Michael, if Siona ignored the sexual advances, seemed more interested in studying her body and avoiding her smell altogether. The fact that he had stopped his sexual advances when, to Siona’s embarrassment, she was good and ready to go all the way, also seemed to rule out that her purpose was sexual slavery.
Added to that, the evidence that she had been alone throughout her stay made the situation more confusing. Siona was frustrated with the vampires. Why had she been ripped away from her life and sequestered if they didn’t want to kill, fuck or use her?
Siona would’ve considered the explanation that they did it all for tradition’s sake, if not for her strict schedule and constant escort around the castle. It was true Siona was alone now only because she’d been dropped off by Mrs. Kettle, who shut the door behind her. Siona knew she should be more worried or angry maybe, at her situation but instinct told her there was something good here, a purpose for her. Siona’s sixth sense was never wrong.
Checking the iron mantelpiece, Siona decided she couldn’t sit still anymore. Standing up, she wandered around the room. The room was well lit and outfitted for entertaining, with a mirrored drink cart in the far corner and conversational seating up and down its long length. Along the edges, it was a gallery space, where pedestals of sculptures sat below gilt framed oil paintings and sketches. The artist in Siona itched to bring in her own easel and sketch a few pieces inspired by their beauty.
Though much of the art was inspiring, Siona was initially drawn to a vibrantly colored portrait of a man. The man was naked, standing in front of the morning light streaming through a window. The work was obviously a snapshot of a sexual rendezvous with linens and old-fashioned clothing strewn across the foreground. The subject matter wasn’t all that unique, but still, the piece drew Siona in. It wasn’t just that the man was attractive, he was, but it was something else in the picture that was keeping her captivated.
Siona cocked her head and looked closer. Perhaps it was the intensity in his expression, the utter desire Siona saw in his blue eyes that made her throb. Siona’s own eyes greedily devoured the man’s body, running down the defined muscles of his abs to the long sleek length of his thighs and everywhere in between. It was funny; Siona had never thought of herself as that sexual until she entered this castle. After taking their fill, her eyes flicked back up to the golden light streaming through the man’s long blond tousled hair and Siona realized who it was…
“The artist was an intimate friend.”
Siona sucked in a scream and spun around. It was Valad; both in the flesh, with his hand cool on her lower back, and fully displayed in rich detail behind her.
Stepping back to give Siona some space, Valad apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry Siona, I’ve scared you. I forgot.” Valad made a prayer symbol with his hands and bowed slightly, “Next time I’ll make more noise. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a,” Valad’s eyes moved up and roamed over the low neck of Siona’s shirt, “woman in the house.”
As Valad straightened, Siona felt her cheeks flush. She knew her nipples were most likely on prominent display right now and when he had bent over, they were just at Valad’s eye level. Small chested, Siona didn’t usually bother with a bra, but between Michael’s ministrations and Valad’s full frontal portrait, she couldn’t seem to turn off her body’s needs.
Siona rolled her shoulders and stood straighter, “You just scared me, Valad. I had no idea you were in the room.”
Valad’s brows furrowed in concern, “Did Mrs. Kettle not tell you that we were to have dinner tonight? Michael will be joining us as well.”
“No, I mean, yes, I mean...” Siona took a steadying breath, “Mrs. Kettle told me that the three of us were having dinner. I just didn’t realize I was no longer alone.”
Valad’s mouth formed a little “o” as understanding dawned and then he caressed Siona’s arm from shoulder to elbow, his cool touch lingering on her skin. “I do apologize for that. Michael and I can forget to display our more human tendencies like stomping around when we’re left to our own devices.”
“And breathing?” Siona couldn’t help but notice Valad hadn’t taken one inhalation during their conversation. She was becoming extremely paranoid about her smell.
The corner of Valad’s mouth quirked up in amusement, “Yes, like heavy footsteps and slow movements, breathing is not a necessity for us, at least not for purposes of respiration.”
