Dawn's Second Chance

"Hypothetically?" Alex kept her eyes focused on his, losing herself in the flecks of gold.

"No, for real. Alex, I love you. Be my wife." He planted a light kiss on her lips, savoring their sweetness. He closed his eyes, feeling the slight shift of a light breath as her mouth formed the word he longed to hear more than any other.

"Yes."

Chance smiled down at Alex, trailing a path of kisses from her forehead to her lips. She loved him. She said 'yes' with these lips. He paused, paying homage to her mouth, tracing the soft, supple border with the tip of his tongue. Taking full possession when she opened granting him access. He wanted her so badly, the warmth of her body, soft and yielding beneath him. He couldn't get enough of her.

Alex wiggled out of her pajamas, wanting to feel every inch of his flesh against hers. Tugging on the string of his sleep pants, she gripped the waistband and coaxed them over his narrow hips. She gasped as he lowered his body against hers. His hardness probed at the entrance of her sex. Folding her legs around his waist she guided him in. Shuddering in joy as he entered. Their bodies meshed together, forming a singular being, filled with love, passion, and delight.

Chance struggled to hold back, not wanting to rush the moment. But, Alex was demanding, lifting her hips meeting each long stroke. He felt her hands gripping his shoulders, her nails digging in, spurring him on. Echoes and sighs of pleasure rang in his ears. Closing his eyes, he sped up his thrusts, pressing inside of her with wild abandon. Lost in the heat of her, meeting her demands and his own. With one last push he sent them both toppling over the edge, floating in a world of fulfillment, where there was nothing and nobody else, just the two of them.

Alex stretched out on the bed, admiring a good rear view of Chance as he dressed. Although it was her birthday and that should entitle her to get anything she wanted. The rest of the world still went on. Besides, she already had everything she wanted. She smiled at Chance coyly. A crooked grin filled with promise. "Don't let John Mark kick that gorgeous butt of yours too hard."

Chance scoffed as he dug around in his duffel bag. His fingers locked onto the smooth wood box. "It's not John Mark I'm worried about. It's Sam." Luckily, he'd thought to grab the ring out of his sock drawer, just in case he managed to find the courage to ask her.

"Aw, did the little girl kick the big warrior's behind?" Alex teased. She rolled over onto her belly, resting her chin on her hand, watching Chance dress. The covers slid off the curve of her behind and she reveled in the heat in his eyes as they traveled a path down her bare skin.

"Yeah. She did." He tossed the box to her. It landed on the bed with a soft thump on the covers. "Here."

Alex took the box, shooting him a questioning look. "What's this?" The sleek rosewood box glimmered dully in the pale light from the lamp on her nightstand. Tempting her to open it.

Chance grinned, smugly at Alex. Smirking at the trace of the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip. She held the box in her hand, her fingers resting on the lid. "I came prepared. You can open it if you want."

Alex sat the box down on the nightstand. Determined not to open it until her birthday party tonight. "No, I can wait." Her eyes traveled longingly to the box and then to Chance. She frowned with a pouty scowl. "You did this to torture me didn't you?"

"Sure did." He leaned over the edge of the bed, dropping a kiss onto the end of her nose. "You'll never wait to open it," Chance said with a light chuckle. Alex might pretend to be a tomboy. As if jewelry held no interest for her. Deep in her heart, she was a woman, all too curious. Softened and infatuated by sparkly, pretty things. She'd open the box the second he was out of the room.

"I will too," Alex said with determination.

"No you won't. The minute I leave you're going to peek."

Alex huffed, "Will not." She could wait. Janine would have opened the box the second it landed on the bed. Any woman would have. But, not her. She was patient. She didn't want to ruin the surprise.

Chance chuckled, "We'll see." He gave her one last peck and left, closing the door to her suite discreetly behind him. Grinning, he leaned against the wall waiting.

Alex licked her lips and eyed the box longingly. She was dying to know what the ring that she'd be wearing for the rest of her very long life looked like. The lamplight reflected off the smooth, sleek surface of the box, taunting her.

Chance was busy. He'd never know if she took a little peek inside. She grabbed the box turning it over and over in her palm, knowing she shouldn't, but she couldn't resist. What could one little peek hurt? When she opened it officially, she could fake it. She practiced her surprised expression in the mirror for a minute. Thoroughly satisfied that she could master the look of eager shock, she cracked the lid open. Gasping in delight she eyed the contents. The stones twinkled brilliantly nestled in a bed of navy blue velvet. "I LOVE IT!" she blurted out.

