Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 7 The Wedding

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Freedom of expression is precious. To do that Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

The Wedding

The party lasted until late, and we'd been...well, sort of busy. Planning and showing people around. Everyone wanted to personally see every room which we gladly showed them. There were drinks served, the champagne of course, and other drinks including a red and a green punch that did and didn't have alcohol. And don't forget the eggnog. There was also dancing! But the first dance was a waltz to which Colin offered me his hand and we danced the waltz, and it was recorded and played on Susan's show later! George and David were staying while here, but we made sure everyone got home. Especially those that may have drunk too much.

It was almost dawn when Colin and I got to our room. Colin sighed slipping his jacket off and sat down on the bed and watched as I got his serum ready. "That was a nice party." He said plopping back.

I nodded. "It was!" I agreed as I filled the syringe. "Are you tired?"

"Absolutely." He grinned. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

I gave him a sardonic look. "Oh, ha. Ha."

He rolled on his side to see me better. "You were great tonight."

I chuckled. "So were you." I motioned for him to get rid of the shirt. "I was surprised when George showed up with David."

Colin pulled his shirt off. "What surprised you exactly?"

I shrugged. "I just was. George is a nice guy and I just...I'm as bad as everyone else. I was surprised he played for our team."

Colin nodded. "He's a switch hitter?" He pulled his pants off and just like always, just put them aside. "He plays the game! He doesn't care what team he's on."

I shook my head, "Enough with the sports metaphors. I guess I shouldn't be surprised." I grinned as I came to him and kissed him gently. "I love you, Colin."

"I know." He said presented his arm. "I love you, too."

"I'm sorry," I said sincerely and sadly as I inserted the needle. I shot the serum in his arm and then ran my fingers in his hair.

"It just hurts a little while." He smiled as I released the tourniquet and he grimaced with pain. I took his hand as the pain grew as it always did.

I knew it had to be done, but I hated that he was in pain. The serum hadn't hurt me except that first dose! But as I understood it, the venom was trying to stop my heart as the venom began to make me into a vampire, too.

Once George had gotten there he replaced my blood getting rid of the venom, the serum no longer hurt me. My heart never stopped. Colin's heart stopped a century and a half ago, the serum was causing his heart to keep going. Knowing it had to happen didn't help. It was the results that had to happen if I had a future with him and I wanted a future with him. I put my head next to his as he suffered wishing to take a little his pain for him. I counted the seconds and waited until I heard his sigh as the pain eased. Using a cloth, I wiped his face as I always did as he gave me his usual smile. He reached up bringing my face toward him. "Thanks, baby."

"I just hate Brett for doing this to you. I'm glad George at least found something to stop the venom. I hate that you hurt so because of it."

He gathered me closer. "It's a much, much better life than I had for a century and a half. This is better. I promise you." He rubbed his face against mine. "Having you with me makes it better."

"I just don't like to see you suffer."

"You don't have to watch." Colin pointed out.

"How can I not?" I asked. "You're the most important person in the whole world to me." I finished getting undressed and stretched out beside him. "Do you think your message got through to the others?"

Colin shrugged. "We'll just have to wait and see."

We celebrated Christmas and New Year's. Now the plans for our wedding was the focus. Gabriella and Mom were planning and were indeed, going over the top. The theme was a wedding in the old South. There were caterers, chairs, and flowers...not to mention our wedding outfits. I sat tasting foods and listening to bands with their music. The wedding cake! We were having one made for us, but how were they decorating it? We weren't just buying clothes, no, we had designers come to us to make them for us! My problem was I had to watch my weight; Colin's dimensions didn't change that much. The wedding rings! We had a jeweler come to us to design unique rings were would wear. There were people that wanted to come and film the wedding. People from Logo, Advocate, and other regular news magazines both print and TV, wanted to be there and Susan Hendricks was promised to be allowed there. There were invitations! Who did we invite? The list was growing, but we limited it to two hundred. We lived in a big house but had only so many bedrooms. George and David were coming and staying here. It was a drive from Charleston to Wentworth Manor. Hotels were asked and rooms set aside, but it would be an hour or more to and from the manor. There would be drinkers and we planned for that, too.

There were times it became a bit much. Both Colin and I wanted the wedding, but there were times we just had to get away. We often just vanished, telling security that we were going to eat. They were concerned when we did it the first time, but we had a purpose in doing that. We wanted to be noticed and we were. There was a potential danger was out there. We knew that, but staying at Wentworth Manor was...okay, it was boring for me. There were things to do, but my job managing the property was pretty much done. Mom didn't really do much real estate wise and Gabriella...she was Gabriella! She continued to learn about the world. Finding entertainment wasn't hard for any of us. The house was created so that we didn't have to go anywhere, but it's human nature to have something to do. The wedding plans did take up time, but there were down times that I was getting antsy.

