The Beloved
Author
R.L Marcelain
Author Bio
R. L. Marcelain is a thirty-six-year-old wife and mother. She was born and raised in Burlington. She attended Grand Canyon University, where she studied Psychology. She was born into a talented family beginning with her grandfather who performed musically in a traveling jazz band. Since a child, she frequently participated in local talent clubs throughout her life for singing and acting. She discovered her love for writing while attending high school by writing stories, poems, and music as a stress reducer. Currently, she works in education and is set to begin work for “Kelly’s Educational Services” in Denver Colorado next month. She spends her free time caring for animals and writing romance, fantasy, and thriller novels. Spending time with her family, and singing with her 7-year-old son. Gardening, baking, and cooking with her husband. Creating her own skincare tutorials, (sugar/sea salt scrubs). She is planning to return to school for her Master’s degree in Creative Writing.
Description
In the 1860s, Hunter Eldridge is a military veteran with a tumultuous homelife and a fraught relationship with his father. When he returns to London, Hunter reluctantly visits the family bookstore, dreading an encounter with his loathsome father. Upon entering he sets eyes on the enchanting Eliza Carlisle. They fall deeply in love-soul mates to the core-and spend fifteen years happily married before tragedy strikes. On Hunter’s birthday, after enjoying a wonderful night with family, he and Eliza are out for a leisurely stroll when a horrific creature of the night attacks them. Eliza is murdered, while Hunter is transformed into a vampire. In this new state, he finds a mentor in his father’s peculiar business partner Garret Wilkins. Hunter also eyes a suspect in his tragic attack and vows revenge. Over the next century, Hunter must rebuild his life as an immortal. He is lucky enough to find love again after years of loneliness and despair. Endless time allows him to unravel the mystery of reincarnation, while struggling with a darker side of himself. In Hunter’s continued thirst for vengeance, he realizes death is only the beginning as he reveals a small piece of a bigger event that is about to grip the country.
Book excerpt
As I walk into the lounge, I find Eliza relaxing on a sofa, I call our maid Betsy and request her to fetch the physician so he can attend to my wife. Dr. Blythe arrives within the hour to examine her. He has been my family doctor for decades. Dr. Blythe was friends with my father. From my understanding, they knew each other from age eleven and attended secondary school together. I pray that Eliza is well, that nothing serious is the matter. I cannot wait for tonight. It is my birthday, and I intend to celebrate with her. I want to try one more time toward conception. I don’t know why, every time we try, something constantly happens, and the baby doesn’t survive. I’m beginning to wonder if God is punishing me for my time in battle or if dark forces are at work here. There must be an explanation. Is this an attack from evil powers that lurk in the darkness? Are my ancestors angry with me? The doctor said we were both physically healthy. I pray to God every night for answers and to protect my children’s souls. One reason I doubt my faith is this: it feels as if he doesn’t hear me when my children continue to die, and Eliza mourns every one of them. She fears she’s infertile and her family will see her as a disgrace. I don’t care what they think. I still will love her. I’m so engrossed in my thoughts I don’t hear Dr. Blythe walking toward me. “Mr. Eldridge?” I snap out of my thoughts. The doctor is standing near the doorway to the dining hall where I’m currently seated on the window seat. I raise my head, noticing him. I invite him to sit down with me and discuss his examination. I’m relieved to learn that her ankle is only sore, and nothing dangerous has happened to her. We stand up. I signal one of our maids, Demaria, to come prepare lunch as I go to check on my wife. I hear Eliza calling my name. “Hunter? Hunter?” I immediately approach her and inquire if she’s well. She informs me that she feels much better and asks if we can continue with our day. I’m a bit hesitant. However, she tells me that she would like to take the buggy, and I instantly feel better. Demaria enters the room, and we request As our coachman is driving the buggy, I decide that I want to stop by the store. I inform Eliza that I intend to stop in for a minute. She gives me a scowl. “Really, Hunter? On your day off, you are going to work. What about our day we have planned?” I immediately silence her disapproval with a passionate kiss. Then I assure her that I’m not working. I’m just going in to tell Garrett an idea I have about expanding my company. I walk into the store and greet everyone. I see in the corner of the store my apprentice Thomas Dersley. “Hello, Thomas, how are you doing?” The boy turns to the sound of my voice. “Hello, Mr. Eldridge, I’m doing well, sir.” The boy smiles at me. “Splendid, how is your father? I heard that he was not feeling well.” He frowns at the mention of his father. “Yes, sir, he has been diagnosed with the sickness. The doctors have said that it’s very progressive, moving forward very fast. They fear that nothing can be done to help him.” My heart was breaking for him. “My wife and I will pray for you next week in mass.” I offer him a paid holiday so he can be with his family. The boy looks at me with happiness in his eyes. “I would be so honored, sir. I know it has been hard on my mother.” I shake his hand. “Think nothing of it. I will mention it to Garrett.” I give him a nod as he walks to the door. I walk into my office; I don’t find Garrett anywhere in sight. However, clerk Fredrick is at the corner desk, tending to the books. I ask Fred if Garrett has not arrived, yet and he tells me that he has stepped out for lunch. As I depart, I make Fred aware that I’m leaving, giving him a note for Garrett mentioning my decision regarding Thomas’s family. Fredrick nods and goes back to his task. I walk out of the store, and Eliza is