Tattoos and Cupcakes (Amulet of Queens Book 1)

by Everly Taylor

  “It might not be a good idea for me to stay Lena.” Damien’s eyes darkened as he looked at me.

  “I just don’t want to be alone yet, that’s all,” I said, realizing I was still holding his hand. I glanced down between us and let go. “Sorry, I didn’t meant to hold your hand like that.” I cleared my throat. Fuck Lena, this was probably not such a great idea, asking him to stay with you, alone.

  “It’s fine, really,” he replied, running his hand down my thigh again. “Are you sure you want me to stay Lena? I have a hard time controlling myself around you.” His voice was rough with want. I could tell he was thinking exactly what I was, and I wasn’t going to stop it.

  I could have died tonight, I thought that my best friend had died, there was no more holding me back from what I wanted. Tonight I wanted to have Damien and I was going to make that happen. “Maybe I don’t want you to control yourself around me,” I purred.

  He slid his hand back up my thigh, brushing against the heat building between my legs. “You need to be careful what you wish for Lena,” he warned.

  “I’m tired of being careful Damien, unless it’s you who’s scared?” I goaded him, my laughter cut off as he moved in front of me and his mouth closed over mine, hard and demanding.

  I met him eagerly, our tongues clashing together as we demanded more from each other. I ran my hands up his arms, the muscles bunching beneath me as he lifted me and moved me back. My breath caught as he dropped me back down on the bed, eyeing me hungrily.

  “I haven’t stopped thinking about fucking you since I watched you with Adrien. Now it’s my turn to tease you, little spitfire,” he whispered, sliding my shirt over my head. “It’s my turn to make your back arch and your eyes roll back in your head when you finally come undone.” He leaned down and bit through my bra, teasing my sensitive nipple underneath, making it pebble and beg for more.

  “Show me,” I stated simply, daring him to lose that control he always had.

  Reaching behind me he removed my bra, my breasts springing free into his waiting hands. He teased and pinched my nipples, following it with slow kisses that lingered, making me moan out loud. I could feel him smile against me, he was enjoying making me want him.

  I reached down and pulled off his shirt. I wanted to feel his skin pressed against mine, feel how hot I made him. Finally, with that removed, my hands were free to roam up his stomach and across his abs, feeling them tighten as he leaned over me. He was all hard muscle, controlled and sure of himself. I was going to make him lose that control tonight.

  Kissing me, he ran his hand down my waist and stopped just short of my sweatpants, running a finger underneath the waistband, he tempted me with more. “Damien,” I called out, urging him to rid us of the barrier. Damn, these things were fucking comfortable earlier but I just wanted them off. My hands moved across his shoulders, dragging him closer so I could have more of him.

  Slowly, he moved my pants down to my knees, pausing as he kissed his way down my stomach and over to my thighs. He came close to kissing my center but only teased, brushing his finger across it instead, and then continued to remove my pants. “No panties Lena? Someone’s being a bit naughty tonight,” he teased.

  “What are you going to do about it?” I asked.

  “Touch yourself Lena,” he commanded, watching me and waiting for me to argue.

  “What?” I asked, not sure if I had heard him right.

  “You heard me, touch yourself. I want to watch you pleasure yourself, watch you wish it was me inside that wet cunt instead of your fingers. You have teased me, now it’s time you pay,” he replied, making my breath hitch.

  I wasn’t exactly sure what to do. I hardly did this at home by myself, let alone while someone watched. Damien reached up slowly and slid my hand down across my thigh, placing it at my throbbing entrance. “Please yourself Lena. I’m going to stroke myself while you come apart all over that pretty little hand of yours.”

  If he thought I had teased him before, I sure as hell was going to tease him now. He wanted to make me wait to have him inside me, fine. I was going to give him the best damn show and get off while I did it. Locking my eyes with his, I ran my free hand across my chest and started kneading my breasts, my other hand gently caressing my nub at my entrance. Sliding my fingers in slightly, I pulled them out again before going too deep, testing and tempting Damien.