Colin looked up after I involuntarily sighed again. We were in the media room/study were Colin worked! He had a job! Holms Laboratories needed monitoring and Colin did the business part. His eyebrows rose. His elbow on the desk and he rested his chin on his hand. "Bored?"

I groaned. "It's not your fault, but...yes!" I got up with a huff and came over to him. "There is only so much TV or movies I can watch, books I can read, games I can play. The life of the idle rich is just...boring!" I threw my hands up in frustration.

Colin nodded. "We were busy getting this house together and now you want something to do." He grinned. "You're a young man and used to working."

I nodded sitting on his desk looking at him. "There are things I can do, but I'm not. Charities always need volunteers and fundraising. Can I go into town? Can I work? It's like...you only appreciate a warm day when you're cold. You enjoy a meal when you're hungry."

Colin smiled. "There's no reason you can't go into town. You can volunteer and do all those things, even get a job, if you want."

I blew a breath. "I'm going to work out," I said getting up.

Colin's eyebrows rose again. "You did this morning!"

"I'm doing it again! Some of us gain weight easily and I have a wedding outfit to put on!" I said walking out and headed downstairs to the converted Hunting Den/Game Room we made into a gym. I heard Colin hurry to catch me.

"Wait!" Colin said taking my arm and pulling me back to him. "Give me a few hours. Work out if you want, but we'll go into town, have a good meal and just do whatever." He looked seriously. "We both know why we haven't been anywhere. There is someone out there. We can go around the world! Take a vacation anywhere you want. We can discuss what you can do. We may be contacted, we may not. Our lives shouldn't be on hold because of it." He kissed me. "Does that sound good?"

I kissed him back. "It sounds like something to do." I nodded. "I'll go, work out and then go up and shower."

Colin chuckled. "Maybe I'll join you in the shower."

I grinned. "I'll look forward to it."

"We also need to talk about where to go on our honeymoon." Colin's eyebrows danced. "Anywhere you want to go."

I froze when he said that. "Honeymoon!?"

He chuckled. "That's what people try to do after they get married."

"I...we..." I sputtered. "In the time we've been together, we've gone to New York and here. I consider us married now. I never even thought about a honeymoon."

"So, now think about it!" Colin said smiling, kissing me and went back to the study.

I watched him go back admiring him and watched him walk. He had a great butt! I shook my head to clear it. I'd see and touch it later. And I did!

We had gotten a limousine. Not one of those super stretches, but it was a stretch. I didn't claim to know much about them except they were flashy. That was the point. We were told to attract attention. Colin had gotten a Bentley something or other. It was the two-toned black and silvery gray. In TV and movies, you saw the window that slid up to separate you from the driver to give privacy. We had one of those, too. We had everything else! A bar in the car. There was a fold-down screen to watch TV! Wi-Fi for a computer that rested on the fold-down desk from the seat in front of you. All of this sort of bothered me. I remember when he showed me the limo.

"I'm just not..." I waved at the limo. "...a limo guy! I drive! What if Matt has something to do?" Matt was our driver/mechanic.

Colin frowned. "Like a job? This is his job!"

So, I let it drop. This was just to catch people's attention. It did that. Wherever we went, we were stared at.

"That's what we were told to do." Colin reminded me.

I grumbled. "Yes, we were. That doesn't mean I have to like it." I groused.

We rode in the limo to downtown and went to this nice restaurant. This night we went to Magnolia's. This was not a diner or buffet. This was fine dining. Meaning reservations, china, silver, and cloth napkins on a table clothed table in a hushed environment. It was often crowded with people, but the tables weren't so close together you heard what anyone else was saying. They knew Colin by now and knew he liked a lot of food. His portions were bigger than most customers.

Colin looked at me a little cautiously. "How are you feeling?" He asked carefully.

I munched on some calamari. "Like I'm on display." I shook my head. "This is good."

"It's Magnolia's. Of course, it is." Colin sighed. "I'm sorry, baby. I know this is not you, but..."

I reached over taking his hand. "I'm fine. We're fine. I love you, Colin. I am marrying you. I will be your husband, partner, and life mate. This has just been so fast. I need time to adjust."

Colin chuckled. "It's not me, either." He admitted. "You know my past. I mean after the serum. I wasn't flashy or going out and being seen. It's new for me, too." He grinned. "Have you thought where we can go on our honeymoon? The sky's the limit. Even that's negotiable, they're often taking people in orbit now. We can go there!"

"We'd have to go to Russia!" I said. "We'd have to train and..."

He nodded. "I'm kidding, but I would look into it if you wanted."

"They don't really like us gays in Russia. They don't love us in the United States that much." I growled and then brightened. "Europe would be nice. We can go through vampire history in the Eastern part of Europe!"

