Derek 01, p.26
Derek 01, page 26
Derek sank his fangs into her. They were naked in a field of wild flowers. The air was cool, their bodies entwined, covered in perspiration. He held her in his arms as his lips covered hers, then he laid her on the blanket of flowers as his lips traveled down her body to her core.
Emily’s thighs tightened around him as her orgasm took hold. Derek continued feeding on her, continued showing her the flower covered field where he was pleasuring her. Her second orgasm took hold as she sank her fangs into his neck. Derek held her as they levitated up and out over the ocean. Emily withdrew her fangs from his neck and moaned his name then she bit again, sending him into a quaking orgasm. Slowly they drifted back to the gazebo. Derek pulled her face to his kissing her, holding her in his arms until they regained composure.
As they rearranged their clothes Derek smiled at her. “We are so good together.”
Emily kissed him hungrily. “We’re exceptional together.”
He returned her kiss and pulled her onto his lap. “Em, if this continues we’ll be going at it again and we have to get back before sun-up.” He whispered then ran his tongue along her ear.
Emily’s lips found his. “You’re right.” She whispered and kissed him again as she stood up.
Derek smiled up at her. “Where are we going to find something for Nicholas at four-thirty in the morning?”
Emily thought for a minute. “There’s got to be a 24 hour something or other around here.” They took to the air and looked for a store that was open. Finally they came across a 24 hour pharmacy. They walked into the store hand-in-hand and went right to the toy aisle. Derek picked up a fire truck and Emily picked up a teddy bear. “Which one?” Emily asked.
Derek smiled, “Both. Do you want anything else while we’re here?” Emily looked around and shook her head no. They paid for the toys and went home arriving just before sunrise.
***
The next evening Derek, Emily and Nicholas went for a walk around Bar Harbor. They walked to her store and saw it was thriving. Emily opened the door and heard the familiar bell.
Beth looked up. “I can’t believe my eyes, is it really you?” she asked.
Emily walked quickly around the counter and hugged her. “I’ve missed you… You remember Derek, don’t you?”
Beth nodded “I’ve missed you, too. Yes, I remember Derek.” She smiled at Derek. “You’ve taken good care of our Emily”
Derek smiled warmly. “And she’s taken good care of me.”
Emily took Beth’s hand. “Come here, I have someone else I’d like you to meet.” Beth followed Emily around the counter. “Beth, this is our son, Nicholas.”
Beth squatted down. “Well hello, Nicholas. You look just like your daddy.” Nicholas backed up grabbing Derek’s legs.
Derek chuckled. “Sorry, Beth, he’s a little shy.” Derek bent down picking him up.
Emily hugged Beth again. “Is Joe on the boat?”
Beth nodded. “He should be getting back right about now from a whale trip.”
Emily, still holding Beth’s hand, asked, “We’d like to have you, Joe and Jenny come out to the house one evening soon.”
Beth grinned. “That sounds nice. When would you like us to come?”
Emily looked at Derek. He smiled “Saturday night if that would be good?”
Beth returned his smile “That would be perfect.”
Emily glanced around the store. “You’ve done a wonderful job with the shop. It looks great.” She paused then asked “Can you get a hold of Jen or give me her number?”
Beth walked to the counter and pulled a business card from the side of the register. “Here you go,” she said handing Emily the card. “Jen is a special ed teacher. She teaches children that have illnesses and can’t go to school.”
Emily looked at Derek her eyes twinkling. “We may need her help. Nicholas can’t go in the sunlight. He’s extremely photo sensitive and we’ve been told he can’t be out during daylight hours.”
Beth frowned. “That’s a shame, but I’m sure Jen can help you when he’s old enough. How old is he?”
Derek looked at Nicholas. “Tell Beth how old you are,” he said gently.
Nicholas put his face to Derek’s shoulder and held up three little fingers and mumbled, “I’m free.”
Beth smiled “You’re a big boy, aren’t you?” Nicholas looked at her, gave her a quick smile and hid his face against Derek’s shoulder again.
Emily tickled him gently. “Ok, shy boy, we’ll go for a walk so you can see the boats.”
Nicholas lifted his head looking at Emily. “Boats?” he said excitedly.
Derek tickled him. “Yes son, boats. Are you ready?”
Nicholas hugged Derek’s neck. “Take me boats!”
Beth laughed. “Go take him to see Joe and we’ll see you Saturday. What time?”
Emily thought for a second. “Around eight?”
Beth hugged her. “Eight would be fine. See you then.”
They walked along the pier to Joe’s boat. Emily spotted him near the back of the boat. “Hello, stranger,” she called.
Joe looked over his shoulder. “Emily?” He stood up and jumped off the boat onto the pier. He ran to her picking her up and spinning her around. “God, I’ve missed you girl.” He said happily. Joe set her down and extended his hand to Derek.
Derek shook his hand. “Good to see you again, Joe,” he said warmly.
