Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 148
“I’ll get you a book on how to do it right,” he kidded, smirking when she nodded emphatically at the brilliant idea.
“Okay.” Blue nodded. “Okay.”
Sam closed his eyes and prayed for the millionth time for patience. “I’ll need a yes or a no, here, baby. Okay isn’t going to cut it this time.”
Blue sat up on her knees, hands trembling as she placed them on his cheeks. “Yes, Sam. I don’t want to be Wayward. I don’t need to be Vemreaux. All I want to be is yours.”
Nerves Sam did not realize he had been holding onto gusted out in a giant exhale of relief as he let out what could only be described as both a sob and a laugh. A true, uninhibited smile the likes of which Blue had never seen on his face before bloomed and blossomed, changing molecules and altering the pace of the earth with its veracity. Years of sarcasm and fight lifted off his shoulders, revealing the beam of sheer joy that started in his chest and flooded throughout his entire being.
Willing his hands to be gentle, Sam laid her down on the soft, white carpet and kissed his only love. “Well, that was the right answer, smarty pants. Now you get a prize.” He slipped the ring on her finger and watched her become hypnotized by its splendor.
Much like the proposal scenes Suzette’s movies laid out for him, the two kissed. Tears formed in Blue’s eyes as the woman, surprised and pleased, lay beneath him, exclaiming her joy with quiet weeping.
Blue gazed at the treasure, dazzled at the spellbinding power it had over her at first glance. “Sam, are you sure? I mean, m-my hands aren’t exactly b-beautiful. Where should I wear it? Like, for fancy occasions, when I wear your necklace?”
Sam tapped her chest as he kissed her neck, knowing that behind him, her toes were curling with pleasure. “That ring is for every day and every night for the rest of your life. Every day that I love you, that ring belongs on your finger.” He kissed the question from her open mouth before she could ask it. “And yes, solo mio, I love you. You belong with me.”
Blue kissed her Sam, giving in to the butterflies that only seemed to bat at her belly more fervently with time. She closed her eyes, feeling the bliss of peace flooding through her with the potent rush of pheromones only Sam could evoke.
And suddenly, she understood. Her world would change again and again. Tectonic plates could shift, the separate social classes transform all over again, but no matter where she landed, it would always be with him, with her family, in Sam’s arms on the perfect white carpet.
Blue lay cradled in Sam’s tender embrace that was laced with hints of everything he desired about her, loved about her and treasured. She kissed his expertly sculpted lips and smiled up at him, lightly pushing him so she could stand. “Alright, let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“Get married. Right? I mean, let’s go do it, then. Could we bring Frederick?”
Sam smirked at her limited understanding of Vemreaux customs. “We don’t get married tonight, Blue. There will be a huge ceremony with tons of people to watch us. You’ll be in a giant white dress. I’ll be all dashing. It’s a whole big thing. And because it’s you? It will be a televised international event. It’s a good thing you’re gorgeous, and I’m, well, me.” He flashed her a dazzling smile, showing off his perfect teeth.
Blue’s nose crinkled. “Do we need all that? You know how I feel about cameras. Why can’t we just go get married now? Is it hard to do?”
Sam stood in front of her and ravished her lips with unhampered desire. “I can’t stop kissing you when you say sexy things like that. Not wanting a wedding? Perfect woman, you are.” He pressed into her hungrily. “Say it again. Say you don’t want a wedding.”
“Can we skip the big deal and just be married, then?”
He groaned. “Sexy. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted you more. When do you want to do it?”
“Now,” she insisted, steadfast in her decision.
“Tonight? Like, right now?”
Blue shrugged. “Well, yeah. Why would anyone wait? That sounds ridiculous. Lazy people waste time, Sam, and I am not lazy.”
“First time I’ve ever liked the sound of your asinine brother’s words coming out of your sweet mouth.” Sam had to remind himself not to bite her lower lip too hard. “Tesoro, I love you. I’ll take care of everything. Put some clothes on, and we’ll get married tonight.” Sam stumbled back and grabbed at his chest, eyes wide. “I’m getting married tonight.” He mulled over the notion that swirled and rose in his stomach like butterflies that threatened to vomit out from him if he did not calm down. “I might need to sit down for a minute,” he admitted, plopping on the bed as he tugged at his hair.