  He wanted to make me come apart, and I wanted to make him take me before that happened. Let’s see how long Mr. Control could hold out. I dipped my fingers in deeper, finding myself wet and waiting. I wanted Damien though, this just wasn’t enough. So I moved faster, making my hand slick with need as I drove myself closer to the edge.

  My legs tightened, closing around my hand, but Damien reached out and pulled my legs apart again. “I want to watch,” he said, his voice thick.

  I watched him as he slid his zipper down, dropping them past his hips and to the floor. He moved back on the bed and I stopped with my attentions, letting out a laugh I couldn’t control.

  Damien had on the cutest pair of emoji boxers I had ever seen. Little heart faces and surprised faces looked at me from his shorts. I laughed again as he started at me. “What the hell is so funny?” he inquired, glowering at me.

  “Oh my God, Damien, your boxers!” I lost it again in a fit of laughter. “I never would have pegged you as a funny boxer kind of guy.” I laughed again.

  Damien let out a low growl and ripped his shorts from his hips, launching himself at me as he did so. He shoved my hand to the side and replaced it with his, driving it deeper and harder than I had on my own. Instantly, I stopped laughing and arched my hips to take what he would give me. Adding another finger he stretched me, making me want his cock even more.

  “You’re dripping you want me so bad, and you want to laugh at my underwear choice?” he whispered against my ear. “Now we get to see what it takes to make you beg, Lena,” Damien said, making goosebumps run over my skin as he drove his fingers inside me, his thumb flicking over my clit and making me tremble, close to losing control.

  I looked at him through hooded eyes, biting my lip so I don’t moan out loud. The pressure between my thighs increased. “Oh yes,” I cried out, unable to hold it back any longer. “Damien, I want you now,” I told him, trying to pull him up to me so I can have what I really wanted.

  He pressed me back down, holding me easily in place. “Beg for it little spitfire,” he ordered, now also pressing against my lower stomach, making me feel his fingers as they stroked inside of me even more.

  “Damien, I want you inside of me,” I moaned, lifting my hips to meet his hand.

  “Not good enough Lena,” he chided, sliding up my body as his hand continued its movement, driving me closer to the edge. “Beg,” he said, biting my lower lip and sucking it into his mouth. The palm of his hand worked across my clit while his fingers drove inside me, damn it, I needed more than this.

  “Damien, please fuck me. Fuck me now,” I demanded.

  “Close, but I don’t think you have learned how to beg yet,” he countered, biting my lip again and dragging it lightly through his teeth, almost making me cum on his hand like he wanted.

  “Please Damien, fuck me and make me cum. Please put that hard dick inside of me where it belongs,” I moaned against his shoulder, as he drove his fingers into me one last time and I came undone on his hand. My body racked with tremors from the unexpected force of it.

  He grinned as he poised himself over me, his rock-hard cock now teasing my dripping entrance. Watching me, he slowly lowered himself and slid inside me making me stretch to fit. “You’re so fucking tight Lena,” he groaned against my ear. “Let’s make that pretty pussy of yours cum again,” he said as he started to move inside me.

  Grabbing my ass with one hand, he yanked my hips against him, plunging all the way to the hilt as I cried out. Moving his hips faster against mine he drove himself deeper, and I wrapped my legs around his hips, daring him to give me more. His hand
clamped down against my ass, holding me close and making me take all of him.

  Biting down on his shoulder I felt ravenous, I needed more from him. “Fuck me harder Damien,” I begged, feeling him drive into me harder, biting down on my own shoulder as my nails raked down his back.

  His body started to tense and I knew he was about to lose control, just as I was. He pulled back from my shoulder and locking eyes with me again, he watched me buck beneath him, the climax building until it’s almost painful. With one last thrust I fell apart, my pussy clenching his dick tight, making him ride it out with me as he burst inside me. “Fuck Lena,” he mumbled from the comforter next to my head.

  I wiggled my hips a little, making him groan as he rolled over and pulled me tight against his chest.

  “Lena,” he murmured absently, rubbing my hair.

