FOUR

“Are you sure that’s all you need?” Christian asked as we left our room with two suitcases in tow.

“It will be less than a week. I think I’m all set.” I turned the light off and closed the door. Fiore and Aloysius met us in the living room a moment later. Jose Luis was just joining them with a glass of soda in his hand.

“Is that all you’re taking?” Fiore raised her brows at me.

“Shorts, pants, shirts, underwear, and a bathing suit. What else is there?”

“Yeah, I have all the toiletries and the hairdryer in my suitcase,” Christian added with a smile.

“Did you remember your camera?” Aloysius asked with his arm firmly around Fiore’s waist as her face glowed with her smile.

“Yes, I did. I wish you would let us take a less conspicuous vehicle,” I reminded him again.

“Nonsense. It’s a three hour drive. I want you to be comfortable.” Aloysius grabbed my suitcase and headed toward the door with Fiore and Jose Luis following. As soon as we went through the door, Margarita, the guard stationed there, picked Jose Luis up in her arms and propped his crutches against the wall. Instead of protesting as I expected, he wrapped his arms around her neck and relaxed, letting her carry him.

“We’ll see you down,” Fiore summoned the elevator. “Trust me; you’re going to love this.”

“I do love what you’re doing for us, believe me. I just don’t think we need a limo. Any car would have been enough,” I protested as we set our suitcases in the trunk.

“I understand how you feel but you will be more comfortable this way. Besides, the limo has bullet proof windows. The thing sits in a garage all the time. It was begging to be driven,” Aloysius said. “There will be a car in front of you, and a car behind. You’ll have five bodyguards with you. They won’t bother you.”

“You’re too much, Aloysius, but thank you. For everything,” Christian said as he patted Aloysius’s back. He hugged Fiore and Jose Luis and then stepped into the car. I said my goodbyes as quickly as I could and got into the car. The last thing I wanted was to start crying in front of Jose Luis. Seeing blood running down my face would probably scare him even though he was fully aware of what we were.

“It’s a really nice thing they’re doing for us. Let’s try to enjoy it,” Christian wrapped his arms around me and leaned his face into my hair, inhaling deeply. “For the next few days, let’s pretend this is our real honeymoon.”

“That sounds like a great plan to me.” I leaned into him and tried to erase my mind of all the trouble and the losses we’d experienced lately. They were right—we deserved a honeymoon. We had fought so hard to be together, met so many obstacles, and for every one we overcame, it seemed more were thrown our way. Since we had arrived in Peru we had not spent more than an hour or two alone. A few days would do us good and would not cause any harm, at least not as far as Jose Luis was concerned. He would be safe in the hands of Fiore and Aloysius.

“You are very right. He couldn’t be in better hands,” Christian responded to my thoughts. “From this moment on, we will worry about nothing except each other, until we get back, at least.”

“Agreed,” I said and leaned to kiss his lips. “It’s going to be gorgeous. Churín is perfect for us. We can relax in the hot springs all day if we want.”

We settled into the ride and watched the scenery whiz past. The driver kept the tinted divider window up the whole time and gave us the privacy we craved but never voiced. For a while, I rested my head against Christian’s shoulder and closed my eyes, getting as close to sleep as my vampire mind allowed, and daydreamed of the next few days we would spend alone, with the exception of the guards, of course. Every time I pictured something intimate, Christian sighed as if he was living the fantasies with me. And knowing his mind, he probably was.

“Stop that or you’ll get yourself into trouble, driver or no driver,” he warned with laughter in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, lifting my head and gazing out the window. “I think we just arrived.”

The limousine came to a complete stop on a dirt path in front of Aloysius’s bungalow. The setting sun reflected off the windows, bouncing oranges and yellows off the shiny black vehicle. Before we could look around, the door to my side opened and a hand reached in to take mine and help me out of the car. The bodyguards who parked behind us already had our luggage on the small front porch that only fit two chairs and a little round table. The metal table contained a weathered, old fashioned storm lamp.

“Por aquí,” the vampire who helped me out of the car instructed. Christian and I followed him to the front door as he opened it and flipped on a light.

The little bungalow took my breath away. It was just one room, with a small bathroom off to the left, but it was cozy, warm, and clean. The fresh scent of orange cleaner filled my lungs. The main living area was decorated in country-style sofas surrounding a round, glass coffee table stacked with magazines. The windows were already opened and the cream and maroon curtains blew gently in the breeze. The stone fireplace was the focal point of the room, and was ready for use. Someone had stacked logs on either side and a box of matches lay on the mantle. A large mirror with an intricately sculpted silver frame hung above the mantle.

“If you move the table aside, the big sofa pulls out into a bed,” Carlos, the guard who had escorted us in, informed us.

“Where will you be staying?” I asked, curious as to where the bodyguards were going to stay.

“There is another bungalow like this one just behind those trees,” he said as he drew the curtains aside and pointed. The setting sun turned the trees to a golden color. “That’s where we’ll bathe and change our clothes. So, what would you like to do first?”