Siona was about to ask what the purpose of vampire breathing was then, when Valad redirected her attention to the painting. “This was done by another young woman who stayed with us. It was quite a few years ago now, but it reminds me of a very sweet time in my long life. I think she enjoyed her time with Michael and I.” Valad turned to Siona, “Just as I hope you too will find pleasure in our time together.”
Siona bit her lip, questions rushing forth faster than she could tease them apart “Why am I here?” slipped past her lips before she could think to edit them.
When Valad’s lips slammed shut, Siona blushed again. Tact was obviously something she was going to need to work on for communication in the vampire lair. “Sorry, I mean it is all I think about, though...the reason why I’m here, I mean.” Siona threw her hands down in exasperation. “That and painting. Being around all this art really drives home how much I miss being able to create.”
At this Valad brightened, “Well, this I am able to fix. As you can see,” Valad gestured to the portrait on the wall, “I am a lover of art. A lover, in general, really.”
Valad shifted his grip on Siona from her elbow to her lower back, directing her down the line of art to a landscape of coastal Italy, the jewel tones of the cliffside homes sparkling against the blue of the sea.
“You see, this one here is newer, from time spent along Cinque Terre. Michael wanted to study the effects of vacations on the mating habits of humans. It was fascinating work. Long nights were spent in pursuit of finding the minute differences in sexual conquest.”
Valad’s hand lightly moved lower on Siona’s back, drifting close to the sensitive skin of her tailbone. She felt her body instinctively respond by arching into his hand. Valad gave another sexy half smile, his blue eyes sparkling knowingly just like in his portrait.
“Would you like a drink while we wait? Michael can get so caught up in his lab.”
Memories of how she had gotten caught up with Michael himself in that lab flushed Siona’s cheeks yet again, she cleared her throat and agreed that a drink was in order, “I would love a glass of wine, if you don’t mind.”
Siona watched as he walked away, smoothly and slowly. It was obvious he was trying to set her at ease and Siona was happy with his attempt. Valad poured two glasses from a decanter and came back to her, his mouth holding an easy grin and his eyes moved up and down her body in appreciation. As Siona’s skin grew warm under Valad’s gaze, she moved to the next painting.
Accepting the delicate stemmed glass, Siona gestured at the abstract painting in front of her. “What’s the story behind this one?”
Valad took a sip of his wine; it was only slightly disconcerting to watch him do so without taking a breath. “This one is beautiful, no? I’ve always loved the play of light over the woman’s lips.”
Siona leaned in closer, searching the swirls of red and white, “Where are you seeing lips in the image?” Her eyes flicked across the expansive canvas, trying to pull the variations in tone and the random brushstrokes all together into one cohesive image.
Valad’s arm swooped across the painting, “This is the top lip, and down here is the bottom.”
Even with the explanation, Siona still felt confused; Valad saw and set down his wine glass. Moving in closer, he lifted one arm to the painting and the other to Siona’s mouth and tried again. “The points here are the tips of the cupid’s bow,” Valad gestured to the painting with his free hand while the thumb of his other hand stroked against the crest of her lips. His touch was feather light and Siona shivered in response. Looking back to the d
eep red at the bottom of the canvas, Valad continued, “You see right here, this curve, the fullness, it’s this line right here,” Valad’s thumb shifted to delicately trace the middle of her lower lip. Siona’s heart sped up and Valad’s thumb slowed down, he put more pressure on her plump skin and Siona’s lips parted in response.
Valad let out a slow exhale and then took a deep inhale. His blue eyes went silver. Blinking, he shifted toward Siona, a deep growl sounded in his throat. Siona felt her body go molten for the second time that day and almost dropped her wineglass as she lifted her face to Valad’s. A knock sounded at the doorway, but Siona and Valad didn’t part. Michael stood at the doorway, the top buttons of his shirt undone and his hair was slightly wet. Siona cursed the man for interrupting yet another sexual interlude.
“Dinner is served, if you two are hungry.”
When Valad and Siona didn’t immediately respond, Michael’s eyes flicked between them, quickly calculating the tenor of the room. When Michael looked back at Siona, his eyes revealed a hunger of another kind and he let the door close softly behind him.