Colin's eye narrowed. "Can we think of something else? We can go for a long time, so anywhere else. Nothing to do with vampires." He pointed as he said it and growled to which I chuckled.

We finally decide on a trip through Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. Rome, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna.

Before long, we were coming up on the wedding day. Things at Wentworth Manor became once again chaotic. Chairs draped in white cloth were set up on the green lawn with a platform where Colin and I would marry. The reception was in the ballroom with a sit-down dinner being served outside. We couldn't fit tables in the ballroom and have dancing there as well. The band would play at the reception and the party would be there and the TV crews. The groundskeeper was treating the area for bugs and those pesky mosquitos. We had a backup plan in case it rained, but the forecast was clear. Final preparations were done on his and my suits. We didn't need tickets to go to Europe, Holms Laboratories had a plane. Security was doubled as securing the event was an issue as people would be coming all day! TV crews for Susan Hendricks, Logo and other networks were coming. More servers were hired. Colin and I both agreed, if these beings were going to get on the property, it would be for the wedding. Security would be relaxed as unknowns would be able to come and go. There was a lot going on to get ready! Mom and Gabriella were the directors, telling people where to go and what was expected. We had no bachelor party, just the wedding. That was enough.

The day of the wedding dawned sunny and warm as the sunlight came into our bedroom windows.

We were not a traditional couple. We'd lived together a while now. That was not uncommon. We didn't separate the night before. Why would we? I had told Colin before, I thought of us as married already. Colin did, too. This was more legal and to let others see us get married. Witnesses. We had no bride's maids, just two witnesses to stand up. My mother for me and Gabriella for Colin. I had friends before, but no one I felt extremely close with to ask to be the best man or woman. I was marrying the best man in my life.

I woke and realized I was alone in bed. Rolling over I looked and saw Colin staring out the window below. I smiled as he stood there naked reminding me, he was a handsome man. Nothing wrong with looking at him. We usually slept naked. It was easier. I pushed the covers off and got up and walked over to him and put my arms around him from behind. We were in tune with each other, and I couldn't startle him. He reached back and brought me around hugging me.

"Good morning." Colin greeted kissing me. "You slept well." It was a statement, not a question.

"So did you," I said.

"We're getting married today," Colin said more to remind himself we were really doing this.

"It's on the napkins and invitations. There's a banner and..." I began.

He chuckled bringing his face next to mine. "I'm just saying it to get it in my mind. Today at three o'clock, you and I will exchange vows and become married."

I grinned. "I'll be there."

He sighed. "I want you to know. I have bad memories. I lived a life that was pure hell...but now...I've never been as happy and content as I am now. I waited a long, long time for you. My life is starting to make more sense. That's because of you. I love you, Devon."

I smiled kissing him gently. "I love you, Colin."

"I'll make you happy," Colin said.

"You already have."

There was a knock on our door and Mom's voice came. "Whatever you two are doing now, you're getting married in a few hours. You need to dress and eat breakfast!"

Colin grinned at me, and we both said. "Coming, Mother!"

Colin kissed me again, this time longer and deeper. "I guess we'd better do this."

I touched his face, rubbing his cheek with my thumb. "I love you letting me see you like this, but we'd better dress."

There was no bride, so no bride's breakfast or anything like that. We dressed and went downstairs where men and women were going about tasks to get things ready.

As promised, it was going to be a wedding that had...well, it was a traditional, old Southern wedding. Wentworth Manor was taking on the look that one hundred and fifty to sixty years ago. There were those big white magnolia blossoms everywhere even in the water garden and pool. There were roses of white on display in arrangements at the end each row of chairs and in garlands draped and hanging in the ballroom and on the grounds. The ground before where we would come to marry had a long white carpet runner down the center. Men and women were dressed that were serving later in period clothing. Women's dresses were those wide full dresses of the light color of pink and light blue (Gabriella's choice) and trimmed in white. The big skirts and big hats; hats you hate to be behind in church because they blocked your view. Men were in the high waisted pants of black with the vest over a shirt that was period. The guests were dressing nicely but in modern clothing. There were the mint juleps that were being served as well as champagne and punch at the reception. It was 1850 in the South.

Colin and I dressed in suits that were also period, but they had been made. They were white. The high waisted pants and jackets were white, but the vest was white and sparkled silver in design, the silver shimmered over a light grey and silvery full tie that filled the space below our chins below our short collared white shirts. We were Southern gentlemen. There was music, thanks to the sound system that played music softly as the guests began to gather. Mom and Gabriella also wore the Southern dresses but laced the blue with that shiny silvery white that shimmered in the sun.