“Sam?” Blue put her hand on Sam’s shoulder to give him a good, solid look. “Are you happy?”
Sam pulled his fiancée onto his lap and laughed hard into her neck. “Only about the happiest I’ve ever been. Been sitting on that ring since Christmas.” He bit at her collarbone, and then placed tiny kisses up her throat. “You? You happy, esposa?”
Blue closed her eyes and relished the feel of him surrounding her, encompassing her whole being with his love. “Yes, Sam. I am happy.”
And from that moment on, Blue was.
Epilogue
“Violet!” called Griffin as he ran to the two-year-old.
The auburn pigtails shook at him as the little girl stomped her foot. “No! I cwimbing the step!”
Griffin stomped back theatrically. “You’re not climbing the step, young lady! I said down!” He pointed to the mulched ground of the play yard.
“I don’t yike it!” Violet stormed, though she obeyed. Her fury was enough to stop the nearby birds from indulging in their happy ditty.
“Me, neither!” Griffin folded his arms over his chest and pouted. “I say we throw a fit.” He lay down on the mulch and wailed dramatically. “I want to climb the steps, but mean Uncle Griffin loves me and doesn’t want me to get hurt! I’m mad!”
“I mad!” Violet concurred, unsure of her strange uncle. “Samson cwimbing the step, Gwiffy. I cwimbing the step, too!”
Griffin rolled over, bark sticking to his shirt. “Samson’s four. How old are you?”
Violet shrugged at the question that did not make sense to her. “Candy?”
“You’re two. That means I help you up the steps. Then we catch Samson and we eat his toes!”
Liam came by with a child under each arm, four legs kicking out behind him. “Did someone order Samson toes?” He lowered the boy on top of Griffin, who gnashed his teeth ominously.
“Don’t you eat my toes, Uncle Griffin!” Samson commanded, his finger pointing at his uncle sternly. “Where’s Mummy and Daddy?”
Griffin acted like he had been punched. “What? Bored of me already? I told you, Sammy. They’ll be here soon.” He glanced toward the fence where Baird stood guard in his classic black suit, tie and sunglasses. He watched the perimeter, standing next to Suzette.
Liam set Samson down and shouted toward the Wayward guard. “Oy! Baird! What time is it?”
“Bird!” Violet mimicked. “Time is it!”
Baird checked his internal clock that was never off. “Five o’clock. They’re parking the car.” Sam had been “parking the car” with Blue for thirty-five minutes. Baird turned his back on the ominous rocking he could have gone his whole life without seeing, but somehow found himself witness to the sight almost weekly.
Suzette smirked, checking her pristine nails. “Sammy’s probably got another couple minutes left in him. Try to be patient, Bird.”
Baird ground his teeth together.
“Are you going to visit Marxus on Wednesday?” Suzette asked.
“Tuesday. Wednesday’s when I’m meeting with the prison warden. Hopefully we can finally close the deal on the mandatory organ donor policy.”
“Think Marxus is ready for another blind date?”
Baird shook his head and chuckled. “No. I told you Marxus isn’t the dating type. He’s the working type, like me. Why he makes such a good prison guard.”
Suzette hugged Baird, slipping her arms inside of his black guard’s suit jacket. She untucked his white button-down shirt and dragged her fingernails up and down the small of his back. She relished watching the strong and powerful man melt in her loving embrace. “I hate to break it to you, Baird, but you are the dating type.”
Baird’s rough demeanor evaporated under Suzette’s spell. In the years they had been together, he had grown gentler under the authority of her delicate grace. “I’m on duty, Suze.” But Baird made no effort to pull away.
“I’ll keep an eye out for velociraptors, then. Honestly, Baird. It’s the Age of Peace.” She trilled her finger along his waist behind his back.
“Oh, I can’t think when you do that,” he admitted, goosebumps breaking out on his skin.
