Read Online William by Claire Cray - Free Book Online Page B

lie back down and drift a while in this strange, calm daze,
tranquil as a pond in the forest.
    Was that all there was to it? Was I a vampire
now? To think a year of torment could be swept aside so smoothly,
so pleasantly. Why, I wouldn't even mind doing it again. The last
part, at least. I looked up at Merrick once more, and once more, at
the sight of his perfect face, I smiled. Merrick smiled back and
shifted me in his arms so that he could press a kiss to my
forehead. Pleasure bloomed there like a flower. Christ, it was
Heaven.
    "You look very well," he murmured, stroking
my back.
    "I thought it would be more like death." Even
my own voice was novel to my ears—smooth and sure, much smokier
than I remembered.
    "How brave you were, then."
    "Brave," I laughed softly, and stretched up
to kiss him. A surprised moan escaped me as my lips and tongue
tingled with delight, and I had to stop for a breath.
    Merrick turned so that we lay face to face.
Lord, I was thrilled to be close to him again! In fact I was nearly
in disbelief that we had finally attained this...well, whatever it
was. So far, it was very nice.
    "Am I a vampire now?" I asked.
    "I suppose you are," Merrick replied, his
smile giving way to a more pensive look. "But there are changes yet
to come."
    "Merrick." My senses seemed somewhat
warped—the coppery fractals of his eyes seemed to bend and shift
and swirl as I watched. Yes, reality was doing very interesting
things. But somehow I felt anchored to him, and surprisingly sure
of my words. "Merrick, I’m so happy this is done. And I do hope
you’ll forgive me for thrusting myself upon you like this."
    "Thrusting yourself upon me?" Merrick studied
me, his brow furrowed.
    "Yes." I was using words correctly, wasn't I?
I was fairly certain I was. In fact I felt much sharper of mind
than usual, though perhaps that was some intoxicated delusion.
"Defying your wishes and intruding upon your life—"
    "William, no." It was unlike Merrick to
interrupt, but he was quick to dismiss my suggestion in his firmest
tone. "You bear no responsibility for this. It was out of your
hands the moment you set foot in my house."
    "But I know you were angry when I sided with
Theo."
    "I’ve never been angry with you.” Merrick
traced the edge of my jaw. “And that matter is behind us.” Seeing
that I was not convinced, he murmured, “William, you’ve only
brought me happiness. There’s nothing for me to forgive.”
    I didn’t want to be stubborn about it, but my
doubts remained, and I wanted to be rid of them. "Why did you
resist for so long?”
    “So long?” Merrick smiled ruefully. “I had
intended to last another year. Perhaps two.”
    There was a horrid thought. "But why? That
would hardly have been for my benefit."
    "No," he admitted. "Indeed. I told myself it
was, but that was false. My own demons had a hold of me.”
    “What demons?”
    The solemn gaze had returned, his shimmering
eyes gone distant for a moment. “Old habits,” he said at length.
“And memories not easily laid to rest.” Meeting my eyes again, his
expression cleared. “I’m the one who should ask for forgiveness. I
made this an even more arduous ordeal for you. I’m sorry,
William.”
    “All’s well that ends well,” I offered,
appreciating the apology but wanting to shake him for arousing
further questions. What habits, damn it? What memories? Still, his
eyes were so full of contrition that I couldn’t help but want to
calm them with a kiss—an effort that was cut short once again by my
gasp of surprise. "What is this?” I asked, and licked my tingling
lips. “Am I drunk on your blood?"
    "Something like that," Merrick said,
recovering his smile. "And you've yet to adjust to the
pleasure."
    "The pleasure?"
    "There's a great deal of pleasure in it." He
traced my lower lip with his finger, sending a shiver through me.
"An opening of the senses."
    "It's exquisite." God, I had missed that
steady gaze, those quiet smiles, his gentle manner!
    "I'm