Chapter Three

I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. I suddenly felt very safe as I sat on his lap wrapped in his arms. I laid my head on his chest and he froze. I decided to not cross any boundaries so I pulled away and lay back down. Ethan looked somewhat sad as he said, "The doc says you can`t come to the ball tonight. You`re head`s not healed enough for it. So I`ll go for a while and come back."

I nodded and then asked, "How long does a ball normally last?"

He smiled and said, "Well normally until about 2 to 3 in the morning. I`ll be back around ten."

I nodded and rolled over deciding to sleep. I heard Ethan sigh and felt the bed shift as he got up. I was restless as I tossed and turned. Finally at 9:30 I gave up on sleep. Mostly because I heard the yelling in the room next to mine. I got out of bed and threw on a robe. I opened my door, leaving it cracked, and walked to the door next to mine. I put my ear to it and listened. I could recognize one voice as Ethan`s and another sounded like a woman. I peeked in the key hole to see the girl. She was beautiful with long blonde hair and big beautiful full blue eyes.

She had her arms wrapped around Ethan`s neck and she was saying, "Come on Ethan. We both know you want it. You`ve never refused me before you got that damn whore."

I flinched but didn`t make a sound. Ethan grabbed her arms and unwrapped them from around his neck. He looked at her releasing her arms and letting them drop to her sides. "Alaina I already explained that it`s over between us. I did that a year before Ana came into my life. You think that would be enough time for you to understand that I don`t like you like that."

I saw her face drop as she frowned and clearly portrayed her new pain with her bottom lip jutting out. "Please. I`ll even call you master."

She rubbed her hand along his groin and I had to hold back a gag. Ethan stepped away from her and toward the door. "I told you no Alaina."

He started to walk toward the door so I quickly ran into my room and shut the door hiding under the blankets. A while later I heard the door open and heard Ethan`s light footsteps coming toward the bed. I tried to relax but it was tough after what I saw. Ethan layed beside me pulling me toward him so that the front of his body touched the back of mine. I sucked in a breath and he chuckled. "I knew you weren`t asleep. So were you the little bugger who decided to spy on Alaina and me?"

I rolled over to see his face, he had a smug look on his face but his eyes were tired and weary. I nodded blushing and he laughed. "I didn`t know that vampire girl`s were so hot."

HE chuckled again and said, "Good night Ana."

Cuddling into my back he let out a deep sigh. I fell to sleep with the added help of his warmth and steady breathing.

I woke early the next morning to a shifting in the bed. I looked over to see Ethan getting up. He noticed he woke me a looked apologetic. "Sorry to wake you dear. I`m leaving for a trip early this morning." I frowned at him sad that he was leaving. "Don`t worry dear. There`s plenty to keep you busy here. Now I must be going."

Before I could say anything he had already left the room. I noticed the darkness outside and decided to try to sleep again But I couldn`t so I decided to get up, shower, and dress. I dressed in a pair of jeans and a cammi with a knitted sweater over it. I put on my shoes and went outside to ride my horse. Ethan wouldn`t have approved of what I was about to do.

I was already in the woods when I started to feel fear. I had looked around for hours and was just about to give up when the same man from yesterday walked out from behind a tree and stood against it looking at me smiling. "You`re either really brave or really stupid for this."

I smiled and said, "Or really desperate for someone to talk to."

His smile got wider as his buddies came out. "We prefer to eat you rather than talk to you."

I snorted rolling my eyes at him. "I believe you as well as I believe that garlic scares vampires. Really."

He looked at me a mix of shocked and amazed. His buddies made a sound like a chuckle but the leader ushered me forward. I followed him on my horse toward a cave. There I dismounted and brought my horse in feeling safer with her near to me. The guy turned and held out a hand, "My names Jacob. What`s yours?"

I took his hand shaking it, "My name`s Anastasia, but please call me Ana."

His smile got wider as he said, "You`re vamp must trust you to go out all alone to the big bad werewolve`s."

I shrugged, "He left this morning for a meeting."

He caught the underlying tone and his smile got wider, "He doesn`t know that you`re here. Ahh damn I think I just fell in love with you."

I rolled my eyes at him and sat down beside a fire. "Why don`t you guys just make a pact with the vampire`s so you don`t have to live in these cave?"

"Well it`s easier to attack them out here. But yeah I mean we miss all the stuff like beds, warm houses to sleep in, and girls to snuggle up to, and warm food."

I looked around and noticed there were no girls. Just guy`s everywhere. I shuddered and turned back to him in time to see his expression change from longing back to just smug. I looked at him raising an eyebrow, "What?"

"Nothing."

I rolled my eyes and looked into the flames waiting. When he didn`t speak I got up and led my horse outside. He followed and asked, "Where are you going?"

I looked at the sky and said, "Back to the palace before it gets dark. I don`t want to get attacked by werewolves and faeries."

I turned to smile at him and went to mount my horse but he grabbed me and pulled me into him kissing me. His kiss was soft and hesitant but I froze. I didn`t expect this. He pulled back and said, "I`ll be waiting `til the next time you come to visit. If it`s not in a week then I`ll come looking for you."

I mounted my horse and trotted off. I was overly confused now. I got back to the palace and put my horse in her stall brushing her as I thought. I now had Ethan and Jacob in love with me. Ugh like this couldn`t be hard enough for me. I heard something outside the stall but just didn`t care to look. Until I felt a set of hands on my hips. "Where were you today? I wanted to come home and talk some more but when I got home you weren`t here and I couldn`t find you in the woods."

I froze and continued brushing my horse, "I met with the were wolves trying to get them to convince them to make a pact. I didn`t get very far with him. "

"So that`s why you smell like wolf." He turned me to face him, "Ana don`t it`s dangerous. Please just stay here with me."

He kissed me but pulled back. I blushed and he growled, "You kissed him?"

I shook my head, "He kissed me when I went to leave."

He sighed, "Ana. Please stay with me."

He truly kissed me now and I felt my heart accelerate and my body went all light and tingly as his hands returned to my hips. I felt elated and suddenly life was great.