Joe’s eyes drifted to the dark haired little boy clinging to Derek’s leg. He looked at Emily who was beaming.
“Joe, meet Nicholas, he’s a bit on the shy side sometimes.” Emily looked at Nicholas. “If you say hi to Grandpa Joe, maybe he’ll let us on his boat.” Nicholas looked at her and then at Joe. He clung to Derek’s leg.
Joe squatted down a few feet from Nicholas. “Wanna go for a boat ride, Nicholas?”
Nicolas looked at him. “Mommy and daddy too?” he asked looking into Joe’s kind face.
Joe smiled, “Yes, Mommy and Daddy, too.”
Nicholas looked up at Derek and then back at Joe, “Let’s go boat!” he said excitedly.
Joe looked at Emily “You always did like nighttime whale watching. Come on; let’s take the little man on a boat ride.”
Emily hugged him and whispered, “Thank you, and I hope it’s ok that I called you Grandpa Joe for Nicholas.”
Joe kissed her cheek. “I’m thrilled.” Joe helped Emily onto the boat. Derek picked up Nicholas and climbed aboard.
Emily looked at Derek and said silently, I’m going to help Joe for a few minutes; keep a tight rein on Junior.
Nicolas looked at her. “Mommy who’s Junior?”
Emily looked at Derek raising an eyebrow. “Oh my,” she whispered.
Derek reached for her hand “We’ll talk later.” She nodded her head and started up to the wheelhouse. Silently she said, be a good boy, Nicholas.
Nicholas giggled, “I am a good boy Mommy.”
Emily opened the door to the wheelhouse. “Can I join you for a bit?”
Joe laughed. “Since when do you have to ask that?”
Emily walked to his side. “We had the house fixed up,” she said.
Joe smiled “Em, you Ok, you happy?”
Emily smiled. “I’m extremely happy.”
Joe guided the boat away from the pier. “I know about the house. Your man is really something.”
Emily looked at him. “What do you mean?”
Joe took her hand. “He’s sent money every month to pay the store bills, to pay the mortgage and repair the damages to your house. He’s even paid off the Whale Watcher.”
Emily smiled. “He’s quite generous isn’t he?” Joe nodded. ”Joe, Derek and I are going to be staying in the house he bought and I know you and Beth always liked my house. I’d like to sign it over to you.”
Joe looked at her. “Emily, that’s a mighty big gift.”
With a touch of sadness in her voice she said, “I can’t go back there, Joe”
He nodded. “I understand.” Keeping his eyes on the open sea he said, “Em, go and take Nicholas to the bow; he’ll get to see some whales. We’ll talk later about the house.”
Emily hugged him. “I’ll be back for the return trip.” She ran down the stairs to Derek and Nicholas.
“Come with me! There are whales to see up near the front of the boat,” she said taking his hand and reaching for Nicholas. They quickly made their way for the bow and watched the sea. Emily spotted a whale in the distance and pointed. “Nicholas, look over there and you’ll get to see a whale when he jumps out of the water.” They stood scanning the ocean intently. Nicholas fidgeted in Derek’s arms and then squealed delightedly. “Mommy, look!” he said pointing off to the right of the bow. Derek and Emily turned as the whale splashed back into the water.
***
The boat returned to the pier. Emily helped Joe get her tied up for the night and then they went their separate ways. Derek sensed Emily’s happiness. “You’re quite happy tonight, Mrs. Burnes.”
Emily smiled. “I am, Mr. Burnes.”
Nicholas looked at them. “Who’s Burnes?”
Derek looked down at him. “There’s Mommy Burnes, Daddy Burnes and Nicholas Burnes. Burnes is our last name.”
Nicholas pondered for a moment. “What’s your name?” he asked looking at Derek.
Emily giggled. “Daddy is Derek Burnes and Mommy is Emily Burnes.”
Nicholas looked up at Emily. “I thought so,” he said in a matter of fact fashion. They slowly walked towards home along the shoreline.
As they arrived at the house Nicholas saw Merrek and Claire. He took off running. Emily looked at Derek. “I’m hungry. Suppose we have time for a little dinner?”
Derek smiled. “I’m sure we can find someone to suit your hunger.”
Derek looked at Merrek. Would you watch him for a little while? He asked silently. Merrek nodded. Emily and Derek walked quickly out of sight and disappeared.
***
They walked arm and arm down the dark streets of Boston listening. Emily stopped pulling Derek closer to her. “I think Nicholas is becoming. He can hear us.”
Derek smiled. “I think you’re right. Now we have to be careful with our communication and we’ll have to tell the others.”
Emily frowned. “What do you mean?”
Derek looked into her blue eyes. “We’ll have to veil our conversations in the same way we shield them from the other sects.”
Emily started to speak but fell silent. She was listening. Her nostrils flared. Derek stood silently watching her. Her nails extended; he could see the tips of her fangs. Silently he said Go, feed.
