Love Bites

Steps

He lay naked on the bed, a black silk sheet just hiding his modesty; not that he cared. Tasha lay in the crook of his arm, one hand resting on his chest. He watched her sleep. He was so lucky to have her. A girl who, in a heartbeat, had given up her humanity for him, without him even asking. In his ninety years he'd never felt like this about anyone. She'd been through so much and her body wore the proof. He gently ran his finger up the length of the scar on her arm and guilt flooded him. He and Marcus had started her whole downward spiral that night. He actually cringed at how much of a douche he and Marcus had been in the last few years. The fact that she'd forgiven him his part in it all was unbelievable. He'd repay her for everything: somehow.

Right now, however, he felt blissful. He was back to being Cal Lucien: vampire, not sad, little, insignificant human. Better still Tasha was back in his arms, where she belonged. He also had Cassie as a friend and an ally. Life was good.

                                                                                                ***

Alice barked merrily when she walked in the back door. She came bounding over and jumped up, trying desperately to lick her face. "Down girl, you soppy sod." Tasha laughed. "Anyone home?"

Her grandmother sat on the sofa a basket of wool at her feet, knitting needles in hand. Her grandfather was snoozing in the chair.

"Morning gran." Tasha bent down and kissed her cheek. Sorry I didn't make it home last night. It was too late to call by the time the movie finished."

"That's okay dear. Tea?"

"Please." Cal smiled his most winning smile. Still feeling as though he needed to make them like him.

"I wanted to speak to you both. We wanted to speak to you both." Tasha started when they were all settled with tea and biscuits. She was nervous, but wasn't sure why. "Cal and I, well we love each other very much..."

"Tasha dear," her grandfather interrupted. "You don't need our blessing. We both love Cal and if you want to move in with him, then so be it. We're happy if you're happy darling."

Tasha's mouth fell open, "How did you know I was going to say that?"

"We were young once Tasha. We know what love looks like. When you can't keep your hands off each other." her grandmother winked. 

Tasha whipped her hand off Cal's thigh where it had been resting. "Gran!" she couldn't believe what was coming out of her gran's mouth. "Are you sure?" she asked, suddenly more serious. "I don't want you guys to think I'm ungrateful."

Her grandparents shook their heads. "We know you're not ungrateful. You are growing up however. You're an adult Tasha and you've found the man you want to be with. So we are happy for you." 

"Thank you guys."

"One condition," her grandmother said seriously. "You come home for Sunday lunch at least once a month."

Tasha and Cal laughed. "Done."

***

Cal helped tidy away the cups whilst Tasha and her grandmother went upstairs to begin packing. "Your blessing means a lot to me, to us." he said to Charlie.

"You two may have had a rough patch but you saved our girl when it mattered most. You proved that you care about her, maybe even love her, so that's all I can ask for." Charlie said as he stacked teacups into the dishwasher.

"I do love her." Cal told him emphatically. He needed her family to know how much she meant to him.

"As much as your kind can, I suppose." he looked Cal dead in the eyes and Cal reeled.