I looked at Christian and he shrugged. “Well, I don’t know. It was a long ride. I wouldn’t mind going to one of the baths,” I said, hoping they weren’t all going in with us.

“Don’t worry. We will be outside the water,” Carlos answered my thought with a smile.

“Great. Can you give us a moment to change please?” I started toward my suitcase that was already on the bench in the corner of the room, neatly placed next to Christian’s. Carlos nodded and left without another word.

“Are they seriously going to be watching our every move the whole time we’re here?” Christian asked, already pulling his trunks up and tying the drawstring.

“I sure hope not. I’m sure we can convince them to leave us alone, somehow.” I slipped into my bikini bottom and held the top up to my chest. “Can you help me with this?”

“Do I really have to fasten it? You look great in just the bottom.” He slipped the hook into the opening anyway, kissing my shoulder before closing the strap across my back.

“You wouldn’t want them to get an eyeful, would you?” I grabbed the beach towels and threw one to him. He caught it without taking his eyes off me.

“I guess you’re right. You look absolutely gorgeous in black. It makes your skin look like porcelain.” He grabbed my hand and we walked out the door.

The spring we would be enjoying tonight was located behind the bungalow. Lush trees and shrubs surrounded the whole property so I was not worried about strangers finding us. As we neared the spring, which was circular in shape and had cement steps leading into it, I saw that the four guards had already positioned themselves, one on each side, facing the tree line. At least they wouldn’t be watching.

Christian stepped in first, taking my hand to help me down. The steps were slicker than I had anticipated and I was grateful he had a hold of my hand. The temperature of the water made steam float across the surface, moving as if it had a life of its own. My skin tingled and I sighed, finally starting to feel relaxed. I didn’t like the fact that we needed guards surrounding us, but I knew we had no choice at the moment. At least now I knew how Jose Luis felt.

We made our way into the middle going deeper with each step until the steamy water covered our shoulders. Christian pointed to the bench carved out in the stone interior and we waded over to it and sat down, leaning against the warm rock, our legs floating in front of us. “This is wonderful.”

“It is. Wouldn’t it be great if we lived here?” Christian asked. “It feels like we’re the only ones here, even with them standing there.” One of the guards chuckled. Which one, I couldn’t tell since I couldn’t see their faces. It was definitely one of the three men.

“We have plenty more to see yet. We can leave the bungalow tomorrow and explore. I’ve heard there are some thermal baths that are actually inside caves.” I pushed off the bench and dunked my head under water, pushing my hair back as I came up. Christian followed me to the center, standing in front of me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“When is the last time I told you that I love you with all my heart and soul?” he asked as he planted nibbling kisses down my wet neck.

“Just this morning, I think,” I whispered a bit out of breath already. I wrapped my arms around his neck and circled his waist with my legs. “You can say that as many times as you want though. I can never get enough of it.”

His moist lips moved across my chin, inching their way to my parted lips. As soon as they touched, a chill ran through my body despite warmth of the water. My breath came faster as he parted my lips with his tongue. I closed my eyes but opened them again, looking outside the bath at the four figures surrounding us. I pulled away from Christian’s eager mouth. “Um, guys?”

“Yes?” Mariana, the only female guard who came on the trip, answered. I think that’s the first time I’d heard her voice. Though she was very beautiful, with long dark hair and an olive complexion that hadn’t changed when she was turned, she was very quiet. She just did as she was told. From what we’d heard, she had been working for Aloysius almost as long as he’d been a vampire.

“Would you mind moving a few more feet away from us?” I asked. Christian’s eyes beamed.

“Uh, sure.” All four moved forward toward the trees, never turning to look at us.

“Now where were we?” I said as I turned back to Christian.

“Right about here,” he said in a breathless voice as his lips connected to mine again. His hands traveled up my spine, grasping with more roughness than he had ever shown my body. I clung to his body, tightening my legs around him. His mouth left mine and I grabbed the back of his head and pulled him back.

“Oh, God. It’s been way too long,” I panted as I parted his lips with my tongue this time, tasting the warmth and sweetness of his mouth. His hands made their way up my spine again, this time settling on the back of my neck as he pushed his body against me even harder, making it impossible to think, let alone breathe.

He pulled away from my mouth, much to my disappointment, at least until I felt his lips on my neck again, his teeth nipping at the tender flesh. His fingers undid the clasps on my top, and he moved his mouth down the front, tossing the top out of sight. I threw my head back and a moan escaped my parted lips. Christian laughed but never took his mouth from my sensitive flesh. “Now. Please, Christian?” I begged in ragged gasps.

He lifted his face to look into my eyes, starting the frenzy of butterfly wings in my stomach. “What about them?” He motioned with his head toward the guards.

“Who cares about them? I want you now.” I pushed his head back down. He moaned before continuing to bring me pleasure like only he could.