It Had To Be You

Chapter 2

Copyright © 2023 Cassey9

Third Person P.O.V

Lenora sat up erect as her daughter's low, softened cries reached her ears and pierced her heart. Looking toward the other vampires seated at the table, Lenora also noticed their sense of recognition. Both Selene and Amelia's gazes were wide with worry and questions. Gently pushing her chair back, the vampire pulled the napkin from her lap, but a hand on her thigh halted her departure.

“Baby?” Hazel called softly to her vampire. “Can you help me with something? In the kitchen.”

Lenora nodded, “Yes.”

Her gaze skirted over the table. "Please excuse us," Hazel said, taking her vampire's hand, guiding Lenora toward the kitchen for privacy. Not that was a possibility with the other vampire's heightened sense of hearing.

“Cara Mia, I need to go to our daughter,” Lenora said as fury roared in her mind. “She’s crying! It breaks my heart when she…”

“I know baby.”

“I need to…”

Hazel cupped her vampire's jaw and directed Lenora's gaze toward hers. "No. Don't," she whispered. Hazel was fully aware of Lenora's cause for concern. Being Lenora's mate, bonding with her had heightened some aspects of her life. She was attuned to many things. Her family, the most.

“She’s hurting, Cara Mia,” Lenora brokenly whispered as she caught more of her daughter’s soft sobbing. “Our daughter is hurting.”

“I know,” Hazel murmured. Wrapping her arms around her vampire’s torso, Hazel drew Lenora close.

“Cara Mia…”

"We both know why," Hazel sighed in defeat. She, too, had felt their daughter's distress when Lenora had handed her the gift. She had wanted to comfort her, assure her that her aunt would come, but Hazel knew not to. Also, Lea didn't like being cornered or prodded when sad or annoyed, especially not about Jillian. That topic was a no-go zone. But Hazel knew their daughter would eventually come to them in her own time. When she was ready. "She will come to us. When she's ready to talk about it, my angel. Just, not tonight. Give her time, baby."

"Jillian!" Lenora hissed out the name as anger rose in her like a tide. It was all her sister's fault, and it made the vampire seeth on the inside. This round, the vampire wouldn't let it slide. Four times was one too many. Jillian was an important part of Lea's life, and her absence was clearly affecting her daughter. "I think I should have a talk with her about the importance of family. My sister seems to have forgotten that."

Hazel pulled back at her mate's latter statement. The way Lenora had emphasized the word 'talk' made Hazel realize that words were the last thing on her vampire's mind. "No," Hazel warningly said. "Don't you dare! I know what you are thinking, baby."

“What?”"I know you, baby," Hazel uttered, trying but failing to keep amusement from her voice. "So no!"

"I'll think of it," Lenora halfheartedly said. Her mind was already set, though. It was time to have a talk with her sister. Today was Lea's special day, and yet again, her daughter was sad at her aunt's absence. Her cries mirrored those of a person whose heart had been shattered. Jillian had to turn over a new leaf, behavior-wise, or face her wrath. No one had the right to make her little princess cry. No one.

“Lenora. Don’t do anything...”

"I said I will think about it," Lenora said. The vampire leaned down and kissed her mate. "Come on, let's head back before Liam finds a way to sneak in more cake for his dinner!"

The mention of the cake had Hazel's attention set back on their son. "You're right," she whispered, taking hold of Lenora's hand. Intertwining their fingers, Hazel drew Lenora close. "Come on! Let's go wrap up this evening! You promised me something, remember? A night of wonder."

