Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 18

Jasper followed Ryan into the room and closed the door. He looked over at the broken bathroom door and quirked his eyebrow.

Ryan chuckled as he slowly lowered Lucy down in front of him. "We had a spider incident earlier." He rubbed his hands over Lucy's shoulders gently as a warm smile rested on his lips.

This was a bit awkward for Lucy. Ryan being touchy and Jasper not ripping them apart didn't make sense to her. She wondered what was talked about before they came back. Jasper seemed to already be well aware of the fact that Ryan was her mate. But he was Derek's cousin and right-hand man. Wouldn't he be opposed? Or did Ryan really have something that would allow them to be together?

She looked over her flour covered self. She needed to get a quick shower, but there was no door. And the evil killer could still be in the bathroom.

"What is it, Lucy?" Jasper asked, seeing her eyes staring off at the bathroom.

Lucy inched away from Ryan's touch as she used her hands to motion over her white powdered self. "Look at me?" She giggled. "I have flour in places flour should never be."

Jasper chuckled. "Well then go get cleaned off real quick. It isn't like I'll peek in on you."

Lucy gnawed on her lip and Jasper let a thunderous laugh rip into the air.

"You are still afraid of the spider in there aren't you. Oh Lucy you are too much." Jasper wiped the tears from his eyes.

"I'll just use someone else's shower." Lucy said simply.

"You aren't showering in another room." Ryan said with a slight growl. "I'll stand watch for you."

Lucy scoffed and planted her hands across her chest. "I bet you will. No thanks. I don't need an audience."

"Are you sure? Having someone to shower with is more fun... and I could use a shower too." Ryan let his voice drop low.

"Okay time out." Lucy looked up at Jasper. "If anyone else said something like that you would kill them. Shoot, you were ready to murder Kyle when he tried to kiss me."

"WHO TRIED TO KISS YOU?!" Ryan roared. He walked into Lucy and gripped onto her shoulders.

"That's not the point."

"Oh no, that is the point now." Ryan growled and then lifted his gaze up to Jasper.

"Ryan is your soul mate Lucy. That is sacred. Its sanctity is absolute. There is no one who will object to that." Jasper said as he could see the confusion in her eyes. "And Lucy was going to stop him from kissing her, but I just beat her to it." "What did you do that made him think it was okay to try to kiss you?" Ryan asked between clenched teeth.

OH! HELL NO! Lucy shot daggers at Ryan. "What did I do?" She scoffed loudly. She stepped into him and poked into his chest. "How dare you talk to me like that. What did I do? Who the hell do you think you are? Obviously, if someone tried to kiss me it was because I led them on, right? I guess unhooking my bra and tossing it to the side might have been too suggestive huh?" She listened as he growled at her when she said this. "You know what, forget it. I'd rather take my chances with the spider than talk with you more." She shoved him and turned marching towards the bathroom. How could he say that? She flipped on the shower angrily and huffed in anger. Jasper had said that she could accept Ryan as her mate because they were soul mates. But what about the treaty? Even if the vampires would understand Ryan taking her as his mate, what would this mean for the treaty? And right now, she was irritated with him so she could feel a bit more rational in her thoughts. When she was next to him it was as if her body was drugged. It was slowly being consumed by him.

No... that wasn't right. She was the one who wanted to consume him. What the real problem was... well she didn't trust herself with him. He was the one in danger of being devoured though she didn't think he would mind. She had to keep holding the treaty idea in her mind. It was the only thing she was barely grasping onto in order to control herself. That and now she was irritated. However, she had other ideas about how to release her frustration. She reached her hand and turned the water temperature cold. Yeah, she needed a cold shower.

From the doorway, she could hear the soft baritone chuckle coming from Ryan. She looked back and could see part of his shoulder as he leaned against the doorframe but looking away towards the wall.

"You know Lucy... that spirit of yours only makes me hot for you. You know I can wash the parts you can't see."

Ugh. She could almost hear the smirk in his voice. And damn her if she didn't want him.

She clicked her tongue loudly. "Jasper, would you put your friend on a leash?" She listened as Jasper snickered and she heard his back plop on the other side of the door frame. She also heard Ryan grumble at him for being too close to where she would be showering.

"Sorry. If Lucy wants me to protect her from you then that is exactly what I will do. Mate or not."

Lucy smiled as she listened to Jasper. She could tell in his voice that there was a serious air to it.

Ryan sighed loudly and flopped his head back banging it on the doorway. "I'm sorry Lucy. Don't be mad at me. I got really jealous and was wrong. I never should have questioned you."