  “Yeah?” I mumbled, tucked happily against him, feeling sated and relaxed.

  “I’m glad you asked me to stay,” he confessed sleepily, his hand slowing on my hair.

  “Me too.” I grinned when I felt his breath even out as he fell asleep beneath me. I’m glad he was so relaxed, but damn he fell asleep quickly, I laughed to myself.

  I lay there, enjoying his hard muscle against my cheek, and his heavy arm wrapped around my waist. Laying with him like this made me feel safe and protected, something I had always taken for granted.

  Lately, I was beginning to realize exactly how helpless I had been. There was so much that I didn’t understand from these men, but so much that I did. I had no clue exactly what they expected from me, but they seemed to be letting me take it at my own pace. I did know, however, that I cared for them all in a way I had never cared for anyone before.

  I just couldn’t stand this feeling of helplessness anymore. Valentina had said I had power, and I was already bonded to the amulet. Surely that bond, if I learned more about it, could help me protect Sam and myself, then the guys wouldn’t always have to come to my rescue.

  It was time that I figured out exactly who and what I was, and I needed to find Valentina for those answers.

  I silently slipped from beneath Damien’s arm, being careful not to wake him. I grabbed my clothes from the floor and headed to the bathroom, before washing off and slipping my clothes back on.

  Checking to make sure he was still asleep, I dipped out of the room and found myself in front of her door. Taking a deep breath I gathered myself together, it was now or never.

  Turning the handle I pushed the door open and prepared to face my future.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Selena

  Entering the room I was surprised to find Valentina sitting in her bed, supported by her pillows. She looked even more ill than when I had first been introduced to her. Crossing the room I noticed how tired she looked, how frail. It was shocking because she had looked almost seventy years younger when I had seen her last.

  “Selena, what a nice surprise,” she said as I approached her bed, sounding as frail as she appeared. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “What happened to you?” I asked, ignoring her question.

  “That is neither here nor there,” Valentina dismissed my question, waving it away.

  “It’s the amulet again, isn’t it? It’s draining you because of me?” I pressed, already afraid I knew the truth. The look on her face confirmed my suspicions. I was tired of people being hurt because of me, tired of not being able to protect the people I cared about. It was time I made the decision no matter the cost to myself. To do otherwise was selfish.

  “I’m ready,” I told her simply, my chin held high, determined to go through with it.

  “Selena, you don’t have to do this until you’re absolutely sure,” Valentina entreated, trying to give me an out. I admired her for it, but I wasn’t going to back out of this.

  “I’m sure. People are being hurt because of me, my best friend almost died because I couldn’t make a decision. I can’t even protect myself, which has been putting everyone around me in danger. That’s not something I’m willing to keep doing.”

  “If you’re sure about this then I will help you, but only if you’re certain, Selena,” Valentina said, watching me closely, I’m sure for some sign of doubt. She wasn’t going to see one though, I was fully committed to boarding this crazy train at all costs.

  “I’m not changing my mind on this,” I informed her confidently, shaking my head. “Tell me what I need to do.”

  Pushing herself up in her bed, she faces me a little more and nods, with an almost sad smile on her face, and I knew whatever she said next I wasn’t going to like. “Okay then. First, you need to let your fangs descend.”

  Nope, not happening. “Next option.”

  “Selena, the amulet only accepts blood brought to the surface from a vampire fang. It’s not going to work any other way,” Valentina explained.

  “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. There was no fucking way I could do that, I still wasn’t completely convinced I was actually a vampire. I had yet to see the whole pointy teeth thing. The only reason I was agreeing to this was because I would be dumb not to believe what they said about the amulet after everything I had witnessed.

  “Just try Selena, you might surprise yourself. Is it really that far-fetched to go from believing in the amulet, to believing in everything else?” She stopped talking as she was taken over by a coughing fit. I handed her a glass of water when she finished.

  “Thank you,” she said as I set it back on the table. “Really Selena, why would we tell you the truth about one and not the other?” she reasoned.