Colin and I stood at the exit from the ballroom ready to proceed. The wedding itself would be short, it was the reception afterward that would be spectacular. The processional began and Mom and Gabriella walked to the podium and stood at the step up and turned, bouquets of white magnolia blooms and white roses in their hands. The processional changed and became more dramatic, but it wasn't "Here Comes the Bride." Neither of us were brides. Guests rose as we walked down the aisle. Hands were joined as Colin, and I proceeded to the front of a woman dressed in a white suit we had chosen to officiate. She was in her mid-forties with frosted blonde-gray hair, and she smiled at us as we approached and rose to the top of the platform to stand in front of her.

"Friends and family. We were all asked to be here to witness the joining of two souls that wish to spend their lives together, joined by love and matrimony. The joining will be short, but the souls joined will be together for eternity. As an officer of the court, I was asked to perform the joining and I am so pleased to have gotten to know these two. I rarely have seen two human beings that were so connected and in love as Colin and Devon. But I must ask, is there any reason these two should not be joined, speak now." The question asked and no one said a word. "Colin and Devon both wished to say something first. Colin?"

He took my hands in his. "Devon, when I met you. I was incomplete. I waited a long time for you." He chuckled. I understood what he said more than anyone about a long time, but maybe Gabriella and a little by Mother understood. "In a few days, I went from interest to love. And I do love you, Devon. I want us to be partners, lovers, and friends forever. To be your husband. I will do whatever I have to, to protect you and love you. I'll make you happy, Devon. This I swear to God and our friends and family." He smiled at me, but his eyes held love and were beginning to shine with tears of happiness.

"Colin, we met almost two years ago right here." I pointed to the place in what had been abandoned fields where we met that summer. "I knew, within the matter days, two days if I recall, that I was in love with you. You have a good, good soul and I wanted to be in your life. When you asked me to marry you, I couldn't believe it. You're an incredible man, Colin. That you loved me. Having waited as long as you did. It seemed impossible. I want us to be partners, lovers, and friends forever. I will be your husband. I will protect you and love you. I'll make you happy, Colin. This I swear to God in front of our friends and family."

Our officiator smiled. "Who gives Devon McGee to Colin Wentworth?"

Mother smiled at me when I looked at her and tears came. "I, Elizabeth McGee, do give."

The Officiator smiled. "Who gives Colin Wentworth to Devon McGee?"

Gabriella smiled. "I, Gabriella Wentworth, do give."

"Devon McGee, do you take Colin Wentworth, in sickness and health as your husband? Forsaking all others, for richer or poorer, in happy and sad times forever?" She asked.

"I do," I replied.

She nodded. "Do you, Colin Wentworth, take Devon McGee, in sickness and health? Forsaking all others, for richer or poorer, in happy and sad times forever?"

Colin looked at me and literally bounced. "I do."

"The rings?" The Officiator asked, which Gabriella and Mom offered her.

"The ring is symbolic of love. Eternal with no beginning or end." She said holding up the rings. She held out her hands with the two matching rings. Colin and I took the rings. "Please move your promissory rings to each other's right hands."

I pulled Colin's off and put it on his right hand. Colin did the same for me.

"Now, place the symbol of your eternal love on the left hand, telling others what they are witnessing."

I slid his wedding ring on his left ring finger, and he slid mine on me.

"Repeat after me." The Officiator said. "With this ring, you are my husband."

"With this ring, you are my husband." Colin and I repeated.

The woman smiled. "Then, by the power granted by the state of South Carolina, and blessed by God. I pronounce you married. Welcome to a new life, Colin and Devon Wentworth." I already was a Wentworth legally as we had the paperwork done and ready to file. She smiled. "You may kiss your husbands to seal this before God, friends, and family, symbolizing you are joined."

Colin grinned. "With pleasure. I love you, Devon Wentworth."

"I love you, Colin Wentworth," I said back as we came together kissing gently.

We turned on the platform to the people who stood and applauded. There were a few hoots, too. Then the lone trumpet played the triumphant Voltaire as we walked down the center aisle again, this time, legally married. The guests were all still applauding as we went, followed by my mother...Colin's and my mother and our legal daughter. The lack of physical appearing age difference was still a little striking to me, but she was our daughter now.

Once at the end of the aisle, Mom grabbed me, still shedding tears of happiness. "This is all I ever dreamed of. You're happy and I know you are."

Gabriella hugged her father, and I heard her whisper to Colin. "I'm so happy for you, Daddy." She looked at me. "Welcome to our family, but you were family already, now it's legally true."

Others were beginning to say their congratulations, but Mom and Gabriella told them to stop and do it later. Then Mom pointed to the platform.

"Back up there. We've photos to make." Mom instructed.

My eyes widened. "We had the whole thing photographed!"

Gabriella nodded. "Yes, but now there will be posed photos taken of you and Colin, you, and your mother, me and Colin and us all together. Now, stop wasting time and do it." She grinned waving us back.

Mom and Gabriella were right, it didn't take long. We didn't have that big a wedding party. People began milling around and talking as the drinks were served and little things passed on trays to eat. They came to Wentworth Manor, and we did serve the best of everything. Colin grabbed me as we were stepping down from the platform and brought me to him. He hugged me tight.

