Placing both hands on either side of her face, he said, "Jane, Jane, my most cherished wife, I love you."
"That is because you have impeccable taste," she teased. "Now, my love, stop trying to distract me. Tell me all about Shakespeare," she said, trying to ignore Asher nibbling on her ear.
"Do you know that your love was sharp enough to pierce my cold heart?" he asked. " 'I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?'"
Jane would not be distracted. "That last part is Shakespeare—and you knew him. Were you good friends? Did he confide in you? Were any of his stories written about you?" She had a hundred questions to ask about the grand old playwright.
Asher laughed. "Wife, I believe we are at cross purposes. Give me a kiss to build a dream on. To build our future on."
Jane happily complied, the Bard barred for a moment as she deepened the kiss. Reluctantly both she and Asher drew back, gazing into each other's eyes.
"Do you truly love me?" Asher asked, his normal hauteur vanished. He knew she loved him, but how much? Enough to be with him forever as his consort? To be what her family had once taught her to indiscriminately despise?
"Will you let me tuck you into your coffin at daylight?" Her question was said in a teasing manner, but the answer to Jane was important. It was all about trust.
"Each and every night," he agreed solemnly. "Forever."
"Yes, Asher. I love you with all my soul."
"Forever?" Asher asked, his heart beating harshly in his chest. He had never needed anyone as much as he needed Jane. Although he had loved Clair, what he felt for his Van Helsing was more. He had never loved anyone as much as he loved her, and he blessed Clair and even her hairy husband, Huntsley, for bringing them together. For his love was as boundless as infinity, as endless as the vast heavens, for the woman he held so tenderly in his arms.
"Of course. I will love you until the day I die," Jane admitted softly.
"To your good fortune." He smiled naughtily.
She playfully bit his neck and ran her fingers through his thick, wavy hair. "You're so vain. But I love you anyway."
Asher held her hand as he looked down at her, his expression quite serious. "I want forever with you, Jane, not just thirty or forty years. I want centuries to pet and spoil you." He tensed slightly, awaiting her answer. "Be my vampire bride."
Tracing his lips, she sighed dreamily. Suddenly the world was full of possibilities. Forever was a very long time, and she intended to spend it with Asher, enjoying undeath to the fullest. It would shock her family, and she would have to overcome her thing about blood, but forever looked very good right now.
But… not tonight. Tonight was for affirming their love for each other. Each would luxuriate in the knowledge that they had found each other in this big, wide world, filled with a million smiling or tragic faces. Each knew now that love had filled their souls and hearts to overflowing.
"I will spend eternity by your side, but we can't do it tonight. I need to prepare my family for the deed."
"They'll never accept it," Asher replied tensely.
Jane put a finger to his lips. "Give them some time. Give me some time to change their minds."
"But…" Asher began.
Jane caressed his mouth with her finger, cocking an eyebrow. "Asher, I am Jane Van Helsing Asher, Countess of Wolverton and retired vampire huntress. I can do anything I set my heart to." She smiled gaily. For it was true. "After all, I managed to marry the most sought-after earl in England, and he fell deeply in love with me. If I can do that, I can manage to settle down a few disgruntled Van Helsings."
Asher grinned. "All right, my love. You take as long as you need. We have forever, after all." Clasping her tightly to him, he added tenderly, "I found you. I finally found the love of my life. Come. Let us go to bed. Where we will love and love until I have worn you near to death. The world can go up in flames around us, and we will be too busy to notice. Tonight, my adorable little wife, you are in for a night of lovemaking with no intermissions."
Jane giggled. "You, my lord, are no gentleman."
"A minor point at the moment," he conceded, nipping her neck with a bit of fang, then kissing her tenderly with all the years of unspent passion he'd stored within him.
Jane felt like weeping with delight. His lips were firm and caressing, his breath as sweet as autumn apples and fresh cinnamon. He was a part of her heart now.
The kiss ended with Asher scooping her up in his arms and carrying Jane in her scarlet gown up the wide marbled staircase. She glanced at the butler, Mr. Rhett, who was trying to hide the grin on his face. Renfield stood off to the side, also smiling—a rare treat indeed.
Blushing, Jane scolded gently, "The servants, Asher. What will they think of you carrying me off like this?"
Her husband laughed. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
Jane howled in delight as Asher scaled the stairs rapidly. Tomorrow was another day that she'd be eating breakfast alone. But tonight… tonight was all hers.
Epilogue
Outside Wolverton Manor, gleaming fangs showed stark white in the fog-ridden night as a man studied Neil Asher's residence. The Earl of Wolverton's home was a massive place with a red-gabled roof.
Dracula paused in his observation as he felt a twinge of guilt. His brother Dracul would have sought revenge immediately, but he, Dracula, Dracul's twin brother, was made of smarter stuff. Asher had been a powerful force before his marriage to a Van Helsing. Now he had the backing of that vampire-slaying clan as well. Not to mention, true love always made a vampire stronger.
His twin was now dust; so many good vampires were ashes, gone with the wind. Yet, he knew instinctively that revenge would come. It was a dish best served cold, despite what his brother had believed. He could wait. Dracula knew that few mortals or immortals knew of his existence. He would keep it that way—for now. But look out, world, there was a new Prince of Darkness in Town.
Taking one last look at Wolverton manor, Dracula saluted Asher. "Your time will come," he hissed.
Shrugging his shoulders, he turned away. He had a million tomorrows to avenge the death of his brother and his brother's nest. He began to stroll in the direction of Hyde Park. Fading into the ghostly London fog like smoke, he spoke his thoughts aloud: "After all, tomorrow is another night."