“That’s why I do it.” Suzette switched back to her previous train of thought. “I like Marxus. I want to see him settled, already. Preferably with a nice girl who loves being outside. He’s got such a mean-looking face, but a good heart. I always feel so safe around you two.”
Baird brushed his fingers through Suzette’s long dark hair, and pressed his lips to her forehead. “You are safe. I’ll always keep you safe.”
“I love you, you big giant puppy.”
Baird glanced over to the children to make sure they were not watching, and then dipped his head to place a kiss of pure devotion to the princess’ lips. “I love you, too.”
“Disgusting!” Liam announced, teasing Baird from across the yard. “Grownups snogging! Gross!”
“Gross, Uncle Baird!” Samson echoed.
The rocking car in the parking lot distracted Baird from responding acerbically to Liam. “Maybe we should round up the kids and head on home. Dad’s probably back by now.” Though Baird and Suzette were not interested in marriage, Frederick insisted both Baird and Griffin call him Dad, though he could not adopt them. Frederick would not tolerate any dividing lines in his family, for he loved the young men as though they were sons.
Without waiting for permission, Baird called out to his nieces and nephew with an ear-piercing whistle they were all too familiar with. It was the family whistle, a distinct four-note call they responded to without question. Samson, Violet and Josie all ran to their uncle obediently. “In the car with you,” Baird ordered with a small smile.
Samson raced Josie with Baird. “Run with your eyes open in the parking lot, Sammy!” Baird reminded his nephew.
Violet’s short, chubby legs could not keep up. She yelled out her frustration at being left behind, so Liam snatched her up and ran, putting her squeals in the lead.
Elle linked her arm through Suzette’s, using her sister-in-law’s perfect posture to lean on as she waddled at her own pace. “Think we should warn Blue?” Elle asked.
“Nah. Baird would never let the kids close with all that rocking. Let them have their fun.” Suzette rubbed Elle’s pregnant belly. “No water breaking? No contractions? What kind of baby of yours isn’t punctual?”
“The kind that’s half Liam’s,” Elle replied good-naturedly. “Slow down, Baby J!” She called to her daughter.
The kids were buckled into their varying car seats and whisked away to the mansion after Baird pounded his fist to the hood of Sam’s silver car, abruptly breaking the lovers out of their marital gymnastics.
Josephine greeted the little ones with joy she reserved only for them. She was getting on in years, so she moved a little slower, but she was still capable of keeping the house in line. Frederick made sure to hire a Wayward housekeeper to replace Elle once she got engaged to Liam.
Samson and Josie washed their hands without being asked, while Violet practiced jumping behind them.
Sam and Blue came home shortly after, with Everest and his guest right on their heels. “Guess who I found lounging around, begging for loose brandishes?” Sam called toward the kitchen sink.
Samson and Josie nearly bowled Violet over in their quest to get near Everest. “Uncle Ever! Candy! I want some candy!” They grabbed at his pocket greedily, hopping with glee at the treasure that never disappointed.
“Everest Sinclair!” Josephine scolded. “You know dinner’s almost on the table, young man.”
Everest bowed his head to the woman he had come to think of as the mother he was missing from his life. “A thousand apologies, Josephine. Thomas, Josephine. Josephine, this is Thomas.”
“Charmed,” the tall brunette greeted nervously.
Josephine nodded and pushed them in the direction of the formal dining room.
Griffin helped Violet wash her hands to Josephine’s liking, and then escorted the toddler to the dining room, where Samson and Josie were fighting for Frederick’s attention, recounting their adventures as they talked over each other and bragged about the park that was their new favorite.
Frederick took both kids on his lap, laughing as he kissed them on the tops of their messy hair. “Tell me when you’re going next, and I’ll be sure to make the time. I can’t believe I missed the bumpy slide!”
“And the wavy mirrors, Grandpa! They make you look so big!” Samson added.
“You are so big,” Frederick complimented the boy he loved every bit as much as the child’s father.
Samson and Violet both had chocolate brown hair with streaks of auburn running through the waves. They also shared a peak in their left ear, and wild Original Vemreaux eyes. The temper, mercifully, seemed to have skipped a generation. Though, one could argue it was not a genetic fluke, but more due to the constant stream of love and praise the children received that their parents had not.