"My husband." He smiled and kissed me.

"Yes, I am. And you're mine." I chuckled kissing him. "It's official now," I said holding up my finger with the wedding ring.

He shook his head elated. "I just love saying it! My husband!" He was practically giddy!

The weather was great, the bugs under control and we sat to eat. Knowing Colin's appetite, he would do it a lot tonight. The conversation was easy, and we had guests we knew and liked, but I did notice servers I didn't know. I dismissed them as they were bringing food and more drinks. I looked at Colin, he had sensed Brett when he was close, and he showed no reaction now. Again, I dismissed it.

The sun began setting and we took the celebration inside the ballroom and one more time, they played the song by Peter Grundy. The title was "You Said Forever." Waltzes may be boring to some, but looking at him and gazed lovingly at me, I never felt uneasy, and I enjoy moving with him. We had danced many times, but it was always heartfelt and meaningful. There weren't that many songs about a man that was a male vampire in love with a man!

Then the mood changed, and more modern music played and dancing began that was a little more energetic. Conversations got louder until the wedding cake was brought in and everyone smiled. It was elegant and white, but the inside was both chocolate and vanilla. But not any chocolate or vanilla. Only the best. There were tiny blue roses made from icing on the white. There were platforms of the big cake on columns and the top had two grooms that were facing each other as if taking vows or just loving each other. The cake was cut by Colin and me, we fed each other, and pieces of cake distributed to everyone. People were getting a little loud as drinks had their effects.

It was nearly eleven o'clock when a man came up behind Colin and me. "Do not move. There is a gun right over Devon's heart and I will fire."

Colin started to turn but stopped as he saw the gun. "What do you want?"

"Know, there will be deaths if you refuse. Starting with Mrs. McGee and Gabriella Wentworth. You will come with me quietly and do what I say." The man said.

He wasn't a vampire, or at least he was like Colin because he had been out in the daytime, but Colin would have sensed if he were a vampire.

"Come with me quietly." He pushed me slightly forward and I began to walk where he was directing me. Colin with me. "You aren't surprised to see someone do this, are you?" The man asked.

Colin shook his head. "It makes sense. You would do this when people were freer to come and go and after a lot of drinks and things would be more chaotic and could do this easier."

The man nodded. "Well thought out. And you know why I'm here."

I smiled at a passing worker not giving away anything was wrong. "We know why, but not who is behind it."

The man nodded. "You will soon."

Once we were outside, I felt a sharp prick to my neck. It was a needle.

"We can't have you aware of where we're going and how long it will take to get there." The man explained and did the same to Colin.

I had moments of gaining consciousness, but another prick and I was gone again. The man was right, I had no idea where we were or how long it took to get here. Wherever here was. Groggy, I sat up from where I was lying on the floor and looked around. Colin! "Colin!" The room was dark with only a little light shining. I saw him crouching in a corner of the room facing away from me. "Colin! Are you alright?"

"I live," Colin said in a strange voice, raspy and he didn't turn around.

I started coming over to him.

"No!" He said quickly, urgently. "Don't come over here." His face turned a little and saw a pale face. "I'm hideous. I'm dangerous!"

My heart sunk. He was a vampire. I wasn't afraid of him, but he looked...so sick. "Aw, Colin," I said sadly. I hurt for him. "Whose doing this?" I asked, my heart breaking more. "Why are they doing this?"

"We are." A voice said through a speaker. "Under my direction."

I turned toward the speaker, looking for the source. There were no windows, only a door. It wasn't like the interrogation room at Holms Laboratories which was clean. This room had what looked like years of dirt that accumulated after never being cleaned much. "Why?"

"If you don't mind, I'll ask the questions." The voice came again, but I heard a slight accent. It was a Southern accent, but more...if you can imagine that. There was also a hint of something else. European? German?

I frowned. "Actually, I do mind. You don't know what you're doing. Why kidnap us?"

The voice chuckled. "You are unique, Mr. McGee...or is it Wentworth? You survived an attack; you didn't turn and you didn't die. Is there something about you that kept Colin...more human?"

"No," I said. "It's medical. He takes a medication."

"Medicine? What medicine?"

"I could show you, but Colin is a vampire." I looked over at Colin who was shaking now. "He will be again. How long have we been out?"

"About twenty hours."

I was concerned now because Colin hadn't taken his serum yet that night of the wedding yet. My mind did some calculations. Colin still hid his face from me.

"If Colin doesn't get the medication once a day, he will be a vampire again," I said cautiously getting up and going over to Colin as I knelt beside him. "He's changing now."

"I began noticing that a few hours ago." The voice said. "Does he still hunt? Will he kill? Would he kill you?"