Chance twisted the doorknob and threw the door open. "I CAUGHT YOU!" He beamed triumphantly.

Alex pressed her fingers to her mouth. OOPS! She was busted. Caught in the act. "I plea the fifth," she said as she snapped the box closed and set it down on the nightstand.

"Do you want to put it on?" Chance asked as he crossed the room and picked up the box.

Alex nodded. Extending her left hand she waited. His fingers were gentle as he grasped her hand and slid the ring into place on her finger. The ring fit perfectly. She wiggled her fingers watching as the center stone caught the light and changed colors. "It's amazing."

Chance lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the ring. "No, you're amazing." He smiled at her, relishing the look of happiness and utter contentment that spread across her face. He frowned, feeling John Mark entering his mind, calling for him. "I gotta go."

Alex sighed, wishing Chance could stay. "Ok, I think I'm going to take a bath. Janine should be pounding on the door any minute."

"Love you," Chance said, bending to steal one last kiss for the road. Seeing her splayed out on the bed, naked, wearing nothing but her engagement ring was too tempting. John Mark would kick his ass personally, if he were late again. He wanted to be fully functional tonight. After the party, he had plans for Alex. A private celebration with no one except for the two of them.

"You too," Alex said. Chance left her alone, gently closing the door behind him. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ring on her finger. When Lucien died, she swore her life was over. She'd resolved herself to live a long, lonely, life alone. Never in her wildest dreams did she believe for one second that she'd get a second chance at love.

Chapter 47

Janine climbed up on the ladder, stretching as high as she could reach to hang colorful balloons and streamers from the wooden support beams crisscrossing throughout the rec room's ceiling. Inching just a little higher, she wobbled on her tiptoes, trying to get the paper streamer secured in exactly the right place. She could just barely touch, if only the tape would cooperate and stick to the polished beam. She extended her reach, needing just another centimeter. The decorations had to be perfectly centered to the room. Each arch of streamer had to be identical or they wouldn't look right and she'd have to start all over. Tonight, everything to be perfect for Alex's party.

The ladder rocked and tipped, standing on the top rung, Janine teetered precariously with the heel of her designer shoe stuck between the metal grid work of the top step. Dizzied by the ladder's sudden pitch, knocked off balance, and her head spinning, she fell, landing in a pair of solid masculine arms. "Hi Patrick," she squeaked.

"What are you doing?" Patrick huffed, releasing her from his hold. Once he was certain she had her footing, he bent to fold the ladder, leaning it against a far wall. Biting back a curse, he plucked her stiletto-heeled shoe out of the step and checked it for damage. Other than a few scuffs, the shoe was fine. Damn woman could have broken her ankle in those things.

"Decorating for the party," Janine answered. Snatching her shoe out of Patrick's hand and sliding her foot into the pump, she frowned at the deep gauges from the ladder. The fashion police might arrest her for damaging her favorite pair of Pradas. Surely, it was a criminal offence.

"Why didn't you wait for me to help you?" Patrick asked, taking the roll of streamers from her hand. How ridiculous. Streamers and balloons? Soon enough, Alex wouldn't give a damn about her birthday. Far too many would pass and she'd lose count. Most of them did. Birthdays didn't matter much when you had an endless supply of them. He frowned at Janine and positioned the ladder, climbing up to tape the streamers in place. Damn woman, didn't she realize that she could have fallen and broken her neck if he hadn't been here to save her?

"You were busy and I'm not totally inept," Janine retorted, planting her hands firmly on her hips. Patrick was pissed at her for decorating? Really? Resisting the urge to stomp her abused Pradas, she handed him another piece of tape.

"Humph," Patrick grumbled. "Is this where you want it?"

"It's perfect," Janine begrudgingly replied, silently cursing her limitations. She would have never gotten the streamer into place. She was too short and the ladder wasn't tall enough. No, she wasn't short...she was petite. Vertically challenged. "Thanks."

Patrick climbed from the ladder and smoothed his hand down Janine's back. Not a scratch on her, thanks to him. She needed to be more careful. She was far too breakable and he wouldn't stand aside and wait for nature to heal her if she got hurt beyond a few bumps and scrapes. "Please, be more cautious."