Emily walked further down the street and into a park. It was very dark; she could hear the heartbeat of her prey. As she approached her senses filled with the sound of blood rushing through veins, the smell of anger and hostility and the need to feed was becoming urgent.
She approached a young fellow standing over the elderly man he had mugged. He leaned over reaching into the man’s pockets pulling out a grand total of fifteen dollars. Then he tried to remove a wedding ring that should have been resized years ago.
Emily tapped him on the shoulder. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’ve beat him up, taken his money, now walk away” she said softly. The kid turned to face Emily. He was about seventeen years old and his eyes were filled with rage and maybe even some madness. She called silently to Derek. Stay close. This one’s not dealing with a full deck.
The kid grabbed Emily. “You just screwed yourself, lady.” he growled.
Emily smiled at him and before he took his next breath she had sank her fangs into his neck and was dragging him far away from the old man.
Derek approached the victim and checked for a pulse. He knelt beside him “Mister, are you alright? It’s ok. I’m calling for help” Derek pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the police. He quickly explained that he and his wife were cutting through the park and came across an elderly man that had been beaten up. As Derek closed the phone, Emily walked up beside him and knelt next to the man. The man’s eyes opened and he moaned.
Emily touched his cheek lightly. “Don’t move. You’re hurt. We’ve called for an ambulance and we’ll stay with you until it comes.”
The man smiled weakly and mouthed the words “Thank you.”
Emily took his hand. “Is there someone we call for you?”
The man nodded “My son.” He gave them the phone number and Derek quickly called.
The police and paramedics arrived within minutes. While the police talked to Derek the paramedics took care of the old man. They were loading him into the ambulance when his son arrived. Emily talked to the man’s son while Derek finished with the police then walked to Emily’s side taking her hand. The head paramedic joined them. “Mr. & Mrs. Burnes you probably saved his life. He’s been beaten pretty badly but he’ll be alright.” The paramedic then told the man’s son what hospital they were taking him to and returned to the ambulance.
Emily squeezed the son’s hand. “Go; take care of your dad.” He looked at her reaching into his pocket pulling out a handful of money. “Let me reward you for your help,” he said.
Emily shook her head. “No, it’s alright; give the money to your dad. Now go, take care of your father.” He turned on his heels and ran back to his car.
Derek looked up at the sky then at Emily. “Mrs. Burnes, we have about twenty minutes before we fry. Let’s go home.” He reached for her hand and they walked out of the park and disappeared.
***
They arrived back at the house just before dawn. When they walked into the house the house Nicholas ran to them. “Mommy, Daddy!” Derek picked him up and tossed him in the air catching him. Nicholas giggled. They played with Nicholas for a couple of hours then put him to bed.
Derek and Emily walked into the living room. Derek looked at Claire “Emily saved some old guy from being beaten to a pulp. The guy was beaten so badly we ended up calling for an ambulance.” He said explaining their delay in getting back.
Merrek smiled. “It’s ok. Now, we have some news for you.”
Emily looked at him. “Is everything ok?”
Merrek chuckled. “Everything is fine and or dandy but from now on we’ll all have to veil Nicholas from our silent conversations. It appears he can hear us.” He paused for a moment. “There’s more. He was talking about Beth and Joe and the whales when he got this strange look on his little face. He told us he heard a strange noise around them.”
Emily frowned. “What kind of noise?”
Merrek looked from Claire to Derek and to Emily and said, “He heard a thumping sound and then a whooshing sound.”
Derek looked at him. “Do you think what I think you’re thinking?”
Claire answered for him. “We are now the proud family of the littlest vampire.”
Emily gasped at Claire’s words. “Does that mean he has to hunt?”
Claire shook her head. “He doesn’t have any problem with food at this point. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Derek pulled Emily against him and said, “Its ok, he’s supposed to be a vamp. This will all work out for the best. Are you going to tell Merrek and Claire about Saturday?”
Emily looked around “Where’s Gerry?” Claire pointed up the stairs. “Good, Derek and I have invited some humans over Saturday night. One of them is a close friend of mine, and I think she would be perfect for Gerry.”
Claire raised an eyebrow, “A human?”
Emily giggled nodding her head. “Maybe we can get a playmate for Nicholas. No seriously, I think they would be perfect together, we’ll do the introduction and Gerry has to do the rest.”
Claire looked at Merrek and giggled. “We’ll get to see him in action. We’ll take notes on what he does wrong.”
Emily looked at Claire. “That’s not very nice; maybe he just hasn’t met the right girl.”
Merrek chuckled. “Or he blows at first impressions.”
Emily looked at Derek. “Don’t get mad at this, ok?”
Derek nodded. “Go ahead.” Knowing what Emily was about to say.
Emily looked at Merrek. “My first impression of Gerry was that he was hot. EXTREMELY HOT! And he’s so nice.”
Claire giggled, “Em, we love him to death, and I think he’s hot as hell, but he’s a dud with women.”
Emily frowned then looked at Derek. “You, Merrek and Nick need to give him pointers before Saturday.”