Lenora smiled down at her mate, the grin as lecherous as the sparkle in her eyes. "How could I forget, Cara Mia?"

~~~~~Later that night~~~~~~~

The vampire sat on the bed and gazed down at her angel. Her hand gently stroked the smooth blonde locks of hair. The smile on Jillian's face grew as she inhaled the honeysuckle scent that was distinctly her mate's. The more Jillian leaned in, the deeper the vampire drowned in the heady, blissful scent. With Lea's breathing slow and even, the vampire was grateful that her niece was deep asleep. Alone in the dead of night, Jillian could finally let her longing show. Her eyes burned with fervent desire and love, a love hidden from the world, buried deep within her soul, a love she couldn't live or experience – a love that was wrong.

"What are you doing?" Lea groggily asked as her sleep-filled eyes opened with difficulty. The dim bulbs on the wall provided just enough light to confirm that her midnight visitor was real. "Aunt Jillian?" Lea softly breathed out the name like a prayer. Her hands slowly rubbed her eyes in an attempt to ensure she wasn't dreaming. "Aunt..."

"Go back to sleep," Jillian said, attempting to pull away, but she was held back by the hands gripping her coat. "Lea, just go back..."

"Don't go," Lea interjected in panic. She attempted to sit up, realizing her error as her face was brought inches away from the woman hovering above her. She couldn't tear her gaze from the inviting lips that slightly parted. Lea looked up into eyes with a crimson glow that seemed to see right through her. She loved it when her aunt's gaze turned red. It was a heady sight.

Jillian was fighting a losing battle. Her growing need for her mate came with an intensity that rattled the vampire. "Lea..." Jillian trembled with effort to contain the animal-like instincts clawing her insides, demanding to be released. In a desperate attempt to quell her desire, the vampire closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but it didn't help with Lea being so close and her scent invading her senses. Jillian's jaw tightened as Lea's warm breath caressed her face. It was more than difficult trying to quiet her yearning.

"Please. Don't go," Lea whispered, just as entranced by their moment as the vampire was. How could something so wrong enliven her in an instant? Not long ago, she had been asleep, trapped in a dreamless trance. But the feel of the weight against her side, the familiar tingle she felt when her aunt was close, had changed everything. Lea had awoken to a different world, a better one.

Her blood raced, and her vision was hazy, not from sleep, but from something else. Lea didn't know what exactly, but it was an exhilarating feeling. Her heart thumped so fast that Lea feared it might jump right out of her throat.

"It wasn't my intention to ruin your evening and your sleep," Jillian apologetically offered in a soothing tone. Her hand grazed Lea's face, fingers tracing delicate skin up to her eyes, where a lone tear threatened to fall. "You cried, my angel. I can still feel your sadness."

"Tonight, when you weren't there..." Lea halted, her throat clenched by raging emotions. "I really wanted you there beside me, but... you weren't, Aunt Jillian."

"Words can't begin to describe how deeply I regret hurting you. Will you forgive me, my angel?"

Glancing towards the device on her bedside table, Lea felt herself smile as she read the red numbers on the clock. “Aunt Jillian, my night wasn’t ruined. You… you finally came.”

“Did you like it? Your present?”

Lea looked away from her aunt. Amid the emotional turmoil, she hadn't gotten around to opening her presents. She hadn't even changed from her evening dress as she had tearfully slipped into sleep. Lea could feel the box digging into her side.

Supporting her weight with her elbow, Jillian anxiously stared at her mate. “You didn't like it?” the vampire questioned with a dejected voice. “Well, I could get you something else. Anything! What do you…”

Lea placed her finger on the vampire's lips, effectively silencing her. “I... I...” Lea struggled to find the right words. Her hand trembled at the feel of the mouth against her finger. The lips felt so soft, velvety, and probably tasted just as sweet as they had the last time... No! Lea halted her thoughts before they strayed into dangerous waters.

“My angel? What would you like instead? Tell me…”

“I didn't open it,” Lea admitted behind closed eyes. “I'm sure it's amazing, beautiful. I just didn't have the time to... I mean, I have it here with me.” Releasing the vampire with one hand, Lea patted the space next to her on the bed while her other arm encircled her aunt's neck. She knew her aunt could disappear using her supernatural speed. “Here it is! I could open it now.”

“No. You can open it tomorrow.”

“Okay aunt. I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“Well, I'll leave you to sleep. Good night, my angel,” Jillian whispered and leaned forward to kiss Lea's temple. The vampire's lips lingered on the warm skin before pulling back reluctantly. “I hope all your wishes on this day come true.”

“Some have,” Lea whispered in the small space between them. She had wished to see her aunt before the day's end, and here she was, seated on her bed before her very own eyes. “But I also know that not all wishes can come true.”

“Oh, I know they do. Nothing is impossible, my angel. Nothing. I promise.”

Lea giggled at the conviction in her aunt’s voice. “I think you’re very wrong there, aunt Jillian. Some things we want are impossible to get or achieve, so we just have to accept it. That’s life, right?”

“I don't think so. I'm a firm believer in seizing what you set your heart on. No matter how impossible the situation,” Jillian advised softly. “Just don't focus too much on the impossibility aspect. Fight!” The vampire knew she was lying through her teeth, but then again, Jillian was sure that whatever her niece was referring to was far different from the tight spot that she would forever be confined in when it came to Lea.

“Okay then. If you say so, Aunt Jillian.”

“When did you become this mature?”

Lea shrugged with a smirk, “I guess it comes with age. I’m twenty-three years old now.”

“I know, my angel. I know,” Jillian stated as her voice dropped. “Now go back to sleep. You still have classes to attend tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Lea sighed in exaggeration. Despite everything, she was exhausted and needed sleep. “Aunt Jillian?”

“Yes.”

“You said I could ask you for anything, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I don’t want you to go,” Lea said, still unwilling to let go of the vampire. “Stay. I want you to stay.”

“Of course,” Jillian whispered in resignation. She watched disbelief play off in her niece’s features.

They hadn’t shared a bed since the incident and Lea looked worried that she would flee from her like the last time. “Anything for you, my a.” Those words were enough to bear away Lea’s hesitation and she slowly let go. Kicking off her heels, Jillian sat on the bed and watched Lea rest her head on her lap. The vampire threaded her fingers through the blonde tresses. “Go to sleep.”

“Okay.”