She smiled up at Patrick and rose on her tiptoes to give him a quick smooch on the cheek. "You worry too much." And he did. He was always stressing over the smallest things. Don't do this. Don't do that. Almost to the point of nagging her. In a way, she found his protectiveness of her adorable. And sometimes, his pushiness and constant worry over her safety was smothering and damn annoying. She wasn't that fragile. Not nearly as much as he thought she was.

Patrick nuzzled Janine's ear, wrapping his fingers around her curvy waist to guide her in line with his body. He nipped at her playfully, whispering, "You don't worry enough."

Janine cooed and leaned in to his body, pressing hers against him. Maybe, she should fall off ladders more often. He was so cute when he was like this. All manly and attentive. "I'll be more careful."

"Promise." Patrick held Janine close, sensing her reaction to him. The blood rushed to her cheeks, turning them a glorious pink rose color through the layer of foundation. Her pulse sped up, in response to his nearness. She was beautiful, blushing like a virgin in his arms. Her heartbeat pounded, so alive and so vital, against his chest. He didn't know what he'd do if something happened to her.

"I promise." She broke Patrick's embrace, twisting free from his arms. "I've got to get ready. Since it's a weeknight, the party will start early."

"Ok, if you need anything, just let me know. And stay off that ladder. It isn't safe," Patrick barked in a command. As if she'd listen.

"Thanks." Janine smiled after Patrick, watching the back pockets of his faded jeans cup his ass as he walked away. Physically, they were as close as any couple could be. But, emotionally, he kept his distance and kept her at a distance too. He was the love of her life. The mystical ONE every woman dreamed of. But, she didn't know how much longer she could hold out. She was so tired of waiting for him to come around. She was an all or nothing kind of girl. And half-way was not her way of doing things.

Janine turned, following the sound of a throat clearing behind her. "Toby. I've been waiting for you forever!" she exclaimed. She smiled slyly, eying the cart overflowing with electronics. "Are you sure this will work? Anna will be able to join the party from her house. We will see her and she'll see us? It'll really be like she's here?"

"Don't sweat it," Toby said. He set the laptop down on a table and began hooking in wires and cables. "Anna won't miss a thing."

Janine cocked her head as the wheels began turning. "I didn't get to spend much time with Anna the last time she was here. When is she coming back?" Trying to get information out of Toby was like trying to get blood out of a turnip. He was tightlipped about his relationship with Anna. It was so obvious they were in love and he was biding his time for the right moment. Janine knew she could help him out, if she could get him to spill the beans.

"I dunno," Toby replied shrugging his shoulders. He wasn't about to tell Janine anything. He was a young vampire. But, he wasn't born yesterday. And he certainly didn't need her poking her nose into his business and mucking up his plans.

"She's a good catch. You need to hurry up and reel her in before she slips off the hook." Janine wasn't prying. Not really. She was just fishing for a little information.

Toby looked over his shoulder and smiled, with a wink he said, "I'm working on it."

Janine beamed, shooting Toby a wide smile. Anna was a great shopping companion. The woman knew quality goods and didn't mind spending her hard earned money to buy them. And they wore the same shoe size. "Good." She snatched up Toby in a light hug. Awkwardly, he patted her back and wiggled out of her arms. "Well, I'm off. See you at the party."

"See ya Janine." Toby turned back to the keyboard and finished setting up the video feed. This little scheme was part two of his plan to make Anna realize how much he meant to her. And how much she missed everyone here. A house was just a house. It was the people in it that made it a home. He just had to make her see it. She didn't belong in the city. She belonged here. The bait was definitely cast now all he had to do was wait for her to bite and set the hook.

********

John Mark tossed Chance down on the mat with a hard thud. The boy wasn't worth a damn today. "C'mon cupcake, FOCUS!"

"Sorry," Chance huffed, hopping to his feet ready for round three of John Mark's favorite game: Kick Chance's Ass. He crouched and waited for the next wave of assault.

John Mark shook his head. "Chance, it's just too easy." He walked over and tapped Chance's forehead with his index finger. "What's going on up there?"

Chance batted John Mark's hand away and stepped back watching him warily. Prepared for a surprise attack. "Nothing."

"Now that's an understatement," John Mark retorted. He leaned in closer, focusing his stare, locking onto Chance's eyes. The boy definitely had something on his mind and it wasn't practice. "Does this have something to do with Alex?"

Chance grinned and nodded. "I guess so." John Mark was his mentor and one of his best friends. Why not tell him the good news? "I asked Alex to marry me."