"Is this a game?" I shouted angrily at nothing. "He never killed a man, but you're not offering a choice. You are making him have no option. How long can a vampire go without blood?"

"Theoretically, indefinitely, but the desire is so great, he'll willingly walk into the sunlight and burn rather than resist feeding."

"This is just torture." I accused. "It's sadistic!"

"Perhaps." The voice said. "But this is also a test. You have something in your blood. It makes you stink."

That "disflavor" George had given me. My mother and I did take that. But again, it only lasted a little while. This...creature could still smell it. Would Colin?

"His need will grow to a point that he will no longer care about the way you smell or even how it tastes. He will feed."

I nodded, but my mind reached a quick decision. "Fine." I reached out and touched Colin's head, which he pulled away. "Colin. I am your husband. Look at me."

Colin slowly raised his eyes. What I saw, was again pain. Not because of the serum, but this was a pain he felt emotionally. "I don't want to hurt you." He had enough serum in his body, that he started shedding a tear. "I never want to hurt you."

I nodded. "And you never have or will, I know that." I swallowed because what I would say next, he would reject. "Bite me."

Colin's eyes grew as he pulled away completely in the corner. "NO!! I won't do that! I'll never do that!"

I closed the distance between us. He couldn't back up any further. "Listen to me! We've never discussed this, but I am not a vampire. We discussed how neither of us knows what the future holds. You told me you could be killed. I, of course, will die. In forty or fifty years, I will die." I reached out to him. "I love you, Colin. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that you love me. You vowed to protect me, just as I vowed to protect you. What will you do after I die?"

He shook his head. "I don't know."

I shook my head. "Yes, you do. What were you thinking of doing when I die?"

Colin thought and his face showed agony. "I'll die, too." He said weakly. "I'll stop the serum and then perhaps sit and wait for the sun to come up. I told you, I can't live without you."

I smiled as I ran a hand over his face. "Okay. When I wasn't turned by Brett, I was disappointed."

"What!?" Colin gasped. "I don't want that life for you!"

"And it won't be that life!" I shouted. "But there are dangers that have nothing to do with being a vampire. There are cancers and other diseases I can get. I could die next year! I never want you to suffer by my death. When Brett bit you and Gabriella, it was to torture you and make you miserable. You were raped! You had no choice. And he did again to you when he bit Gabriella. That wasn't desire or even hunger, it was about power! I'm giving myself to you. If you do it, bite me, it won't be to torture or rape, but you'll be doing it out of love. That's different right there! If you do, it will satisfy the thirst hunger now. When I am a vampire, you won't kill me for blood when the hunger returns. You're saving my life."

Colin shook his head. "I...I can't."

"You can't? Or you won't?" I waved back to the speaker. "Whoever is in there is doing this to see what you'll do. How bad will the desire to take my blood be? I'm taking that out of the picture. It's my choice, Colin. I think we both knew this was going to happen."

Colin was shaking his head, but it was less...adamant. "I don't want you to suffer, either."

I nodded. "I won't. And I don't want you to suffer." I smiled. "Eventually, we will be free from..." I looked around. "...wherever we are. You'll take the serum again, so will I. This way, I'll be there forever, with you." I looked at the ring he gave me after he proposed. "In here, is your promise to love me forever. If you do this, our chances are greater you can do that." I waved at the speaker and where the voice had come from. "I don't give a damn what he wants. I want you. You're my husband. I love you. This is my choice. Bite me!"

Colin heard me and began weakening. "I'm not ready yet." He opened his mouth. The fangs had not quite descended enough.

"And I probably stink." I chuckled. "That's what the disflavor is supposed to do. He never said it wouldn't work for you, just smell and taste bad." I leaned in kissing him. "Once done, the desire to do it will be gone. You will no longer feel the uncontrollable urge. You won't be giving me that nightmare life. When you're ready. I want you, Colin. You will bite me."

It only took a few more minutes to an hour and then Colin moved toward me. "It's controllable now."

I nodded. "Just don't...rip my throat open."

Colin frowned as he came closer. "I love you, Devon." He slowly opened his mouth, and I did see his fangs had descended. Very gently, he put his mouth to my neck kissing it. There was love in that kiss, I felt the slow and gentle prick that really didn't hurt that much. I again felt the rush as the venom came into my system. My arms came around him as I pulled him closer and felt him take blood from me. The venom again caused my blood to rush to ease his feeding and I got an erection again. I would have loved to have had sex with Colin, but we'd given whoever had orchestrated this enough to watch. Slowly Colin drank more, and I felt the venom begin to do its job. Only this time, it was Colin's venom, not some strange vampire and I welcomed it. He was giving me him. He gently laid us on the floor and continued to take the blood. I felt my heart beat slower. Colin finally stopped and looked at me and I saw what he'd done was hurting him. I put my hand on his face and lovingly ran my fingers in his hair as the tears would not come now, but he said lovingly. "I love you, Devon. I never wanted to do this."