Siona felt her mouth go dry, “I’m starved.”
CHAPTER SIX
Valad threaded a hand into Siona’s long dark hair, pulling her attention back to him. “I’m quite hungry myself,” he growled out.
Valad’s voice was low and serious, far more intense than Siona had ever heard. Her heart thudded in response, the sound of it filling her ears. When Siona watched his eyes flick to the vein on her neck, the sound intensified, so when Valad lowered his mouth to the throbbing vein she let out a small cry. Michael was instantly beside her, a restraining hand on Valad’s shoulder, but Valad’s lips only closed over the sensitive skin and sucked. Siona felt herself go weak with both relief and desire.
Valad shrugged off Michael’s hand and lifted his lips from Siona’s skin to give a warning. “Don’t,” was all he issued to Michael and Michael let go of his friend. Siona watched as Michael stepped back and drew in a deep breath as if to sigh, but plugged his nose mid-inhale, his eyes going wide.
“It’s worse than it was before...I didn’t realize…” Michael stood there, his eyes slowly turning silver with his thumb and pointer fingers still pinching the bridge of his nose.
Valad threaded his free hand further around Siona’s back, causing full body contact. Siona’s body molded to the hard muscles and long length of him. The pressure of him so intimately against her made Siona realize that perhaps the artist of the portrait hadn’t done Valad justice.
“Yes, I too believe you underestimated. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not in a hundred years at least,” Valad said before leaning down and nuzzling Siona’s neck, coming close to her vein again and causing her heartbeat to rise.
It was all so much, the fear of the bite...the annoying fact that Michael was still plugging his nose. The damn man looked like a kid afraid to jump in a swimming pool.
Siona snapped, “Look if you’re going to bite me, just do it all ready. I can’t take it. I’m terrified of the bite, paranoid about my smell, and so close to the edge that I really just need someone to fuck me. Please, don’t toy with me anymore.”
God, Siona’s pleading voice sounded foreign, even to her. The words coming out of her mouth were completely unfiltered, completely unlike her. It was as if something about this castle, something about these vampires, unhinged her. Siona wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.
Michael and Valad stared hard at each other for a long moment, seeming to have a conversation silently. At the end of it, Michael nodded briskly and pinched his nose harder, turning to walk out of the room.
Valad grazed Siona’s neck one last time, “My dear, I’m not going to bite you, not without your consent anyway, though I do promise it will be as good for me as it is for you.” Siona gasped and Valad let out a low rumble of a laugh, “There will be time enough to address all of your concerns, but tonight we’re just going to touch on the point about sex. Usually, I like to get to know a girl a little better first but,” Valad sighed, “c’est la vie, we don’t always get to choose the timing. And my dear, all you need to know is that the time is right.”
Valad’s lips landed on her neck again, licking, sucking, and nipping their way from her jawline to her collarbone. Siona’s eyelids started to lower as the sensation of pleasure overtook her body, but a flash of color had her opening them again. Suddenly, Michael was behind her, one finger reaching beneath her hair, tracing the edge of her dress with a slow stroke that brought goosebumps to her already flushed skin.
Valad gave a growl in question but didn’t stop his pursuit to taste the entirety of Siona’s collarbone, his tongue flicking into the soft dip of skin above the bone.
“I can’t leave. I can’t explain it but I can’t leave. It’s not like I’ll interfere with anything, but know me true when I say I cannot leave this room with her smelling like this. Surely, you understand.”
Valad let out a grunt this time, which must have been a sound of approval. Siona briefly wondered why she hadn’t been consulted in the matter though she had experienced the entire conversation through a haze of desire, which made it difficult to really get angry about the ordeal. When Michael’s tongue replaced his finger stroking across her spine, Siona forgot to care about the matter at all. As Michael’s hand reached up and pulled down the zipper at the back of her sunny pink sundress, Siona stopping thinking altogether.
The cotton fabric fell from her body and she felt her nipples tighten in response to the cool air. Valad’s warm breath brushed against her skin, “You are perfection, my dear. Perfect perfection.”