  She did have a point, they had no reason to tell me a half truth. Okay, so how did one go about growing pointy teeth? Channel my inner Dracula I guess. Think about coffins and bats, creepy spiders and garlic. “This is really not going to work Valentina. There has to be another way.”

  “It has to be a vampire fang Selena,” she confirmed.

  “Wait, a vampire fang?” I asked. Valentina nodded. “So any fang will do? It doesn’t necessarily have to be mine?”

  She considered it for a moment. “Well I actually don’t know, it’s never been done before. It’s only ever been passed down that it had to be a vampire fang to perform the ritual. No one ever really specified one way or another.”

  “It’s worth a shot though right? I mean, what’s the worse that can happen? I have a little bit of blood loss and we’re back to square one. Then I have to figure out if I even belong to the suck your blood club,” I joked, making Valentina smirk. “It doesn’t hurt to try.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” she agreed. “It is worth a try. You will have to come to me, I’m not able to get out of bed at the moment.”

  I nodded and moved closer, this was actually going to happen, it was the moment of truth. “So, how are we going to do this then?” I asked, my voice sounding a little squeakier than I would have liked.

  “I will just make a small cut on your wrist with my fang, you hold it over the amulet and let it bleed onto it. The amulet will absorb its fill,” she explained.

  “How do I know when it’s enough?”

  “It will stop absorbing it. Or if I think you have given enough for now, I will stop you. I am not sure the price the amulet will ask from you for the first time, given the bond you seem to share with it.”

  “Great, that’s fucking reassuring. Well, let’s get this show on the road,” I muttered, taking the amulet off my neck and baring my other wrist to her.

  Valentina’s fangs descended and I tried not to stare. I had seen them before, but I had been so overwhelmed with information and watching what was happening that I had hardly paid attention. They were stark white and looked deadly sharp. Forcing myself to look away I concentrated on my wrist, holding it up to her.

  She dragged her tooth across my wrist, making me wince in mild pain as blood flowed to the surface and down my arm. “Now hold the amulet underneath and let the blood run onto it,” she instructed.

  I moved the amule
t underneath the steady flow of blood coming from my arm, the crimson stream flowing onto the surface. Everything seemed to slow as I watched my blood hit the stone, being absorbed for the first time.

  Something wasn’t right, but surely Valentina would have told me, surely she would have stopped this. My blood was being absorbed, but I felt like I was too. Darkness was closing in around me, the room now fading to nothing. I was falling, faster and faster, and I tried to call out but my voice was muffled and wouldn’t carry any distance.

  Looking down, I watched as my blood continued to flow freely into the amulet and I couldn’t stop it. I grew dizzy from falling or from the loss of blood, I wasn’t sure. Finally, when I thought I was going to be sick, I landed with a thud on a soft surface, knocking the amulet free from my hand. The flow of blood from my wrist finally stopped just as I blacked out.

  I woke up groggy, my back stiff from sleeping on the ground. Moss and leaves stuck to my arms and clung to my hair. Sitting up I brushed them off, trying to get my bearings. I sat in the middle of the woods somewhere, with tall trees surrounding me and moss covering the ground. Thick mist hung in the air, giving the forest an almost eerie atmosphere. Or maybe that was just me, because I had no fucking clue how I got here.

  One minute I was bleeding on the amulet—not that that could be considered exactly normal—then the next I was landing in the middle of fucking nowhere. I held my wrist up, looking at the spot where Valentina had split it open with her fang. There was no mark left on my skin as evidence that she had torn my flesh open. The amulet still lay next to me on the ground where it had landed when I fell.

  Reaching over I picked it up, and returned it to my neck as I stood, trying to determine what I should do next. Bleeding on the amulet again wasn’t an option, I didn’t have fangs to even see if bleeding on it would bring me back.

  Looking around the small clearing I tried to decide what the best decision would be. Off to the side I noticed a small trail leading away. Seeing that I had no other choice I started down the path, hoping that this wasn’t some big fucking mistake. Who knew, maybe I had just suffered too much blood loss and this was some big fucking dream, and I would wake up any minute now.