I nodded with a smile. "It was going to happen, we knew that." I kissed him gently. "But you did it out of love. That makes it special." I felt my heart slow even more, and then...stopped. "I hope it didn't taste too bad."

Colin shrugged. "Well...it wasn't good, but not too bad." He smiled.

"So, you're not immune." The voice said.

I sat up. "I never was. You said I might." I said. "I told you, it's medical. It can be controlled. So, if you want, you can send Colin and me out in the sun. I still don't understand what you want or why you did this."

I heard the door open. Looking, I saw a man in his late twenties or early thirties. Blonde. Poor man. "I am, as far as I know, the oldest vampire in America. I came over as a young man when there weren't that many colonies. New Amsterdam was what they called New York then. It was the mid-1600s. I was created by a man that came over but died a few hundred years ago. Life was horrible. I was alone, but others were made..." he held his hand out, "not by me, but these new ones were just wild, lost, and some were just plain criminal."

"But I was made in 1851," Colin said.

"But you said you never killed." The man pointed out. "Neither have I. There was plenty of game back then and feeding wasn't too hard. An animal is there to provide men with food, does it matter that we only need the blood, not the flesh?" He smiled looking at us. "My name is Burke. I saw your broadcasts and wanted to know about you." He said to Colin. "I was confused when I saw your records. The records look correct. You forgot something. Your parents' records could not be verified."

Colin shrugged. "It's difficult to do. I should have put that I was a foundling."

Burke smiled. "That might have been better."

I nodded. "Okay, so you're not evil?"

Burke gave a shrugging nod. "No more than most other men."

"How many are there? Vampires?" Colin asked.

Burke motioned for us to follow him. What I hadn't expected was a clean and tidy space. Outside the room, while not palatial, it was comfortable. He led us to a table. "There are thousands. There are thousands more in other countries. There are vampire cells everywhere." He motioned for us to sit at the table long wooden table. On the table were goblets. "I got the feeling when I saw you, that you would be a good addition to our American cell." He smiled at me. "But I admit, I didn't expect you to willingly give yourself to Colin."

I frowned. "Why? I'm sure there were others that have fallen in love and given themselves to vampires, or vice-versa."

He shook his head. "There is one thing that a vampire needs. Blood. A vampire wakes, seeks prey and then goes back to get out of the sun. I found this..." he indicated the surroundings, "...series of caves where I could stay up a little longer. That was hard. I had a limited amount of time to look for them. Once I found them, I began building this." He waved at the room. "Since then, I have expanded these rooms. With the addition of others, we built more. Now, I'm seeking others to help look for hunter vampires who are feeding on humans and, if not convincing them to stop feeding on people, I've illuminated many."

"You're killing vampires?" Colin asked a little surprised.

"They aren't human anymore. They're predators. A danger to us." Burke corrected. He smiled at me. "You're new and probably not ready to feed." He smiled at Colin. "I regret you did that to Devon, but I need your help. We need to look for them and do something. You and Devon are perfect because you have backgrounds." He smiled. "You live in the sun!"

Colin nodded. "I can't now."

Burke nodded. "But you will again." He brought out Colin's phone. "Call...whoever you need to. Tell them you're alright and aren't being kept against your will. Not anymore. With the addition of Devon, maybe we can stop more of us from killing people." He held up a goblet. "This is blood is of a special flock of sheep. I've managed to breed some that have excellent blood. Many animals taste sort of gamy, but this is quite good."

Colin nodded as he sipped, and his eyebrows rose. "This is good."

Burke grinned at me. "It's probably too soon for you to enjoy it, but when you do get the hunger, you'll appreciate it."

That's when the man that had taken us came in the room. "I've got the room ready for..." he looked at us. "...our guests."

Burke nodded. "This is Taylor. He's my right-hand man."

"He's human," I said.

Burke nodded. "Things need to be done outside in the daylight. I have him and some others here to do a lot of those things. Such as bringing you here."

Taylor nodded. "I'm sorry if I scared you, but I didn't know how else to get you here."

"You're not being kept?" Colin asked.

Taylor, who was a dark headed man in his early forties, shook his head. "No, I work here on purpose. My wife was a victim of one of the hunter vampires."

I frowned. "Why not just ask us?"

"We needed to know if we could trust you," Taylor said.

"Your choosing to become a vampire was your choice," Burke said carefully.

"But you didn't give me a choice," Colin said. "You put Devon and me in a room where, after I turned had only the option of feeding off him."

Burke nodded. "I was going to stop you."

"How were we to know that?" Colin asked.

"So, where are we?" I asked.

"In the Ozark National Forest near the Oklahoma border. The Northwest part of Arkansas." Burke said. "Believe me, Devon. I would have stopped him, but you took that option away yourself."

