Part 13 (1/2)
Chapter Fifteen.
From his place at Conrad's side, on the dais at the front of the room, Damian surveyed the a.s.sembly. Though his gaze tracked Georgia's progress through the crowd, he tried to disguise his interest, tried not to let his annoyance show. Of course she would choose to wear a gown that left so much of her back exposed, that would showcase her tattoo. He should have antic.i.p.ated she would do such a thing. Once, such a thing wouldn't have bothered him, once, when he himself wore the same mark...
”Something wrong, caro?” Conrad inquired. ”You seem unhappy. Why is that? Your party appears to be quite a success. I should think you'd be more pleased.”
Damian shrugged. ”S. I am pleased. It's just...well, there are several things that are not as I'd hoped. For one, the New Year is only minutes away and Marc is not yet here. I had hoped he would at least stop by for a few minutes.”
”Let the boy have his s.p.a.ce, my dear. As I've said, it's probably for the best that he stay away. It's not the first New Year you've celebrated without him and it's such a small thing, one moment in time. What does it matter, when set against all the rest? Besides, look over there; at least uno de sus bebes is here tonight. Julie is looking quite lovely, don't you think? I don't believe I've ever seen her in that color before.”
”I'm sure you have, you know,” Damian pointed out. ”You just don't recall it.”
”Very possible, I suppose. In any event, I commend you on choosing to stipulate evening wear for this event. I'm enjoying this so much more than the last party you threw. I don't miss all the outlandish costumes or the inevitable hurt feelings when one fails to correctly interpret what someone else is wearing. Plus, this look flatters everyone.”
Everyone? Damian could not help but notice the warmth in Conrad's eyes as his gaze lingered on Georgia once again. And that d.a.m.ned tattoo. ”Oh, indeed. Everyone's looking marvelous. In fact I was just thinking that very thing. Christian, in particular, looks wonderfully well. Did you not think so? Muy atractivo. But, then again, he always was.”
Conrad's mouth tightened infinitesimally. ”Damian,” he growled in warning tones. ”Don't start.”
”What? You disagree?” Damian feigned surprise. ”But how is this possible? You once were quite enamored of him, were you not?”
”Did you think so? I, myself, would hardly have phrased it that way.”
”Ah, well, perhaps this time it is my memory that's in error. How would you phrase it?”
Conrad turned to look at him and the smoldering heat in his gaze struck Damian like a fist. ”As I recall, caro, it was you with whom I was enamored-both then and now. That is how I would phrase it, if you really wish to know, and that is what I would have you remember, instead of all this other nonsense.”
The sincerity in Conrad's tone caused Damian's heart to race and he found he could no longer comfortably meet that heated gaze. He turned his head away as a hot blush rose in his cheeks.
Conrad took hold of his chin, forcing Damian to face him once more. ”Considering it's my own feelings we're discussing, my love, I wonder if we might not agree-just this once-to allow my recollections to stand?”
Damian nodded. ”Of-of course,” he stammered in breathless tones. ”As-as you wish, querido.”
Conrad smiled. ”Thank you,” he replied as he drew Damian to him. Their lips met in a long, slow, leisurely kiss, one that Conrad seemed in no great hurry to end. Gradually, Damian's racing heart slowed. His hand crept up to cup Conrad's face. Conrad's arms tightened around him, pressing Damian even closer. Somewhere in the distance, Damian heard the countdown to the New Year begin, but it was just as Conrad had said, a small matter, a single moment, hardly worth noting. Compared to the love he could feel contained within this kiss, or in the lifetime they would share-had shared, were sharing-it was nothing at all.
Cheers erupted all around her, but Julie could not pull her gaze from the couple kissing on the dais. She couldn't recall ever having seen them so happy, but her own happiness on their account was tinged with a small amount of envy. Would she ever find something like that for herself?
”Bonne annee!” Armand whispered in her ear. Leaning over her shoulder he kissed her softly on the cheek.
Julie turned to look at him in surprise. ”I thought you weren't speaking to me?”
Armand shrugged. ”Come, cherie, you should know I could never stay angry at you for very long. We're friends, after all, n'est pas?”
”Thank you.” She had no idea if he was being serious or facetious, but she chose to take him at his word, because that was what she needed to believe.
