56 - Immensely Loveable

Fraser

"Alright, so there are many ways to go about this, and every way is different." I surmise, hands on my hips as the village below bustles with life.

Ailsa's eyes light up, and she smiles a soft smile that would melt anyone's heart, but especially mine.

Now I know why I'm stuck in this mess to begin with, I cannot seem to say no to this girl.

The love of my life, my mate, I will give her whatever it is she desires should it be in my power.

"Yeah!" Gavin butts in, grinning. "Most of us enjoy finding a pub and finding a drunk human to feed from, but your male has a different, much creepier approach."

I relax my face before I let my anger get the best of me before I do something that I'll regret.

"Not creepy, but less intimate. I personally liked to find humans alone before I feed. You must simply find what works best for you." I explain, not knowing what to recommend or start her on.

I tried my best to get Ailsa to only rely on me for feeding, but quickly realized that it wasn't sustainable at the moment. Ailsa needs more blood than a regular vampire, since she was recently created. I couldn't keep up with her need for blood. And so, I must teach her to hunt until her hunger levels out.

"For instance, most female vampires dress like a tavern wench and lead away unsuspecting men before pushing them into a dark alley and feasting from them." Alec provides, and Ailsa's mouth falls open.

I press a hand to my mate's shoulder, turning her away from her other as I shoot the males of my clan a glare.

"Don't give her any ideas." I insist, making sure they understand how serious I am, but all they do is snicker and exchange grins. I point a finger at Alec. "I still haven't decided if I should forgive you or not."

I turn to Ailsa, running my hand down the back of her head and hair as I settle on what to say next.

"It's all about what is most comfortable, lass. If a certain method isn't working, then you can always change it. Humans become drunken when you bite them, confused even, so they won't remember anything about you." I explain slowly, hating the thought of her biting anyone that isn't me.

I shake my head, feeling stupid and possessive like a mate does.

Her blonde eyebrows turn up, producing that crease between them that drives me crazy.

"But, I didn't feel that way when you fed from me when I was a human?"

I smile, thinking of the only good times I spent down in that hell hole. Any time I thought I couldn't go on any longer, any time I thought I was close to going completely mad, she would appear; and then everything felt like it was okay again.

"Because, you're my mate. We shouldn't be able to forget any moment spent together."

"Oh, moon goddess, I'm going to be sick."

"Can't you save that for later?"

"Just wait until you find your mate, Nairn, you'll act the same way."

"I wouldn't bet on it. Pigs will fly before I snuggle up to a lass like a love sick kitten."

"That just means you'll fall the hardest, my friend."

My friends bicker while Ailsa meets my eyes, silently pleading.

"I just, I just want to try." She murmurs, I lead her away while the others are distracted, leaving down so I we can talk quietly.

"Try what, lass?" I urge, loving the way her eyes glow with determination.

Turning her turned out to be just what she needed, and not because it changed her. It only changed her mortality, because now she's more herself than she's ever been. Becoming a vampire helped her come out of her shell. I adore every second of it.

Seeing her take charge, tell me what she wants, it feuls me.

"I want to try to capture someone, to hunt, go feed, all on my own." She sighs, shaking her head as if she is sure that I won't understand. "I've never been able to do something for myself. Take care of myself. I want to. Will you help me?"

I cringe, thinking of my possessive jealousy and how I'll want to be far away as soon as she sinks her teeth into some who isn't me.

I take a deep breath, tuning out Alec, Nairn, and Gavin as their playful joking turns into full blown arguing.

"Yes, of course. I love you, lass. If this is something you want, then I'll always be there while you go get it." I say, palming her face and running my fingertips along her jaw.

She nods her head enthusiastically, grinning like she can't wait to get started.

"So, what must I know. What are the most important things when it comes to... well this. Hunting. Feeding. Blood." Ailsa rushes out, growing more flustered the longer she talks.

I smile, shaking my head and laughing.

"Well, you must know, always, that humans are delicate." I instruct, running my palm along her throat and tearing my gaze away from the flutter under her ear. This is no time to get distracted by hunger. "Any simple maneuver can cause damage. You can't take too much blood either. Too much can kill in more ways than one. Even making a human too loopy can be dangerous."

Ailsa rolls her eyes, and behind to protest, as I knew she would. I try not to laugh.

"That is not true! Humans are not that delicate..." She stops when my barely concealed chuckles start to choke me. She narrows her icy eyes on me. "You were jesting. That's not very funny."

"Yes, but not fully. It's the first rule. Be gentle, especially since your new to this. You won't know your own strength. That's why I'll need to be there, to ensure you don't hurt anyone."

She nods, quirking a shoulder up hesitantly.

"That's very thoughtful. Keep the human population thriving, keep your ravenous mate from destroying them all."

That little comment has me laughing richly, my chest becoming lighter with the splash of humor.

"Something like that." I admit, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Or maybe, I just feel very protective of you, lass."

Ailsa frowns up at me, jutting her bottom lip out in an infuriatingly adorable way that makes me want to whisk her away from here. I wouldn't want to make my men lose any more respect for me.

"I'm not made of glass, Fraser." She tells me in a no nonsense voice. I can't help but grin.

All I want to do is carry her away and hide away in my home so that no one from the outside world can bother us again.

"Not anymore." I correct her, and that earns a smile. "But this, the overprotective nature, you're going to have to become accustomed to it, I'm afraid. This is how I'll be for the rest of our lives together. Best to realize that now."

Alec yells as something is thrown, bouncing off of a tree trunk in the moonlight.

I grip Ailsa's hips, my eyes glowing as I glare over my shoulder, stepping to shield her with my body.

It's followed by a boom of laughter and that makes me relax, at least slightly.

"Yes, that's going to be difficult to live with." Ailsa says, and I look down abruptly, realizing how defensive I became, and so quickly too.

"That is a great example, lass. I may be unbearable at times, but it's only because I love you." I shake my head, thinking of all the years to come and how much she'll have to put up with. Ailsa's life won't be easy trying to keep me in line.

I never thought that I'd have a mate, Nairn and I have that in common, but now that I have her, I refuse to let anything happen to her. She's my heart, the other half of my soul, my life.

Ailsa laughs, but I'm already opening my mouth to change her mind.

"No laughing, it's true, I swear it." I insist, and she just laughs harder.

Her laughing has taken control, and it drowns everything out. The bickering males, the midnight wind, my own breathing and heartbeat. It's like music to my ears. She's laughing so hard that tears leak from the corners of her eyes.

And so, I grab her face in both my hands, boring my gaze into hers even as she heaves with her little giggles. It takes a few moments, but she quiets down.

"I need you to know, no matter how unbearable I may become, no matter how fiercely I watch after you or inconvenience you because of my boarishness, it will all come back to one thing. I have never, and I do mean never, found something so precious. In all my days, and there have been many. I have never felt this way about anything or anyone, and I need to protect you. I don't know what else to do with myself."

I sigh, sifting through my bottomless mind as I search for the words to explain this feeling in my chest.

"I never knew what my fulfillment in this immortal life would be. I didn't know what I was here to accomplish, but now, with you, after finding you. I know. I know my life is to be with you, with making sure that you're cared for and that you know that you are immensely loveable."

There are more tears in her eyes now, but these have nothing to do with laughter.

I kiss away each one, feeling content for the first time in forever.