked relieved.

"You are so perfect." Hayley cooed adoringly up at Carter. "I'm such a fan of yours." She could not take her big brown eyes off my husband. "Wow." She was almost shaking.

"Fan?" Carter looked confused.

"Oh, I forget you don't know. You have a huge fan club of humans and creatures who all just adore you and your big muscular body." She reached out to touch him but stopped herself. "We chat online and share...stories about you."

"She's your number fan, boss," Vinnie said, kissing her hand. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes, well." Carter cleared his throat and looked at me nervously. "I love you, baby." He smiled softly, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah," I rolled my eyes at him. "Well, it was lovely to meet you, Hayley."

"The pleasure was all mine." She said to Carter, holding out her hand and almost drooling.

"Congratulations again." Carter shook her hand and took a step away. "Must go. Busy and all that." He waved as he walked over to Henry.

"He's magnificent, isn't he?" Hayley smiled, still watching Carter.

My eyes slowly returned to Vinnie, who was just lost in his wife.

"I should probably go and do something useful. It was nice to meet you, Hayley."

"Yeah, sure." She waved me off, still watching Carter.

"Ebony, there you are. Here you can have this." Callan handed me Cayden. "I have this girl over there who is totally into me, and this guy is in the way." Callan fixed his dark hair and cracked his neck by turning it quickly to both sides. "Ok, let's get this." He clapped his hands together and walked away, still talking to himself.

I looked down at my son, who was staring at me with his beautiful aqua eyes. "I guess it's just you and me, kiddo." I kissed his cheek as he babbled loudly and smiled. "You're so handsome. Yes, you are. Just like your daddy." I blew on his cheek as he laughed loudly.

"Looks like you two are doing well," Leon said, making a face a Cayden, who instantly reached for him with a big smile on his face.

"I have never been happier." I smiled as Cayden reached for my face. "I still can't believe he's mine." I kissed the top of his head. "How are you?"

"Honestly, Kid. I'm tired. I'm just an old vampire who needs a break." Leon stretched his arms over his hand and yawned. "I just want to experience life without all this." He pointed his finger at everyone rushing around and talking. "Other than that, I'm doing alright. I met up with an old friend the other night." He looked pleased with his words.

"Who?"

"Oh, just a crossroads demon I met a while ago." He smiled to himself and looked away. "Damn. Anyway, that's another story for another time. How are you doing? Are you feeling alright?" His dark eyes returned to me.

"I think so. I mean, I'm still catching up on everything I've missed, but I feel fine."

"How's the creature treating you in there? Are you feeling a little crowded?"

"Sometimes. I know she misses all of you."

"You will get used to it all. I mean, without her, you wouldn't have Cayden here." He pretended to eat Cayden's arm.

"I know, and that feels even stranger."

"Why? Because she slept with Carter?" He looked at me. "You know that's ok, right? I mean, you were created together. Ebony, are you worried about Carter and the creature?"

"No." I was.

"Oh, sweetheart, you have nothing to worry about. Carter never touched her while you were gone. You have to understand how hard that was for him. Seeing you walk around the house but knowing it wasn't you. I have to give him credit here."

"I know. He explained everything to me, but I can feel how close they were at one point. I can feel her when Carter is around, especially when he...touches me." I pressed my lips together, embarrassed at my words.

"I see." Leon nodded, lifting his eyebrows. "And when you say you can feel her, what do you mean?"

"I mean, she likes it and sometimes tries to...take over? I don't know, but I feel different when he touches me. I worry that Carter will want her eventually and not me. I mean, from what I hear, she was capable of amazing things with her body."

"Ebony, I'm going to stop you right there. I have seen my brother with many women over the years.."

"How is this helping?'

"Let me finish. I have seen him with many women in many different situations and many uncomfortable...Well, that part we will leave out, but my point is that no one, and I mean no one, has ever made Carter feel the way you do. He had every opportunity to be with the creature, and I'm sure at some point he was close, but he never did, and you know why? Well, I'll tell you. It was because he was in love with a human soul. Not her body but her soul. He was willing to tear every world apart to the love of his life, you. The creature may have created your son, but you are his mom. You are the reason he is good and kind. You are their whole world. You have nothing to worry about."

"Why are you so wonderful?" I rested my head on Leon's muscular arm.

"Just lucky, I guess." He smiled as he tickled Cayden. "You will figure it out between you. You need to learn to work together again, and that is going to take time."

"I can feel her smiling." I looked up at him. "She really does love you."

"Do me a favor, and don't tell my brother that." he laughed.

"Thank you for not judging me."

"Hey, if you can forgive me for everything, the least I can do is be there for you."

"So, tell me about this crossroads demon." I grinned at him.

"Yeah, about that. Do me a solid and not mention her to your husband."

"What? Why?"

"Just trust me on this one." He winked.

"Now you have to tell me,"

"Tell you what?" Jake said, standing behind me as Cayden reached out for him.

"Leon here is seeing a girl," I said proudly.

"You dog." Jake took a giggling Cayden out of my arms. "Who is she?"

"It doesn't matter." Leon shook his head.

"Come on. We won't tell Carter." I laughed at his awkwardness.

"Tell me," Jake whined, making silly faces at Cayden.

"Fine, it's Penelope, the crossroad demon but do not tell anyone." Leon gave Jake a stern look.

Jake's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as he stared at Leon, speechless. "Holy fucking shit! You are the man!" Jake said, almost jumping off the ground. "You went back?" He pressed Cayden's head against his chest and covered his ear with his hand. "Of course, you went back. She was woo! I can't! Tell me everything, you machine."

"Jake, not a damn word. You understand me." Leon said right in his face.

"Ok, ok. Not in front of the baby. I get it." Jake lifted Cayden to his face. "We need to save all those stories, for he's older, isn't that right, big C." Cayden giggled and cooed at Jake. "That's right, one day you will need your uncle Jake, and I'll teach you everything I know."

"No, you won't," I said, looking disgusted.

"Yes, I will. Yeah," Jake ignored me and continued to talk to Cayden.

"You should really keep the boy away from him," Leon said, almost laughing.

"I know, but they are so cute together. I mean, look at them." I pouted at Jake blowing raspberries on Cayden's little belly. "I can't keep them apart."

"You see that girl over there, big C? Uncle Jake met her at a magical place called...."

"Jake." I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

"Look at that blonde, big C. She looks like I have never met her. Eb, I'm taking your child to chat up a girl. Uncle Jacob is always a hit with ladies with a baby on his hip. Isn't he? Yes, he is." Jake walked away with a giggling, happy Cayden in his arms.

"That boy is trouble, but god, he's amusing." Leon laughed. "Cayden adores him."

I smiled as I watched Jake and Cayden talking to a pretty blonde girl. "Cayden is lucky to have two uncles who love him." I could hear my son laughing loudly as Jake played peek-a-boo with him. "Thank you for loving him." I looked at Leon, who just smiled at me.

"As I said before, he's a good kid, just like his mom." Leon bowed his head to me.

"We have news that the vampire council is on the move. The resistance is ready to follow and report back." Carter said, putting his arm around me. "Do you feel up to this?" He kissed the side of my head.

I nodded. "I feel great. Let's kill those sons of bitches."

"Fuck, I love you," Carter said proudly, taking me in his arms and kissing me deeply.


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net