I shook my head. "I knew it was coming. Sooner or later, I would be turned. As I said, I don't want to hurt Colin. I would if I died. I was made from love, so...it's not that terrible."

Colin grunted miserably. "Wait until you feel the serum now."

Burke smiled. "This serum works for every vampire?"

Colin shrugged. "It has so far." He activated his phone and frowned. "No bars. You don't have Wi-Fi."

Burke looked a little embarrassed. "We don't have that much technology down here." He motioned to the far side of the room. "We do have regular phones."

Colin nodded. "You need an upgrade." He got up and went to the phone and he waved at me. "Our mother is probably beside herself. You'll need to speak to her."

I nodded. "But don't say a word about me becoming a vampire."

Colin nodded and dialed.

"Hello?" George said hesitantly. First, no one really knew his private line and his caller ID would have said it was unknown.

"First," Colin said immediately. "Devon and I are fine."

"Oh, thank GOD!!" George said with relief. "You've been gone for two days!"

Colin nodded, but George couldn't see it. "I know. We've contacted the others...at least one of them."

"Where are you?" George asked.

Colin waved at Burke. "Where exactly are we?"

Burke nodded and went to a shelf and brought a map. "Here."

"I'll need some serum," Colin said. "For me and...don't tell Mrs. McGee...Devon will need some, too."

"He was turned!?" George balked.

"By me," Colin admitted. "It's complicated. I'll give you the location and you and the team need to get here and bring things to make more." He smiled at Burke. "We have a new friend."

The place was underground. Burke and his friends had built quite a lot of underground space to live and work. Other than the phone, a few TVs and electricity, that was it. They did have running water. Colin and I were led to a room that we could sleep in. Colin sat on the side of the little double bed as he scratched his head without looking at me.

"I really hadn't thought about a life without you, Devon," Colin said quietly as he removed his shirt. "I meant what I said. We didn't know what the future has for either of us, but I knew, if you died, I'd die." He looked at me. "I never wanted this for you."

I sat beside him. "I wanted a life with you. The idea that I would die, and you would just keep going...that bothered me." I put my arms around him. "Now, I'll be thirty for a while." I grinned. "I would have outgrown you if I hadn't been turned. Forty, then fifty...sixty."

Colin smiled. "And I would love you all those years." He assured kissing me.

"And you still can!" Then I brightened. "Now I get to pig out, too!!"

Colin sat back a bit but grinned. "Oh, so this was the real motivation! You just wanted to eat more!"

"And not gain weight? Sure!" I shrugged is I pushed him back on the bed. "It's a good thing I was working out before the wedding, at least I'll be in good shape," I said straddling him, then stopped as I felt something in me. This taste came in my mouth.

"You're feeling it, aren't you? The beginnings of the hunger," Colin asked suddenly concerned. He gently moved me off of him. "I'll be right back."

While he was gone, I felt something else. My mouth felt odd. Running my tongue over my teeth, I felt the fangs had descended. I looked around the room for a mirror. There was one on the wall I went to and opened my mouth and saw the reflection of the teeth that had grown. Colin came back into the room. "The fangs came pretty fast."

Colin nodded. "And will retract when not hungry." He opened his mouth so I could see his teeth looked like they always did before. He had not a simple goblet of blood, but a big jar and a goblet. Drinking my blood, that goblet completed the needed amount. "You need a large quantity. Believe me, a little isn't enough. You can drink little amounts later, but for now..." He poured some blood in the goblet and handed it to me.

The idea that I was drinking blood sort of repulsed me in my mind. Then I brought the goblet toward my face. The smell...it was...fragrant. The smell of a good steak that had been cooked to perfection! Sweet. That fueled my desire for it. I took a sip. Now, the taste was awesome, I used the analogy of a steak. It didn't really taste like a steak, more like a steak plus! It had a sweet flavor, and I drained the goblet and held the goblet out for more. Colin chucked and poured again. It took a few goblets of blood and...it was like you had a really good meal and was full. "That was amazing!"

Colin nodded. "Burke wasn't kidding. Those sheep make some good blood. It's even better when it comes from a warm body."

I put the goblet down and walked closer to Colin. "Now." I grinned. "We didn't have our wedding night."

Colin backed up grinning. "We've had many nights. We have had days and other times." He smiled as the back of his legs hit the bed.

"Yes, but we need to make love as husbands," I said running my hands over his chest and began unbuttoning his shirt. "You had sex when a vampire before. Now, we're going to make love, as vampires."

Colin smiled and pulled my shirt out. "We might take a shower first. It's been a few days."

I nodded taking his hand. "Where's the shower?"

"I'm glad you don't have the overwhelming desire for blood. This is different." Colin said as he looked. He pointed to a door that was cracked open in the room we were to share. "I think there's a bathroom there."

"Let's go, husband."