Read VA 2 - Blood Jewel for Free Online Page A

research on
honeymoon destinations. I went to my quarters and was only minutes
into my studies when I felt Solomon’s presence outside my door.
“You can come in.”
    He opened my bedroom door and stuck
his head inside the doorway. “Am I interrupting
anything?”
    I lifted my eyes from my computer.
“Of course not. I could use your help.”
    “What are you working
on?”
    “I’m looking for the place I want
to take Chansey on our honeymoon. She wants something tropical.” He
walked behind me and peered over my shoulder.
    “She wants to take advantage of it
before she is a vampire. Am I right?”
    I groaned, “Yep. That’s exactly
what she said.”
    He thought briefly and said, “I
vote for the Islands of Tahiti. I’ve always wanted to go there
because there’s something about those private, thatch-covered
bungalows over the water that seem so cool. Maybe I just think that
because it’s something I’ll never get to experience.”
    Private bungalows. Those two words
alone had me sold. “Oh, wow. That sounds perfect. See, you’re good
for something after all. I think she would absolutely love that.
This is why you are my best friend. You always have the answers I
need.”
    “Glad to be of assistance.” He
walked back around my desk, sat in the leather recliner I used for
reading and leaned it into the reclined position.
    “Now, I have another question for
you and you had better give me the answer I want.” He looked
puzzled by my words and I continued, “I want you to be my best man.
Will you stand by my side when I marry Chansey?”
    I don’t know why, but he looked so
surprised by my request. “What about Sully? He’s your
brother.”
    “He is my brother by blood, but
you are my brother by choice and the one that has been by my side
for almost 22 years. You have been so much more than my mentor and
that is why I have chosen you to stand next to me as I take Chansey
to be my wife.”
    He laced his fingers behind his
head. “I’ll be glad to stand next to you if it means I get to
escort one of Chansey’s hot friends. Does this mean I have to wear
a monkey suit?”
    What was that supposed to mean
about Chansey’s hot friends? “Not my call on the monkey suit, so
you might want to get in good graces with the girls since they are
making all of those decisions.”
    He shook his head because he knew
he’d never be in good graces with Gia or Lairah. “You might as well
feed me a banana. Gia and Lairah aren’t letting me out of the
monkey suit.”
    ≈ ≈ ≈
    Gia and Lairah were unaware of the
favor they did for me by keeping Chansey occupied until dinner. Her
distraction gave me the time and privacy I needed to plan our
honeymoon since I now knew the date.
    I chose a charming bed and
breakfast in New Orleans for our wedding night and made
arrangements to be the only occupants of the home, ensuring total
privacy for us. The following day, we would fly to the Tahitian
islands where we would stay for two weeks before returning home to
begin our new lives together as husband and wife.
    Gia and Lairah released Chansey in
time for her freshen up a little before dinner so I sat in my
recliner as I waited for her to come out of the bathroom. I was
confident in her acceptance of me as a vampire, but she was still
human and it didn’t diminish my concern for her reaction to seeing
vampires drink blood that came from people like her.
    As we walked toward the dining hall
I felt obligated to offer her a way out. “You don’t have to do
this.”
    She didn’t slow as we continued
walking. “You invited me to join you and now you’re trying to back
out. What’s with the mixed signals?”
    I was wrong to try to take back my
invitation. “I’m sorry, you’re right. It’s just my protective
nature trying to step forward to dominate because I don’t want to
push you into anything you’re not ready for.”
    She laughed and said, “Well, it’s a
little late for that considering I was born for this,