A Moonlight Valentine's Chapter 5 - Byron

I hadn’t eaten at Cassius’ restaurant since the grand opening when the clan came out to support him. The food was good then, so I also expected it to be good this time. Granted, good is a relative term when you’re a vampire. Food doesn’t have much taste for us. You must put a LOT of spices in food to make it taste like anything but ash. This is why, even though it was a prefix menu for the holiday, all my dishes were prepared with extra seasoning.

“Why did they bring us two plates of appetizers?” Shannon asked as she gestured to the two plates of salmon, oyster, and sea bass tartare on the oyster shell, the two plates of marbled foie gras with artichokes and wild mushrooms, and toasted bread.

“These...” I gestured to the two that were placed closer to me. “Are for me,” I explained.

“But why? Every other table only got one plate of each. It’s supposed to be for sharing. You know, like in romance movies and books where couples share food. Are you a food hoarder?” Shannon asked as she reached to dip a piece of bread into my foie gras.

“Don’t do…” I winced too late as she popped it into her mouth. “That.”

Shannon’s face reddened, and she started coughing as she swallowed the intensely spiced food. I grimaced and offered her a glass of water.

“I tried to warn you.” I sighed. “My… people… require extra spice in our food to taste it,” I explained, attempting to keep the conversation appropriate for a public setting. There’s no need to have people give us weirder looks by saying ‘vampire.’

Shannon gulped down her water and poured a second glass, drinking it too before she spoke. “Wow. I mean… wow.” She shuddered, shaking her head, obviously still trying to get the taste out of her mouth.

I chuckled and leaned across the table, unable to resist, and kissed her. Being unable to taste food the same is one of the biggest drawbacks of being a vampire—that and being unable to be outside during the sun. Well, I could if I wore long sleeves and used an umbrella. That, of course, would look weird and draw attention, not to mention it wouldn’t be helpful to go to the beach.

I may not be able to taste food well, but when Shannon kissed back, her tongue cautiously brushing my lips, I tasted that. Or maybe my brain was tricked into thinking I could taste her. I could smell her. She tasted like a strawberry dipped in salted caramel and dark chocolate.

Fucking delicious.

Reluctantly, I ended the kiss. We are in public, and there is a table between us. It is best not to draw extra attention or risk setting anything on fire by knocking over the candle. I smiled, licking my lips as I sat back. The soft blush that stained Shannon’s cheeks, which was blush and not residual heat from the spices, only made her more beautiful to me.

“I see. Um... now I know better than to share food with you.” She sighed and sipped her wine. “You are also not allowed to share food with the kids.”

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do that anyway. And if they don’t heed my warnings, they can learn from experience like their mom.” I winked.

“Might not be a one-and-done lesson with Bobby and Walt.” She sighed, trying her appetizers; a happy mmm escaped her lips at the taste.

“Why? I doubt they would want to burn their taste buds more than once.” I asked.

“Maybe to prove they are manly.” Shannon rolled her eyes. “My ex…”

Nope. I wasn’t letting him be invoked on our first real date. I put my finger to Shannon’s lips and shook my head. I’d rather have my lips on hers, but decorum should be maintained.

“No. Walt and Bobby are better and smarter than that. And we aren’t mentioning that person tonight or any other night.” I said, taking my finger back.

“Fine. I won’t speak of him. But they may still do it to emulate you.” She sighed. “They see you as some white knight. They all do.”

“Flattered as I am, I’ll ensure they understand my food choices aren’t ones to replicate.” I chuckled.

I’m glad her kids like me. It improves my chances of a serious relationship with Shannon. Besides, those kids need all the good male role models they can get. It’s rather sad when their current good role models are werewolves and vampires. Not that supernatural beings can’t be good people, but it says much about their prior human role models if a bloodsucker is a better man.

We drifted into easy conversations after that. I tried to keep the conversation far from Shanon’s ex and not focus on her kids. I adore her kids, and her love for them is one of the many qualities that I love, but tonight is about us. So, I steered the conversation to us and her. I had known her for nearly four years but wanted to know more about her.

When our server brought out our millefeuille desserts, I learned more about Shannon. In the years I’d known her as an editor, she’s kept many things to herself. Now that she’s free of the toxic people in her life, and maybe because she’s on her second glass of wine, she opened up. She told me more about her childhood, talking about her sisters, her parents, and her beloved grandmother.

I told her about my family. About my dad, who changed drastically after he was laid off, and how our lives turned for the worse. How I was homeless till I met Dani. I didn’t go into details about Dani. Besides not wanting to discuss an ex, going down that path was a minefield of topics not approved for mixed company. We talked about my parents’ deaths and that I don’t speak with my brother.

Like the subject of Dani, it was left unspoken why I don’t talk to Emmerson. One cannot maintain family ties with one’s mortal family after transitioning to vampirism. It puts yourself and your family at risk. Shannon and her kids know what I am, but it is different. Her sister is mated to a werewolf. So, if she were going to be in Shikoba and Rohan’s lives, she’d know about the supernatural.

“Ready for our next activity?” I asked, dropping cash for the check plus a thirty percent tip before offering her my hand.

“There’s more?” Shannon laughed and took my hand.

“There’s always more. And I told your children and Evie I wouldn’t have you home till midnight. The night is still very young.” I winked and escorted her out of the restaurant to where the driver was waiting to take us to our next destination.

“Where are we going now?” Shannon asked as the driver pulled away from the curb.

“Where is the fun in telling you when I can show you?” I chuckled, holding her hand as we traveled from the restaurant to The Old Church.

“What are we doing here?” Shannon asked as I helped her out of the car.

I merely smiled and walked her inside, leading her into the theater. The space was lit by thousands of fake drippy candles, giving a romantic and intimate setting. On the stage was a string quartet, and only one set of pews was blocked off with red bunting. Shannon’s soft gasp was worth every penny I spent on this private candlelight concert.

Yes, I planned this. Shannon deserves to have magical moments like this. She’d confessed a couple of years ago that she wished someday she could attend a fancy instrumental concert just for her. She’d written about fancy shows in her books but had never attended one unless you counted a Jason Aldean concert that her ex “graciously” let her attend because his buddy was sick. Shannon hates country music, especially dude bro-country.

“I…I can’t believe… you did all this… for me.” Shannon sniffled unshed tears in her eyes as she turned to look at me.

“Believe it. You’re worth it, Shannon. You deserve to be treated not like a princess but the Queen you are.” I smiled and kissed her hand. “Now, let’s take our seats and enjoy an evening of instrumental collection of works inspired by love.”

“This is… you’re amazing, Byron. Thank you.” Shannon kissed me quickly before slipping into the pew so the performance could begin.

Her happiness is all I need, want, or desire tonight and always. I enjoyed the music, of course, but I enjoyed watching the candlelight dance across her skin and how expressive her face was as she lost herself in the music more. I would ask how this woman couldn’t see or know she’s breathtaking, but I know who’s at fault. It has become my immortal mission to make her see it and own it.