Usually, Siona would have argued this point. Deflecting that her breasts were too small, her hips too big, her hair and eyes an unimpressive brown. In this moment, as two hot men lavished attention on her naked body, Siona didn’t really see the point. There was no evidence to support any other argument than they found her delectable.
Suddenly, Valad spun her around and a crash sounded out behind her. Siona started to turn to see what it was, but at that moment Valad took her mouth in a bruising kiss. His lips were hard against hers and his hand moved up to place pressure on her jaw. Siona opened her mouth in surprise and Valad’s tongue invaded, exploring the contours of her mouth the same way he had explored the landscape of her skin.
Valad’s hand left her face and then both hands reached down to clasp Siona’s butt, covered in a full pair of panties. Valad noticed the barrier and moved his hands back up to her waist, putting delicious pressure on her skin as they smoothed over the curves of her body and under the thin cotton, sliding them down far enough for Michael to finish their descent. Then, Valad’s hands returned to her ass, kneading and caressing in time with the thrust of his kiss. When one of his knees pushed between her legs, Siona was ready to cry with relief. Finally, an end to the desire. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
As suddenly as Siona had felt the pressure of Valad’s leg, it was gone. Instead, she was lifted through the air and sat on something tall with something solid behind her. Valad moved to the side and his attention landed on her breast instead, nipping and sucking at the skin from beside her. Siona didn’t know if she wanted to weep from pleasure or from the despair of her mounting need. Never in her life had Siona imagined she could be so turned on. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t give to find release.
Michael knelt down in front of her, Siona had forgotten he was still there, watching and waiting. His silver eyes held hers as his hands trailed up her calves. Michael’s calloused skin was rough and masculine. The vampire held her like he wanted to own her. Siona shivered in response to his possessiveness. Michael’s hands drifted all the way up to where her thighs met the cool stone of the pedestal. The column was large and squat, and brought her pussy to Michael’s eye level. As his hands moved to the curve of her inner thighs, Siona felt him pressure her to open up, to give him a view of all of her.
Shaking, Siona let her legs fall open in surrender. Lo
oking down over her naked skin, Siona saw Michael give a small smile in response and something inside her clenched. Michael moved his hands back down to Siona’s ankles and placed each foot on a shoulder before moving his head down to her. When his lips parted her own, Siona gave a shudder and went liquid. Her body drifted backward until it landed against Valad’s solid chest. At the contact Valad’s arms wrapped around her, toying with Siona’s nipples, pinching and rolling them as Michael’s tongue languidly lapped at her wetness.
Siona felt her hips give an involuntary thrust as Michael’s tongue flicked over the sensitive nub hidden in her folds. His eyes flashed to hers as he repeated the action to the same result. As he moved on, alternating between the flicks of his tongue to sucking her entire pussy in his mouth Siona felt her body rising toward a climax, she’d had no idea there was even room left for her desire to rise higher.
Again, it all stopped. Valad cleared his throat behind her and Michael’s lips left her body. Now, she was really going to cry. Siona could feel the sobs running up her body. Blinking, she watched as Michael’s hands went to his waistband and undid the fly of his jeans. The denim fell to the floor at his feet. With an almost medical efficiency he inserted two fingers into her and nodded in response before replacing them with his cock in one hard thrust. Siona let out a scream in response, that shouldn’t have felt so good.
Michael was hard and fast, forcing Siona to lean into Valad with her whole weight. Siona wrapped her legs around Michael in an effort to slow him down, to give her time to take in the change in tactic. But the pleasure just kept coming and Siona was at a loss to stem its flow.
Rolling his hips, Michael slammed into her, again and again, and Siona grew accustomed to the thrusts, her body welcoming them and thriving off their friction. When Michael lowered his head to her neck, Siona arched into him, begging him to kiss her sensitive skin, asking for something she dared not name. Michael only gave one last thrust and pulled out, spilling warmth over her stomach and for the final time, leaving her bereft.
The Vampire's Shared Bride Page 4