waiting for me across the street at the flower boutique. I watch her as she enjoys her time there. We have been married for fifteen years, and I have loved her every moment since I first met her. Married life is not easy, yet through patience, love, and working together, we make it work. I cross the street to join her. “Hunter, I grew bored, and I saw these flowers that are just so lovely.” My wife has always loved roses, red. I buy them for her every anniversary. Red roses and pearls are her favorites. She has always been a classy lady. “You don’t have to explain. I know your love of botany.” She smiles at me and blushes. “What took you so long?” she asks me as we make our way back to the storefront where our coachman, Reginald, is still waiting with the buggy. “I do apologize. It is Thomas Dersley’s family. His father was just diagnosed with cancer. They fear that it is progressive, and nothing can be done.” “Oh my, that is terrible. I pray God to be with them.” My lovely wife, she has always been a devout believer and a kind soul. “I pray the same. I gave him liberty to return to his father’s side and have left instructions for Garrett Wilkins to give him a lump sum to compensate his family.” I pray that it will be sufficient for them. She nods and gives me a disapproving frown at the mention of Garrett. “Hunter, I know it is not my place. However, I don’t feel comfortable with him working for the company.” I look at her more sternly than I mean to. “Eliza, no, it is not your place.” She looks at me in shock, and I soften a bit. “He has been with the company since I was a boy. He is a top-notch partner in the company. I have no cause to dismiss him.” I shake my head, I can understand her fears. He’s so mysterious and sometimes frightening. Nevertheless, I was always taught as a child to accept him like family. “Everyone is different, but we must still love the person, and family is important.” my father always said. I know secretly she’s terrified of him but remains friendly and polite so she doesn’t offend him. “Hunter, I understand what you say. There is something about him, how has he managed to remain the same for thirty-five years without seeming to age?” She looks at me with morbid curiosity. I have questioned the same. “I don’t wish to know. He is a stellar partner, and I respect that he’s a private person, as I am. It has no effect on his work abilities, so I will not snoop or pry, nor should you.” “Yes, Hunter, I regret speaking my mind on the matter,” she says in a subdued voice. I want to erase this conversation. It is my birthday. I don’t want to fight with her when we rarely argue. “Let us continue our day. If I recall correctly, today is my birthday. I would like to end our day by taking you out to the opera and dinner. How does that sound?” Eliza’s eyes lit up when she heard this. “Oh, Hunter. I adore the opera! That is a splendid idea. Thank you, my love.” We continue with our day. We do everything that we intended to do. When we arrive back at our house, I cannot stand another minute being away from her. I pull her into my arms and she kisses me with passion. “Thank you for today, Hunter. It was indeed a perfect day.” Her eyes sparkle like the stars. “You’re welcome. I love you more than my own life. Each day with you is perfect. My wife, my love, my life, my everything, my Eliza, I never want to let you go,” I whisper to her as I take her hand and pull her toward the stairs. In a shocking move, I lift her into my arms like a new bride. “Oh.” she says. I nuzzle her neck. “Before we go to dinner, I’m going to make you scream my name,” I tell her as I carry her up the stairs to our room. I lay her down on the bed, and I crawl over her. I roll her on her stomach and undo her dress, pulling it off. I undo her corset while planting sweet kisses on her neck. She moans my name. Just as I have her corset off, I slip my hands underneath her and begin to fondle her. She pants and squirm. I roll her onto her back and remove my trousers. I have not had the pleasure of being with my wife like this in a while, so I decide that I’m going to enjoy this, enjoy her. I roll her on to her backside and decide to make this moment special. I undo my bow tie, wrap it around her wrists, and secure her to the metal frame. I whisper in her ear, “I love you so much.” She moans, “Oh God, Hunter, I love you too.” I chuckle as I nibble on her earlobe. “I’m going to make you scream my name,” I whisper to her again as I reach over into her nightstand, finding her eye mask. I slide it on to her face, hiding her beautiful eyes. I start to pepper kisses down her neck. I pull her down farther on the bed, stretching her a bit, but not too much. I crawl back over her. I give her a swift kiss on her lips, biting softly on her lower lip. She gasps and pants. I seal her lips with a passionate kiss as she opens to me. My tongue entwines with hers. I start to caress her lovely skin. I guide my hand very gently across her skin. Moving from her collarbone to her perky mounds, I start to kiss down her throat, taking one of them in my mouth. She arches her back. I smile as I continue to give it attention. My hand still gently moves, light as a feather down her stomach, until I reach her heated core. I start to move my hand around her heated button. She lets out a wail as her back bows off the bed. She’s my everything, and I love how I can make her feel like this, how she makes me feel in every way. She starts to scream and moan my name. I smile wide as she wraps her legs around me. I reach over to loosen the restraining bow tie, and I slide myself into her wetness. I begin to slow movements. Then as she starts to come undone again, I start to move faster and harder. I lose myself in the passionate embrace of my wife as I make love to her for the rest of the afternoon. I cannot think of a nicer way to celebrate my birthday than buried in my love. I hope a conception sticks this time. We have dreamed of having children. After several miscarriages, I don’t understand what the issue is. Please, God in heaven, grant us a child! Grant me a son.
Genre Fiction
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