“What am I, chopped sheep’s gut?” Sam greeted his son with a pout. “Run right past me to Uncle Ever, then straight to Grandpa’s lap. I see how it is.”
Samson climbed down Frederick’s leg and launched himself at his father in a hug that held no hesitation. “Daddy!”
Josie frowned. “We waited for you at the park, Uncle Sam. Where were you?”
Liam grinned maliciously. “Car trouble, Pan? Might want to get those shocks tended to, the way you take those humps.” He shook his head in faux dismay, chuckling when Sam responded with a shove.
Blue came into the room with pink cheeks. “We were running a little late, baby. But we’re here now. You hungry? Josephine cooked her special chicken that makes kids grow tall.”
Josie’s interest flared, but she tried to remain firm on her no-eating-without-threats policy. “I just want candy for now.”
Sam cocked his head at his niece. “Hmm. That’s funny. You look…are you shorter today than yesterday? Weird.”
Everyone filed into the dining room, finding their seats and helping the children into theirs. Killian came down, fresh from a shower and greeted all three of his sisters with a kiss on the cheek before taking his place at the foot of the table. They began the meal as they did every dinner – with the thankfulness game. Josie and Samson competed with each other to see who could think of the most things to be thankful for, resorting to naming the people at the table when they exhausted the list they had been storing up since the previous dinner.
“Why am I always last?” Liam frowned. “I’m the Daddy, and Daddies should rank higher than Uncle Ever.”
Everest slid a cherry tomato into his mouth with a sly grin. “What can I say? They love me.”
Liam muttered something about bribery, which Everest merely shrugged at.
“So, Thomas,” Blue began. “We’ve heard a lot about you. How’d you vote on impeachment day last year?”
“Easy, Blue,” Everest cautioned with a sideways glance.
Thomas was up for the straightforward question, though he had no clue it would be the first of many in the long vetting process Blue and Baird were famous for. They scared off three other boyfriends Everest brought around, but the two remained unapologetic. “If they can’t handle simple questions, what are the chances they can deal with the hard ones in front of the press?” they replied without batting an eye.
“Of course I’ve never voted to impeach Emperor Frederick,” said Thomas.
“Just Frederick in here,” the emperor amended politely.
Blue chewed her food with the perfect posture Suzette demanded of her. “How about the Wayward release? Were you for or against?” She ignored the glare Everest threw at her.
“For. I organized one of the canned food drives to stock a halfway house near me for Waywards in transition.”
“So, you want us to know you do volunteer work,” Baird mumbled just loud enough to carry.
Josie spoke up. “Why are you grumpy, Uncle Baird?”
“Beard!” Violet chimed in. “Eat you food, Beard!”
Suzette smirked, running her painted fingernail along the inside of Baird’s bicep to soften him. “Yeah, Beard. Eat your food and leave poor Thomas alone. I’m sure he’s perfectly lovely.”
Baird popped a piece of chicken in his mouth to pacify his nieces. “That’s one for me. Now, how about you?” He urged Josie to finish her food. She obliged with a dramatic sigh.
Blue kept her inquiries in a light tone, so they appeared conversational, but Everest knew better. He had seen the siblings work his dates over on several occasions, and it always started with the innocent questions. “So Thomas, Everest tells us you work at a stamping plant. That’s the first manual laborer he’s introduced us to.”
Thomas had no real response to this, so he nodded.
Everest’s eyes cut to Blue. “Darling, I’m sure he’d rather hear about you. Let’s not make him whistle for his supper, yeah?”
“Whistle! Whistle!” Samson and Josie exclaimed. “Do it!”
Thomas indulged them, grateful for the distraction. “How was the park?”
The children absconded with the conversation, getting louder as they told Thomas about their favorite parts, making sure to blame Uncle Griffin for the swing not working.
“It had a rusty chain!” Griffin defended his decision. “You want me to let you play on a broken swing? Then you fall, and it’s Uncle Griffin’s fault. I should start carrying around candy in my pockets, like E over there.”
