The Bartender's Vampire [COMPLETED]

Chapter Ten - MARK

Date forty was when Clawd and Draculaura told the werewolf's parents that his mate was a vampire. They had accepted Draculaura with open arms, practically welcoming her to the family. 

Now the pair sits on the beach for their fifty-sixth date. The full moon is shining brightly above them, casting its reflection over the rippling water. Draculaura reaches over and threads her fingers through Clawd's. He smiles, squeezing her hand in return. 

"I love you," she whispers. 

He turns toward her, his eyes glowing a soft gold under the moon. "I love you, too, Laura," he says softly. He reaches up with his free hand, laying it on her cheek. She closes her eyes, leaning into his palm. He leans to the side and kisses her, soft and gentle.

Clawd moves, pushing her onto her back on the sandy beach. He positions himself above her and leans down to kiss her again. Her arms wrap around his neck as she kisses him back with the same love he shows her. 

He pulls back, his hands sinking into the sand on either side of her head. He swallows, squeezing his eyes shut. 

"What's wrong?" she asks, her voice a gentle whisper in the night wind. 

"My wolf wants us to..." 

"Oh." She ran her hands over his chest. "Do you want to?"

"Of course," he says as he opens his eyes. "I love you. Of course I do. But I'm not forcing you into anything," he says.

"Clawd, I'm okay with it. I swear," she says. 

He growls softly, leaning down to kiss her neck, right where his wolf is begging him to sink his teeth. "I don't want to hurt you," he murmurs.

"It's okay, I promise." 

"Not here," he says, pushing himself away from her. "Where can we go?" he asks. 

"My dad won't be home for another week," she suggests.

Clawd gets to his feet and grabs her hand, pulling her off the sand. "Come on."

***

Draculaura quietly slips out of her bed, out from under Clawd's arm. He groans, shoving his hand under his head. She smiles softly and heads for the bathroom. She closes the door and flips on the light. In the mirror above the sink, she can see the mark on her neck, the one Clawd had given her only half an hour previous. 

It's beginning to heal, something she is thankful for. By the time her father gets back, it'll be nothing more than a scar. 

Clawd Wolf is her mate. For life. The mark proves it. 

Or, for the next four hundred years. And then she's on her own again. 

She sighs, unwilling to think about losing him. Shutting off the light, she pulls open the door and walks back into her bedroom. She crosses the room and slips back under the cover. 

Clawd's arm wraps tightly around her waist as he pulls her petite frame back against his broad chest. "Where'd you go?" he asks tiredly. 

"Bathroom." 

"Mm." He kisses her shoulder. "I love you." 

She smiles softly. "I love you, too." She allows her hand to rest on top of his. "Goodnight, Clawd." 

"Mmhmm." He pulls her closer, if that's even possible. "Night, D."