"Thank you, Ryan. But you still aren't joining me."

"You want me... I want you. You heard yourself that it is okay to be with me... You'll accept me as your mate, right?"

Lucy stepped into the cold water and sighed. She could hear the insecurity in his voice. It broke her heart but being allowed to be with him was only a start. What about the treaty? The water dripped cloudy on the floor below her as it washed the flour off of her body. She grabbed the bottle of body wash and scrunched up her nose.

"Sandalwood? There isn't anything less... male in here?" Lucy squeezed the liquid into the scrunchy hanging up. She blushed slightly knowing it was Ryan's scrunchy. "I hope this is the first time your loofah is seeing a woman's body." She listened as Ryan groaned and heard the thud of his head again.

"At least your loofah is getting some action." Jasper teased with a snicker.

"I'll make sure I have your own body wash for you for the next time..." Ryan said, trying to ignore Jasper. "And what are you accusing me of?" He smirked and listened to her giggle. He listened as the shower turned off and heard quiet footsteps come up to the door. "So... am I to wear a towel all day or do you have something else for me to wear?" Lucy asked in the doorway.

"I think a towel looks good on you." Jasper said with a shrug.

"Don't look at her. TURN around." Ryan said lowly.

"Relax Ryan. Jasper is like a brother to me." Lucy rolled her eyes and moved closer next to Jasper to prove her point. She was completely comfortable with him.

"Lucy... he is a male. And you are a beautiful woman. And no matter what he isn't related to you. There is no way I can be okay with this." He walked forward and shoved Jasper away a couple feet. "I'll get you something to put on." He quickly walked to the end of the room. He grabbed out a shirt and a pair of drawstring pants. "Um... I have boxers and boxer briefs..."

"That will work for now." Lucy said matter-of-factly. She kept her voice level to not show that she was affected about hearing that... though she was. When Ryan walked back over his cheeks looked a bit more flushed as he handed her the clothes. She smiled as she took them from him. There were some things he was bashful about too.

She quickly walked to the side of the bathroom and threw the clothes on. She rolled up the bottom of the pants and tied his shirt in a ball. She pulled the string as tight as she could and knotted it up.

"Well. At least I am not covered in flour anymore." Lucy giggled as she held her arms out. After hearing Ryan's apology, she was no longer upset with him.

Jasper placed his hand on the top of her head and moved it back and forth. "Much better Lucy." He then leaned down. "What do you want to do about him? If you want me to steal you away from him just say the word."

Ryan chuckled darkly. "Just try it and see what happens."

Lucy turned and looked at Ryan. "I'm sorry. It is more than acceptance. I won't abandon the treaty. I don't want to risk there ever being a war between our species."

Ryan sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. "I didn't want to have to do this..."

Lucy's eyes darkened as she stared at him. "If you think you are going to force your mark on me you have another thing coming." A growl solicited from her throat as her eyes flickered to that of her wolf.

She watched him smile at her as his eyes danced in amusement. "Lucy, you are my treasure. I would never EVER mistreat you. Come on. You can feel my feelings if you really try. Open your heart up to me and you will be able to feel how I feel about you." She felt Jasper put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him. "Lucy, I am right here. You know I would NEVER allow anyone to harm you or touch you if you didn't want it." He squeezed her shoulder and smiled down at her. "Oh, we need to send a messenger fairy to your parents."

"I already sent one letting them know I was safe." Lucy watched as Jasper nodded his head. She looked back at Ryan who had a possessive gaze fixated on her. But in the possessiveness, there was also tenderness. And she could see that she was his center. "Lucy..." Ryan's eyes glanced at Jasper's hand on her, and he frowned. "Please... come to me, Lucy. I need to hold you."

She looked at his amber eyes that were pleading with her. She took a step towards him before she was pulled into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her gently against his chest. He sifted his fingers through her hair with one hand while the other lightly pressed against her back.

"I never thought I would ever feel this... ever. I didn't think I could ever have this... but I do and I can. Lucy, I need you. You are not optional to me. I can't live without you. My soul is connected to yours. I can feel you and what you want. I know you are fighting against this... because you want to protect your pack. My Lucy... what if I told you that the treaty will stand between us?" Ryan said in a soothing baritone voice.

Lucy pulled back slightly and looked up at him. She could see his eyes were serious and that he meant what he was saying. She then looked over at Jasper who also nodded his head.

Wait a minute... Were they telling her she could be with Ryan and still unite their species? She could really have her fated mate? She felt her chest squeezing. Her eyes were burning. Was it really okay to give into the mate pull? She looked back into Ryan's eyes as she waited for him to explain.