Her Forever
Chapter 63

Bastian

Olivia stared at me with her eyes widened. She had been indeed crying and her eyes were traced with red and she had wiped away the dark mascara that had once laid upon her eyelashes. I was afraid to move. I didn’t want to spook her, but she seemed as entranced as I was. Taking a brave step forward, she didn’t move and continued to look into my eyes. I held out my hand, dying for her to touch it, so she might feel the bond like I did just by looking at her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” my hand was still out, palm upwards, to give her the invitation. She shuffled her belongings to one arm and then took my hand. Just as I suspected, she felt tingles go up her arm just as I was. Quickly pulling away, she looked back at me in bewilderment.

“What was that?” she asked, confused. “Is that some crazy vampire thing?” She was afraid, and that was the last thing I wanted. Feeling conflicted, I wasn’t sure if I should tell her about the bond. Would she feel scared, threatened, or pressured? It was best if I figured out her background and saw what she really knew about vampires. She had to be here for a reason, so I answered her with another question.

“How are you here, tesoro? Who do you live with?” I said, smiling. Her face was blushing, and I was hoping to see how far that blush really went.

“I lived with my mother. She moved here about a week ago, but I live with several others whose parents had just been changed. S-she can’t be around me right now.” She sniffed, and a few straggling tears dropped down her cheeks. My heart sank as it continued to beat for her, only her. I closed the gap and took the backside of my finger and captured her tears. Oliva looked up at me as I took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“It looks like you need a friend, then. How about we go get some ice cream? I’ve been wanting to share with someone, but since I moved here just a few days ago, I have found no one worth sharing with.” Oliva smiled at me and my heart was just about to burst. She nodded.

“Let me go change and put these things away and we can, if that’s alright.” It would be more than alright. I’d wait another 500 years for her if I had to.

Olivia and I went to the ice cream shop in the human part of the town. Most of the town knew about vampires, but were strictly forbidden to tell anyone in the outside world. The vampire coven actually protects them from any supernatural disturbances for their silence. This town had harbored black magic witches in the past and caused quite a disturbance.

Oliva opened up a lot to me while we ate. She ordered the butter pecan ice cream, and I ordered the rocky road, both of our favorites. Oliva gave details about her mother’s somewhat loveless marriage. She was married to her birth father, John to which was not in their lives very much. He was an airline pilot, and she feared he had a girlfriend in every city. The only reason her mother stayed was for her daughter. It was still hard when her mother met her beloved, knowing that she would probably never see her father again because of his lack of attendance in her life as it was.

It was, of course, not a big decision to decide what parent to go with. She was actually 21 and could go where ever she wanted but was still trying to complete her online courses and was still fearful for her own mother. The thought of vampires frightened her and couldn’t understand her mother’s quick infatuation with her beloved.

“How could someone fall in love so fast? It is just crazy to think. Humans take so long to date and fall in love and with a beloved it’s almost instant,” she said, frustrated. “I guess I don’t understand.”

I took another bite of my ice cream. “It isn’t about falling in love quickly, it is more about finding attractiveness and feeling a pull to someone. They were made for each other. The goddess wanted supernaturals to find their soulmates quickly. It is almost like the process is sped up,” I tried to speak uplifting.

“So, it is fate that they are to be together?” She questioned.

“Exactly, you still have a choice, but somehow you are always drawn back to them. They make you feel complete, soothed and loved.” I smiled at her while taking a napkin and cleaning a bit of ice cream off her face. She laughed and looked down at her ice cream.

“I kind of like that. You don’t have to hunt so hard or wonder if someone is the right one. You just know. Best love story ever, right? Just like my mother, I guess.” She took another bite of her ice cream. “So, did my mother know that Eli was her beloved?” Olivia tilted her head and gave an inquisitive look.

“At first no, but over time, spending time with one another, she felt a pull. A longing, wanting to be with the other person. He either told her at the start or let the bond take over. Most vampires that are paired with someone other than their species take it slow and let their partners feel it. That way, they don’t run away from fright.” Trying to remain calm was becoming difficult. She was so inquisitive and smart, asking all the right questions and accepting them so willingly.

“Hmm, I guess I’m happy for her then. He did the whole courtship thing with her, but she fell pretty hard and fast, I guess. She couldn’t wait to sign the divorce papers after she met him once.” Olivia giggled. “I was more scared than anything when he said he was a vampire. I thought he was going to suck my b***d and kill me just to get to my mom!”

I started laughing, “Never! We only drink a little of human b***d. Some vampires just drink animal b***d, but have to drink more of it. I normally drink animals because I like to hunt, but if I drink humans, it is donated.” Olivia nodded and finished her ice cream.

Walking Olivia back to the community, I took her hand and gave her a quick k**s on it as we stared at the shared home where she lived with her roommates. “It was a pleasure today, Olivia. I hope we can do this again.”