John Mark chuckled proudly. "And?"

"She said yes." The air whooshed out of his lungs as John Mark clapped him on the back.

"Congratulations boy!" John Mark grinned, remembering how crazy he'd acted when he fell in love with Robbie. "Get the hell out of here. Take the afternoon off," he said chucking his thumb to the edge of the mat.

"You're done kicking my ass?" Chance asked.

"For the moment." John Mark shrugged, snickering. "What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic. But, I expect you in this gym ON TIME at five tomorrow morning."

Chance grinned and beat feet for the locker room. "You got it boss."

"Go on boy, getchaassouttahere, before I change my mind." John Mark laughed, watching Chance run at vampire speed for the locker room to change. He sighed a deep breath of relief. Lucien was his best friend and his mentor, his leader. Lucien's loss cut him deeply.

He'd tried to take care of Alex, as Lucien would have wanted. When she chose to become a Son. At least, John Mark had that. He'd worried that she might try to join Lucien in the grave. As a human, it would have been easy enough for her to do. For a vampire, it was damn near impossible. Everyone thought that if they just gave her space, she'd find her own way. Out of respect the brothers gave her as much time as she needed to mourn. They thought she'd mourn forever. There didn't seem to be anyone capable of pulling her back. Not even her parents could console her.

It was funny, looking back on it now, how fate worked. How the goddess fit the broken pieces together. Chance had been dragged into this world. Thrust into becoming part of something he didn't understand. It was for his mother's sake that he came. Because of her bravery and courage, the same values that she'd passed onto her son, that he chose to stay and fight.

The rogues took a lot from everyone that night. The brothers lost their home to the flames. Lucien had been lost in the heat of the battle. Dane had been forced to become a leader out of necessity. Marcus had become a protector and a best friend. Candace had to act on a leap of faith, a leap that would eventually bring her to Will, and her son, to Alex. For every loss there was a gain, earned through blood, suffering, and tears.

John Mark gathered up the towel Chance had dropped on the floor in his haste to get back to Alex and dropped it in the hamper. With a smile, perhaps the first genuine smile to curl his lips in a long time, he flicked out the lights in the gym. Tonight would be more than just a birthday party. It would be a celebration of life, love, and something they desperately needed, hope.

*****

Anna exhaled a sigh of relief. The workday flew by and she was still going strong. Partially in thanks to the great night's sleep she'd gotten last night. And mostly because her boss had his sights on a new victim...poor thing... and had left her alone today. A majority of her work was caught up, well...at least sorted into neat piles on her desk. And her latest project was all but finished.

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she kicked off her pumps and made her way into the dining room, pausing to glance at the computer monitor neatly tucked into the corner of the room. She could have sworn Toby shut the computer down before he left last night. There was a small white cardboard box and a note with her name written in heavy, block handwriting sitting next to the keyboard. Frowning in confusion and irritated that one of the brothers had just simply waltzed into her home while she was out. She picked up the note and opened the envelope.

Anna,

Toby and Janine insist that you join in Alex's birthday celebration.

Everything is set up and ready to go.

Have a good time.

Bryce

PS: I hope you're feeling better. If not, I'll be around.



Chapter 48

Anna glanced up from the note to see Janine face pop up in the computer monitor. "Hello? Is this thing on? Hello?" Janine's voice had a tinny quality to it, weak and diffuse as it filtered through the laptop's speakers.

"Janine? Hi! I'm here." Anna shouted, giggling as she sat in front of the tiny round eye of the camera.

Janine jumped back in surprise. Anna wasn't there, and then suddenly, she was. "Oh, there you are." She beamed at her human BFF through the camera's eye. "Tonight is going to be SO fabulous. The best birthday party ever! Thanks for coming! I only wish you could be here with us in person."

Anna smiled at the monitor. Janine was over the top tonight. Dressed in designer clothing, hair styled to perfection, and makeup expertly applied. "I do too." Self-consciously, her hand went to the tight chignon at the base of her scalp. The bun was loose. And stray tendrils of hair poked out here and there. She was still dressed in her business suit. The lapel of her pastel jacket, still crisp as when she'd pulled it off the hanger this morning. There was a tiny spot of salad oil on the collar of her ivory colored silk blouse. Her lipstick and makeup faded hours ago. If she'd known she was going to be on camera tonight, even if it was just Janine and the brothers, she would have come straight home after work instead of stopping by the gym for a quick workout.