Page 90 of Endlessly Raphael
I tilt my head back. “Listen for the sound of my blood. It’s louder in mortals, so you have to focus. Just listen.”
He nods, leaning a bit closer, but then he gasps. “Rapha.” I turn to see him grab my sketchpad. “Oh my god. It’s… Is this what I look like to you?”
I nod. “Yes. Do you like it?”
His brow creases as he stares at it, almost touching, but not quite as he traces the details with delicate fingers. “You are so talented. I… I’m speechless.”
“You are that beautiful, Haven.”
He reaches up and touches the tips of his fangs. “Wow. It’s humbling to know how you see me.”
“How the world sees you. All I did was document it.”
“And this is how I’ll look forever?”
“Forever.”
He puts the sketchpad down, smiling at me. “I feel like crying, but no tears come.”
“It would take a lot for that to happen. We feel the same emotions we always did, but our bodies react differently.”
“Except lust, because I want to climb you like the Eiffel Tower.”
Laughing softly, I pull him onto my lap. “I adore you.”
“Good, because you’re stuck with me now.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Epilogue
HAVEN
Six months later
I enter the apartment after another long day at work. It’s only been six months, but I’d swear they’ve been the longest of my life. Raphael is exactly where I knew I’d find him, set up where our dining room used to be in what is now his art studio. Since we came back from our week-long fuck fest, a.k.a. honeymoon, in Greece he’s been churning out art.
He drops his paintbrush and is on me in a flash, scooping me off my feet and carrying me to the couch. “You look tired, my love. Vampires aren’t supposed to get tired.”
I chuckle as Rapha works on removing my shoes while I balance on his lap. “My love?”
“Yes?”
“You must know what I’m feeling. You always know.”
He flashes an innocent smile.
“You’re waiting for me to say it, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to work it out on your own.”
I nod, leaning into his shoulder as he undoes my tie and massages my shoulders. My eyes catch the gleaming diamond encrusted band on my ring finger. It’s been a wild year.
Since taking over my grandfather’s company I’ve learned so much about business, but the biggest lesson has been that this isn’t how I want to spend my life. It’s time I stopped letting pride keep me somewhere I don’t belong.
“I have a proposal. I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks.”
Rapha nods, still smiling like he doesn’t already know what I’m going to say.