“I would really like that, Bastian.” My throat purred, and I tried to quickly cover it up with a cough. Olivia smirked at me and blushed. Seeing that she liked the attention, I thought about giving her a k**s on the cheek when a young man burst through the door.

“OLIVIA!” he yelled. “I’m so glad you’re back! I picked a movie out for us. Come watch!” I let out a small growl, and the boy backed up with his hands up. “Woah, there man, you can’t do anything. I’m not offering any b***d here. Come on Olivia,” the boy’s smug look irritated me. He pulled Olivia from my hand, and I took a few steps forward to warn him.

Olivia grabbed my arm, trying to diffuse the situation. “Actually, Jared, I invited Bastian to watch a movie with all of us. Hope you don’t mind?” Olivia winked at me, and I gave her a sideways smile. I had nothing to do and more time with my mate was greatly appreciated.

Jared didn’t hide his look of distaste as he let go of Olivia’s hand and led us into the house. The house was fairly plain, tan walls with sparsely spaced furniture. There was a generic wrap around couch in the main living space with a large 72” TV in the middle above the fireplace. Several other humans were stretched out with popcorn, ready to watch a movie.

“Hey Olivia, who is your friend?” The girl with platinum blonde hair said while fluttering her eyelashes. She stood up to take my hand to shake.

“This is Bastian, my new friend,” Olivia whispered. “Bastian, this is Monica. Everyone here has been here for almost a year. I’m the newest one in the house besides Tatum. Tatum came here about the same time as me.” Monica continued to stare and was making it blatantly obvious she wanted some attention, attention I would never give.

Olivia led me to the couch and had me sit beside her, and Jared let out a huff in frustration. Instead of taking a hint, he sat right next to her, making the perfect Olivia sandwich in which both I or Olivia never wanted. “We are watching ‘A Quiet Place,’ hope that isn’t too scary for you girls.” Jared smirked while some girls giggled in unison. Jared was eating this up. The only other boy in the room, Tatum, looked bored out of his mind while reading Vamparia History. He must be the inquisitive sort. He could hardly look me in the eye. The red eyes could do that for you if you aren’t used to it.

Once the movie turned on, Olivia instantly stiffened. She wasn’t a fan of horror movies, I could already tell. She would close her eyes or divert her attention elsewhere while the music became ominous. Jared continued to scoot closer to her in an attempt to comfort her. “You know,” Jared whispered, “if you want to hold my hand when you’re scared, I wouldn’t mind.” I was seething, but I couldn’t deny my mate if she wanted someone else.

To my surprise, Olivia took my hand and intertwined my fingers with hers. Instantly, I puffed out my chest. The bond was already working, and she wasn’t afraid of me. “Thanks Jared, but I’m alright.” Oliva smiled at me and I grinned back like the Cheshire cat. My fangs were on full display and not once did she wince. Her blush came back at full force and it wrapped its warmth around me. For the first time, I felt warm instead of the bitter loneliness I had always felt.

Halfway through the movie, Jared left the room in a sour mood while Monica followed. The girl was desperate for any kind of attention. Olivia had put her head on my shoulder and my inner beast purred in content. I didn’t even care if she heard me purring in my throat. It felt so good to be wanted and for me to want her. I had missed out on so much, always pining to find my beloved, and here she was in front of me.

The bond was working so well; I prayed to the gods she would still have me after I told her about our mate bond. In my heart, though, I think she knew. I believe she knew the moment I told her my name. When she looked back at me, the tears had dried up and in her heart I think she felt I was her person. I was her mate, and I was going to protect her, love her and take care of her for the rest of our eternity and forever.

It was dark once the movie was over. Several girls were asleep on the couch. Even Tatum, who was reading a book earlier, got sucked into the horror film and was peacefully sleeping while the credits rolled. Olivia was wide awake as we both played with each other’s fingers. Warmth filled me with how comfortable she was. I thought it was going to be an uphill battle to win her over, but it really wasn’t.

It was close to midnight, and we had spent the past hour just touching one another. Not saying anything, just touching hands, arms and our faces. Her finger left tingles down my face when she touched my ear down to my jaw and then to my lips. There were many times I wanted to capture her lips but refrained from doing so. I wanted to court her; I wanted to make her feel so loved, and I didn’t want to rush what she wasn’t ready for.

“Tesoro?” I whispered in her ear. “I should go. You need your sleep.” She sighed and nodded reluctantly. We walked to the door hand in hand and she closed the door behind her as we told our goodbyes.

“Thank you for the movie, I enjoyed it,” I smiled at her while holding her h**s.

“Me too,” she whispered shyly while looking down. I took my finger and lifted her chin to look back at me.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” I asked hopefully.

“I would like that,” she giggled. Her eyes looked into mine. I knew what she was asking for, she was practically begging me.

“Tesoro?” I whispered close to her lips.

“Yes?” she let out a forced whisper.

“Can I k**s you?”

Without answering me, she stood up a bit on her toes and met me halfway as we shared our first k**s.