”There's no need to thank me. I shouldn't have said what I did the other night. You were upset and I handled it badly. And for that, I'm sorry.”
Julie shrugged. ”You were mad. I can't really blame you for that. I was kind of sending mixed signals, I guess.” Of course, she was also receiving mixed signals; she was almost certain that was the case. She'd been feeling her own emotions and maybe his as well. The whole thing had been so freaking weird, she wasn't sure she was over it, even now. Bad idea. Such a bad idea. It wasn't every day she heard voices in her head.
”Kind of?” Armand repeated in chiding tones. He was smiling, but it was a sad smile with a bitter edge. ”You guess?”
Julie sighed. ”Fine. I was sending mixed signals. Happy now?”
Armand's smile gentled. ”I am, yes. But, you're still looking so sad it's breaking my heart. Tell me, what is it now? What are thinking about?”
”Just now, you mean? Nothing really. I was just thinking about what it is I really want, wondering if I'll ever have it.” It wasn't so much to ask for, was it? Someone to love. Someone whose heart was free. Someone who could love her back.
”And what is it you really want?”
”I want that.” She motioned at the dais and was surprised when Armand's smile thinned out.
”Ah. Of course.” His tone, like his expression, turned unexpectedly glum. ”You want Conrad. Why am I not surprised?”
”What?” Julie frowned. ”Seriously? You too? Why does everyone think that? No! I don't want Conrad-not like that. I want what he has, what they have together. Look at them. That's what I want. I want a relations.h.i.+p like they have now. Why is that so hard to comprehend?”
”Maybe it's because my outlook is colored by my own experience with such things,” Armand suggested. ”Or perhaps it's because what you see there now wasn't always there. They weren't always like that, you know.”
”Tell me something else I don't know. Please, that's exactly my point! It's the only hope I have.” If hope was even the right word to use. Because maybe the kind of love she was looking for was so rare it only came along once in a really long while. Like centuries. Or maybe it took centuries for something like that to develop between two people. Luckily for her, she could afford the time. But could she stand the wait? And how was she to fill all those endless nights until real love came along?
”Excuse me. I'm not interrupting am I?” An unfamiliar voice broke into Julie's thoughts. She turned to face the newcomer and felt her breath catch in surprise. Whoever he was, he was striking, a tall, blond Viking, big and brawny enough to take her mind off Brennan for at least a little while. Even Armand seemed almost plain in comparison.
”Uh...no. Not at all.” She gave him her brightest smile and held out her hand. ”I'm Julie, by the way.”
”Brilliant.” The stranger smiled back just as brightly. Her hand felt swallowed up as he wrapped both of his around it. ”And I'm Christian. I just landed in town tonight. Mother suggested I come over and introduce myself.”
”Mother?” Julie repeated, feeling a little confused.
”I'm one of Georgia's boys,” Christian explained with a shrug. A twinkle appeared in his eyes and he leaned in close. ”She made us. Only don't let on I called her me mum. She hates when we do that. Says it makes her feel old, don't you know.”
Julie giggled in appreciation, remembering times when Conrad had voiced similar complaints about being called Grandfather. ”Well, she won't hear it from me.”
”Thanks, luv.” Christian winked at her then turned his beaming smile on Armand. ”And who might you be?”
”Armand.” Was there a hint of hostility in his tone? Julie shot a suspicious glance his way, noting the faint clenching of his jaw.
”You must excuse me if I'm being too forward. It's just so exciting to be here at last, and to be meeting so many new cousins.”
”Is this your first time here?” Armand inquired.
”Oh! Yes. First time this side of the pond, in fact.”
Julie felt her interest rise. ”Really?” She studied the newcomer even more intently. A vampire who'd never been to San Francis...o...b..fore? One who'd never met her mother or had the chance to fall under her spell? Someone the woman hadn't slept with? Already this new year was looking brighter than the last. ”I certainly hope you're planning on staying for a while?” Even though she wasn't facing him, Julie could feel the force of Armand's gaze as he turned his glare her way. It left her feeling slightly singed. On the other hand, at least he seemed to realize she was alive. That had to be an improvement.
”I hope so too,” Christian replied, seeming blissfully oblivious to Armand's seething silence. ”I'd like to stay a good few months at least.”